Seventy-Eight Degrees of Wisdom: A Tarot Journey to Self-Awareness (A New Edition of the Tarot Classic)

So many tarot books out there give a 3-page history of the tarot, then dive into what each card means. This book takes the time to look at the way the deck is structured, how the order of the cards makes sense, the symbolism and numerology, and then what each card means. But more than just keywords and vagaries, you learn the Why behind the meanings, and gain highly useful, grounding perspective that helps you remember those meanings. For me, it was the perfect combination of elements that kick-started my tarot learning into higher gear. Looking forward to exploring the author's other tarot works, which I'm certain are as thoughtful and knowledgeable as this one.

Pollack has a refreshing voice which is at once scholarly and pedestrian. Her writing is easy to follow, well laid out, and comprehensive. She goes into much detail regarding symbolism, history, and interpretation—yet somehow manages to keep every bit of the content completely relevant and useful. (I also really enjoy The Ultimate Guide To Tarot Card Meanings by Brigit Esselmont. However, Esselmont‘s descriptions tend to have this heavy filter of “positivity”, which I find really distorting at times. Her philosophy is a personal one, and that’s fine; but it’s nowhere near as well researched or earnestly delivered as Pollack’s book.)I was continually confronted with this book since the start of my tarot journey several years ago. My gut didn’t tell me to buy it until a couple months ago, and for great reason (in retrospect). While at first I was upset I hadn’t bought it sooner, I now concede that having a well-established understanding of tarot and the mystery schools made my reading experience much more impactful. However, I do feel a neophyte will get a lot out of it. And honestly, it’s a must-have for anyone who is serious about tarot... make the investment.The binding is nice on the paperback edition; I can bend the spine to my liking with no damage or bad creasing. My only complaint is to the publisher for such TERRIBLE editing. Spelling, grammar, and punctuation errors abound. While I tend to be picky about that sort of thing in general, I still feel the next edition needs a serious editor... this is a gem and should be preserved in its best light. However, to the buyer: DO NOT let that keep you from purchasing!

This book is so incredibly informative, easy to understand, and now officially my right hand go-to if I ever have trouble with interpretations. Thank you Rachael Pollack!!! The annotations I’ve made on this book are at an insane level. Beginners could benefit a lot from this book. It’s help me gain more insight than just watching YouTube.

This book was recommended to me when I purchased my first Rider Waite tarot deck and knew SO little about tarot. What a difference this book makes in helping you learn and understand the traditional Rider deck!! The rich themes, stories and nuances of the cards do Not come thru in the tiny booklets that come with the decks....this book Really gives great depth of understanding the cards in upright and reversed positions. Absolutely a necessary companion to tarot in my 'book!' ;-)

Rachel's book has stood the test of time and is absolutely the best reference for students and professionals alike. My original two-volume edition is coming apart at the seams, so I'm thrilled to have this combo version.

The learning and history of some of the tarot cards were really coolbut WAAAAY too bible based for meI am not a religious person - I am anti -religion, and very pro-spiritual, this book has a lot to do with tying tarot cards to jesus lovers - which is not my cup of tea, but might be someone elses which is why it gets 4

This is one of the best books on tarot out there. As a tarot reader of over 20 years, I still find myself looking back to it for reference and insights. A staple for any tarot enthusiast’s bookshelf!

A must have for readers who want to deepen their understanding of Tarot. It covers the history of tarot and gives insightful descriptions of every single card, especially the Major Arcana.