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Seventy-Eight Degrees of Wisdom: A Book of Tarot Paperback – September 1, 2007

by Rachel Pollack (Author)
4.7 out of 5 stars 1,039 ratings
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A top tarotist's secrets to personal growth, one card at a time. The two volumes of SeventyEight Degrees of Wisdom have inspired a whole generation of tarot students. It has often been described by readers, booksellers, and teachers as the "Bible of tarot readers." It is also often cited as one of the landmark books in modern tarot, and it helped to launch the "Tarot Renaissance" of the 1980s. The two textsone for The Major Arcana and one for The Minor Arcanaappear together in this volume, which is a reissue of the 1998 edition first published by Thorsons. SeventyEight Degrees of Wisdom draws on mythology and esoteric traditions and delves deeply into the symbolism and ideas of each card. It also gives the cards a modern psychological slant based on the pictures rather than a system of occult symbolism. This endlessly useful reference tool provides a concise history of tarot, introduces common spreads, and is a clear and readable book for both the beginning and advanced tarot student.
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  1. Print length
    368 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Weiser Books
  4. Publication date
    September 1, 2007
  5. Dimensions
    5.25 x 1 x 8.5 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    1578634083
  7. ISBN-13
    978-1578634088
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Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Rachel Pollack is considered one of the world's foremost authorities on the modern interpretation of the tarot. She is a member of the American Tarot Association, the International Tarot Society, and the Tarot Guild of Australia, and has taught at the famed Omega Institute for the past 15 years. She is an award-winning fiction writer and has also written 12 books on the tarot. She lives in New York.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Weiser Books
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ September 1, 2007
  • Edition ‏ : ‎ 53379th
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 368 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1578634083
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1578634088
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 13.6 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.25 x 1 x 8.5 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.7 out of 5 stars 1,039 ratings

About the author

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Rachel Pollack

Rachel Pollack

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Rachel Pollack is considered one of the world's foremost authorities on the modern interpretation of the tarot. She is a member of the American Tarot Association, the International Tarot Society, and the Tarot Guild of Australia, and has taught at the famed Omega Institute for the past 15 years. She is an award-winning fiction writer and has also written 12 books on the tarot. She lives in New York.

Customer reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars
1,039 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find this tarot book to be a complete guide to card meanings, with good descriptions of images and value for money. The book's readability receives mixed feedback - while some find it very understandable, others say it's not easy to reference. The pacing is also mixed, with some finding it good for both beginners and advanced readers, while others consider it overwhelming for beginners.

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148 customers mention "Insight"134 positive14 negative

Customers find this tarot book insightful and informative, providing a complete guide to card meanings with interesting interpretations.

"Smart. Interesting" Read more

"...Very insightful… drawing upon history, cultural traditions, and ideas for useful practice." Read more

"...very generic tarot playing cards, they were very simplistic and fascinating..I gave made up readings to my mom LOL and funny she marveled at how..." Read more

"A truly wonderful, thorough, in depth, guide to reading the tarot." Read more

11 customers mention "Value for money"11 positive0 negative

Customers find the book to be worth the investment, appreciating its great price.

"...: I want to say that the information found in this book is *extremely* valuable. I'm not even halfway through it and I'm already in love...." Read more

"...the book could be a challenge for the novice reader, but well worth the effort, especially if you're a reflective person...." Read more

"...I cannot recommend this book enough! It is worth every penny and you will refer to it frequently...." Read more

"...Worth reading, nevertheless, for the beginner/intermediate level tarot enthusiast...." Read more

11 customers mention "Visual quality"11 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the visual quality of the book, with good descriptions of the images and perspectives on the cards. One customer notes the inclusion of various styles of cards, while another mentions how it helps them see the cards in a different light.

