The Secret Language of Birthdays: Personology Profiles for Each Day of the Year (Hardcover)

by Gary Goldschneider (Author), Joost Elffers (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review
Sure, it's neat to know which famous people have the same birthday you do, but wouldn't it be fascinating to know what else you have in common with these celebrities? The Secret Language of Birthdays will show you this and much more. Through "personology" (a combination of characteristics influenced by sun sign, season, and day of the year) and an analysis of several thousand character profiles, authors Gary Goldschneider and Joost Elfers have pinned down the traits most common to people born on the same day.

Rather than taking a strictly astrological approach--how the planets, sun, and stars affect a person's behavior--the authors compare the commonalties of people who share birthdays, and piece together a personality for each day of the year, effectively slicing through geographical and cultural differences, while avoiding the one-size-fits-all trap of newspaper sun-sign horoscopes. Some readers may find the authors' strict use of the Gregorian calendar limiting, but conversion to other time-keeping systems is fairly simple (the authors make note of this problem and contend that a day is a day, whether someone names it October 21 or 1 Rajab). Goldschneider and Elfers focus on a model of the year as a wheel spinning in a recurring circle of patterns, an idea that reaches back far beyond the linear calendars we use today. Each birthday discussed includes important numbers, tarot cards, and a dose of psychology, so while you learn a little about the other people with your birthday, you may even discover something new about yourself. --Brian Patterson

From Booklist
Take a little astrology, mix it with some tarot and some numerology, add a dash of psychology, frost with your birthday, and you've got "personology." For those who don't believe in astrology, the tarot, or numerology, this premise is certain to sound like hokum. But surprisingly, Goldschneider's assessments of personality on the basis of one's birthday seem fairly accurate--at least in this reviewer's smallish survey. The author's theory is that because all of life is cyclical, people born on the same day occupy the same point in the year's cycle and thus share characteristics. Even total nonbelievers will find this big, attractive book fun to read. Each day gets a double-page spread with a personality description, health information, and the date's relation to astrology signs and the tarot. There are also long lists of people born on each day, though here's where personology gives pause. Can March 10's Harriet Tubman and Chuck Norris really have all that much in common? Ilene Cooper

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 832 pages
• Publisher: Studio (November 1, 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0007720327
• ISBN-13: 978-0670858576
• ASIN: 0670858579
• Product Dimensions: 11.1 x 8.8 x 2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (91 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #17,010 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

  Popular in these categories: (What's this?)

  #3 in	Books > Religion & Spirituality > Authors, A-Z > ( G ) > Goldschneider, Gary
  #4 in	Books > Religion & Spirituality > New Age > Astrology > Horoscopes
  #54 in	Books > Religion & Spirituality > New Age > Self-Help

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This book is so accurate it is spooky., September 14, 1999

By A Customer

My boyfriend and I gave this book to everyone we know at Christmas. At a recent family gathering we read the profiles of each family member without mentioning the date and each person was guessed right away just by the characteristics in the profile. Another example, my neighbor came over to read his profile and it was him exactly. Then he gave me his wife's birthdate and it was nothing at all like her. After he went home, he calls me up with her correct birthday (ouch!) and the description was uncanny. The first line indicated that she "bridges the gap between troubled families" - this woman is a social worker. Hope you enjoy this book as much as I have. Bring it to your next party.

19 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Better than a birthday card!, June 25, 2000

By	Lynn Bulmahn (Waco, Texas USA) - See all my reviews

Don't think that a person's personality is influenced by his date of birth? Then check out the profile for Oct. 9, the birthday of John Lennon.

Those born on this day, the authors claim, are multi-talented, have a strong magnetism and the ability to see into the lives events of those around them with an accurate, critical eye. There's lots more, including the fact they can be swept away by their emotions for one person. Hmmmm....

Authors Gary Goldenschneider and Joost Elffers delve into astrological and mystical teachings -- including numerology and Tarot card readings -- to profile the personality characteristics of those born on every single day of the year.

Each birthday has its own two-page spread chock full of fascinating facts. And, there's a list of famous (and infamous) people born on that day. Do you share a birthday with your favorite movie star? A notorious criminal?

You can cross reference to other sections of the book that detail the astrological influences at play on a particular date.

This is a nice, thick coffee table book, amply illustrated, that will provide fun and fascinating reading. And, yes, it would make a great birthday gift!

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars unbelievable!, January 20, 2000

By A Customer

Well,A friend got this book for me 4 years ago. I have given it to others who love it . I have everyone sign their name on their Birthday. What fun . Most people say that is exactly them! the day prior or later no. great party conversation piece! Everyone loves to Read their day! one of my favorite all time books. (I collect many) bravo!