The Secret Language of Birthdays (reissue) [Hardcover]

Gary Goldschneider (Author), Joost Elffers (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 16, 2003

Combining astrology, numerology, and pure psychic intuition, The Secret Language of Birthdays is a wholly unique compilation that reveals one's strengths, weaknesses, and major issues while providing practical advice on spiritual guidance. It is a must have for every library and anyone even remotely interested in the dynamics of personality.

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 --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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 --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 832 pages
• Publisher: Studio; New ed. edition (October 16, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0670032611
• ISBN-13: 978-0670032617
• Product Dimensions: 11.3 x 8.6 x 2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (218 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,870 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #2 in Books > Religion & Spirituality > New Age > Divination > Numerology
  • #2 in Books > Religion & Spirituality > New Age > Astrology

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

57 of 58 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars ESPecially for people who want to know themselves and others, May 9, 2004

By 

Dean Anderson (New York, New York) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Secret Language of Birthdays (reissue) (Hardcover)

I really have no idea who Gary Goldschneider and Joost Elffers are, but somehow, they've managed to find out every little thng about every person I know and placed that information on the pages of this book.

Whenever people come over and want to get a quick thumbnail sketch about someone, they just find that person's birthday and turn to the corresponding page. There, in a concise but surprisingly in-depth essay, is a bit about the standards and practices of whatever birthdate you're looking at! Included are celebrities who were also born on that day throughout history and a few other interesting tid bits.

It makes for a fascinating party game, to find out just how "true" you think these comments are for you. So far, everyone I know has said they've been nailed to a tee by this book. I ask you... can everyone be wrong?

Highly recommended (for entertainment purposes only).

65 of 69 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars "Scary" seems to be a good term..., August 31, 2004

By 

D. J Nelson "cordria" (Minnesota USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Secret Language of Birthdays (reissue) (Hardcover)

I'm not big on horoscopes, and hold a long-held belief that horoscopes are self-fulfilling once you read them. If you are looking for a "major romantic disaster" you will find one...whether or not you would normally classify it as major... but I'm digressing a tad.

I glanced through this book, looking up my birthday. AHH! Howly cow (and stronger, sensored words)! It pegged me perfectly. Even down to my chosen profession as an applied pedgagogical specialist dealing with underdeveloped, high-spirited, curious young people (I'm a teacher). Seesh.

This book, while it hasn't convinced me that astology and birthday personalities exists per se...has thoroughly convinced me that I'm being followed and closely watched by someone. Or that there is some truth in this "horoscopic" idea that has lasted for thousands of year.

READ THIS BOOK! Even us skeptics need to get something tossed into our faces once and awhile.

30 of 30 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

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

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.