"...Card illustrations in chapters and thoughtfully designed jkt. For $20 its a steal. When I read reviews of this I thought I better grab this one...." Read more

"...Pollack's book is an in-depth analysis of the imagery, esoteric meanings and background, etc. of the tarot deck based on Rider-Waite-Smith...." Read more

"...So this book is really opening up more to me and helping me see the cards in a different light." Read more

"...Great perspective on the cards - this book is packed full of useful info yet so easy to read." Read more

70 customers mention "Ease of reading"47 positive23 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the book's readability, with some finding it very understandable and good at explaining interpretations, while others report it being very hard to read and not easy to reference.

"...shop and found this very generic tarot playing cards, they were very simplistic and fascinating..I gave made up readings to my mom LOL and funny she..." Read more

"...gives a wonderful sense of the complexities of tarot, while keeping it to the basics, focusing on the foundations of learning rather than a host of..." Read more

"...However, my "inner academic" could not help but notice several typos and formatting errors...." Read more

"Book is informative and will written. Would recommend to anyone interested in the topic. No complaints." Read more

21 customers mention "Pacing"10 positive11 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the pacing of the book, with some finding it suitable for both beginners and advanced readers, while others mention it can be overwhelming for newcomers.

"...it focused more into comparing cards and past history and a lot of mumbo jumbo. What I wanted was clear simple definitions and explanations...." Read more

"...I think this book is excellent for intermediate students of the Tarot, and gives a wonderful sense of the complexities of tarot, while keeping it to..." Read more

"...However, I believe there is too much put into the imagery of the cards...." Read more

"...I have passed that road too, and yeah there are a lot of good books for beginner...." Read more

Typos and Formatting — Why?
4 out of 5 stars
Typos and Formatting — Why?
To start: I want to say that the information found in this book is *extremely* valuable. I'm not even halfway through it and I'm already in love. However, my "inner academic" could not help but notice several typos and formatting errors. Sometimes the letter 'i' will be substituted for an exclamation point '!' and this can be distracting. Here's what I think happened: because this book was originally two parts (that were merged into one), the og texts were scanned and converted into PDFs (so the text could be copy + pasted into one book). I truly believe some of the text did not get formatted correctly. I find it disappointing, as many of the footnotes are perfect (so someone *did* check the book for typos at some point). So, I can't help but wonder why some of the most obvious and silly things were glazed over. That being said, if you're a new tarot reader and want to start somewhere, I (still) *really* recommend this book — I have found it infinitely useful and I plan on keeping it forever. Just keep your sprinkles of salt on-hand 💜
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Top reviews from the United States

  • gg
    5.0 out of 5 stars Makes you think
    Reviewed in the United States on March 28, 2025
    Verified Purchase
    Smart. Interesting
    Helpful
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  • Deborah Bell
    5.0 out of 5 stars A WONDERFUL tarot guide!
    Reviewed in the United States on December 9, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    I have looked at a handful of tarot guides, and this is definitely at the top of my list now! Very insightful… drawing upon history, cultural traditions, and ideas for useful practice.
    Helpful
     Report
  • Jennifer Serrano
    5.0 out of 5 stars Must Have
    Reviewed in the United States on April 11, 2013
    Verified Purchase
    This Book is a Must Have....I have been interrested in learning the cards for many years...even as a elementary school child I remember going into a little corner store gift shop and found this very generic tarot playing cards, they were very simplistic and fascinating..I gave made up readings to my mom LOL and funny she marveled at how accurate they were...but sadly they got lost in the shuffle with toy parts in the bottom of my toy box...Prior every book I would pick up I would casually glance through and put back down...maybe it overwhelmed me..I just didn't feel a connection or desire to study the book. I own angel cards, spanish playing cards ect ect but never committed to any...SO...I read Seventy Eight Degrees of Wisdom unbelievable on a spiritual level it spoke to me..honestly everyday it was hard for me to put down I had to read the next page, the next page...I began to have more of an awareness of how it all is connected, me, the cards, my actions, energy, the universe..it all came alive to me..and as I would read the description's of the cards they came alive to me..I thought oooh wow that is so me or yep I know a person like that..I just recently purchased my first riders deck per a friends recommendation..boy have I been so stubborn LOL actually the Radiant Rider Deck and I am so excited to receive them...This book was so spiritual so philasophical so deep..she really elaborated the meanings and gave other perspectives. I felt like I could see the card in my head with just the black and white pictures in the book.so half way thru I ordered my deck...but I already feel like I know most of them and anticipating the secrets they want to whisper to me...This is not a book u loan :) noo noo noo this is a "Bible" Tarot Bible..which I will be rereading again and again....A Must Have for the Tarot and Spiritual Development :).......If anyone could recommend any spiritual tarot books and books on symbols that are very deep and enlightening......Jenny
    22 people found this helpful
    Helpful
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  • Lynholly
    5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic tarot guide
    Reviewed in the United States on November 6, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    A truly wonderful, thorough, in depth, guide to reading the tarot.
    Helpful
     Report
  • Rachel E. Watkins
    5.0 out of 5 stars A reference I'll be using for years to come.
    Reviewed in the United States on July 13, 2006
    Verified Purchase
    I was wary of buying a tarot book online, though I finally did make the decision to buy this book based on the reviews here as compared to the reviews of other tarot books. I've been rather impressed with this book. The author chose, wisely, to use the gold-standard in tarot, the Rider-Waite deck for her demonstrations and detailed study of the tarot symbolism. The Rider-Waite is widely available in both the original as well as other variations (I personally love the Universal Waite deck... same deck with prettier colors).

    I've waited for some time to review, but decided now would be as good a time as any since I can see that this is a book I will be working through for some time. I've given it a once-through, and have been using it as a reference since I bought it.

    This book emphasises learning and study (which takes years) over quick-fix guides to the tarot which suggest one could effectively read tarot in only minutes. And it is a long process, one I've been working on for over a decade casually, and one which I will continue to work on for years to come, aided by this very good reference.

    Seventy-Eight degrees of Wisdom also presents the use of the tarot without excess new-age trappings, focusing on the cards and their symbols themselves, not on extraneous things, particular religious views, or other things which I've read in scanning other tarot books.

    I think this book is excellent for intermediate students of the Tarot, and gives a wonderful sense of the complexities of tarot, while keeping it to the basics, focusing on the foundations of learning rather than a host of many spreads to use. May your journey of learning be fruitful.
    21 people found this helpful
    Helpful
     Report
  • Bailey
    4.0 out of 5 stars Typos and Formatting — Why?
    Reviewed in the United States on September 1, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    To start: I want to say that the information found in this book is *extremely* valuable. I'm not even halfway through it and I'm already in love.
    However, my "inner academic" could not help but notice several typos and formatting errors. Sometimes the letter 'i' will be substituted for an exclamation point '!' and this can be distracting.
    Here's what I think happened: because this book was originally two parts (that were merged into one), the og texts were scanned and converted into PDFs (so the text could be copy + pasted into one book). I truly believe some of the text did not get formatted correctly.
    I find it disappointing, as many of the footnotes are perfect (so someone *did* check the book for typos at some point). So, I can't help but wonder why some of the most obvious and silly things were glazed over.
    That being said, if you're a new tarot reader and want to start somewhere, I (still) *really* recommend this book — I have found it infinitely useful and I plan on keeping it forever. Just keep your sprinkles of salt on-hand 💜
    Customer image
    Bailey
    4.0 out of 5 stars
    Typos and Formatting — Why?

    Reviewed in the United States on September 1, 2024
    To start: I want to say that the information found in this book is *extremely* valuable. I'm not even halfway through it and I'm already in love.
    However, my "inner academic" could not help but notice several typos and formatting errors. Sometimes the letter 'i' will be substituted for an exclamation point '!' and this can be distracting.
    Here's what I think happened: because this book was originally two parts (that were merged into one), the og texts were scanned and converted into PDFs (so the text could be copy + pasted into one book). I truly believe some of the text did not get formatted correctly.
    I find it disappointing, as many of the footnotes are perfect (so someone *did* check the book for typos at some point). So, I can't help but wonder why some of the most obvious and silly things were glazed over.
    That being said, if you're a new tarot reader and want to start somewhere, I (still) *really* recommend this book — I have found it infinitely useful and I plan on keeping it forever. Just keep your sprinkles of salt on-hand 💜
    Images in this review
    Customer imageCustomer image
    2 people found this helpful
    Helpful
     Report
  • elena
    5.0 out of 5 stars Incredibly in-depth and well written💜
    Reviewed in the United States on August 15, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    I also invested in the audiobook to listen while I make long drives. Its storytelling nature makes it digestible and so interesting. As a baby tarot reader I appreciate all the wisdom and consideration she put into this work. Definitely buy!
    One person found this helpful
    Helpful
     Report
  • Wren McKenzie
    5.0 out of 5 stars Got it early!
    Reviewed in the United States on August 21, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    The book was just as described by the seller and I received it much sooner than expected! Very nice to have book one with book two :)
    Helpful
     Report

Top reviews from other countries

Translate all reviews to English
  • I wanted more symbolisim instead female and manly sruff but it's ok
    4.0 out of 5 stars Excelente para principiantes
    Reviewed in Mexico on April 1, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    Un libro completo y serio sobre cada carta del tarot en una narrativa casi perfecta
    Report
  • kerochan
    5.0 out of 5 stars お勧めします
    Reviewed in Japan on November 18, 2013
    Verified Purchase
    　一ヶ月ほど前に、全文和訳完了しました。心理学的な洞察をもとにしたタロット解読本といってもいいかと思います。
    メジャー・アルカナを7で分割するというのも面白かったし、スプレッドも類書にはないものがのっていて興味深かった。
    このような本が翻訳・出版されるならば日本のタロット理解もワンランクアップするのではと思うのですが。英文は分かりやすいです。
    魔術的なものとは違いますが、そうした傾向のものをお求めの方でも買いではないかと思います。『タロット・バイブル』という同じ著者の本も翻訳され出版されていますので、そちらを覗いて気に入ったらこれもいけると思う。タロット・リーダーならば読んで損はなしです。
    Report
  • Rota do autoconhecimento
    5.0 out of 5 stars The king IS NOT naked
    Reviewed in Brazil on June 19, 2022
    Verified Purchase
    I avoided this book for quite a long time because I had a feeling it would be one of those cases when everyone loves something - everyone compliments the king on his new apparel though they can't see it and are only afraid to sound stupid. Well, I was wrong. All the clichés I have read about this book are applicable:

    - It IS the best book on tarot I have read
    - My readings did reach another level
    - I did learn a lot about myself
    - It is the book you should read if you can only read one
    - I couldn't put this book down and finished it in record time. I actually felt sorry when it was over.

    I am not going into detais of the contents which many reviews have already addressed. Suffice it to say that I have read so many commonplace but well marketed books that added nothing. Rachel Pollack was a pleasure to read because she not only shares so much valuable knowledge; she uses language that is a joy to read and does not imply we are beginner readers as well as beginner tarot readers. She holds nothing back. Few books in my life have GIVEN me so much. Even if I give up tarot I will not regret reading 78 Degrees of wisdom.
    Report
  • Meah
    5.0 out of 5 stars Insightful and great for beginners
    Reviewed in Spain on April 16, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    This book is a classic for good reason.
    Even for more advanced tarot fanatics and/or readers, it's full of insights. The valuable intersection with history, psychology and symbolism is priceless. I use it as an inspirational guidance rather frequently. Totally recommend it
    Report
  • Amazon Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars This is a great book! I love the history and the archetypal ...
    Reviewed in Canada on May 20, 2018
    Verified Purchase
    This is a great book! I love the history and the archetypal explanation held in the book. This book helps to bring a deeper meaning of the cards. It's a wonderful addition to any library!
    Report