The best books to learn how to read Tarot

Rachel Pollack is one of my Tarot heroes (the woman even created her own deck).

Her guidebook is a Tarot-reading classic as well as one of the books that got me started down my Tarot-research wormhole. In this book, she explores the meanings of the cards using archetypes, numerology, and folklore. And she does this in a way accessible to modern readers. 

But this is more than a book on card symbolism. The book also includes sample readings to help readers get an understanding of how to read the cards. Simply put, you cannot go wrong with Rachel Pollack. Her writing is clear, relevant, and insightful. She knows her stuff.

It’s said that court cards can be the trickiest for Tarot readers to interpret. This was certainly true for me when I was starting out, so Understanding the Tarot Court became invaluable to me. 

Mary K. Greer is another Tarot classicist and has spent decades delving into the history and usage of Tarot. The book goes deep into the symbolism and meanings of various cards—both upright and reversed—even going so far as to equate them to Myers-Briggs personality types.

Perhaps more importantly, it also has excellent explanations of how to read these quirky cards. 

Robert Place is my favorite Tarot historian and artist.

What I love about this book is that he writes it in such a way that his discussion of the history of the cards makes it easier to understand and remember their symbolism (always useful when you’re trying to read Tarot). It also has detailed descriptions of different spreads.

But to my mind, it’s just a fun, interesting read, and a book I’ve turned to many a time for research and reading purposes.

When I was first learning to read Tarot, one of my big challenges was understanding how the cards worked together.

I eventually came up with my own method. But if I’d had this book when I was starting out, I would have figured things out much more quickly. 

Diane Wing goes into all the basics of Tarot reading, including some of the more metaphysical elements. But this book’s strength is the extensive Tarot combinations section.

If understanding how the cards fit together is something you’re struggling with, this is your book.

Today’s Tarot decks tend to be clones of one of the three main “models”: The Rider-Waite-Smith, the Marseille, and the Thoth Deck.

Most books on reading Tarot reference the former, the Rider-Waite-Smith. But if you’re going to get serious about reading, it’s useful to have an understanding of the Marseille deck.

When I first picked up a Marseille deck, however, I put it down pretty quickly. No symbols on the Minor Arcana? How was I supposed to read the cards without rote memorization (which I hate)?

But the Marseille style is based on the original Tarot decks from Renaissance Italy, and they’re more typically used in Europe. This deck is important. So when I found this book, despite my misgivings about ever understanding the deck, I decided to give it a read. 

What a revelation. There actually are symbols on the Minor Arcana—they’re just subtle. Using numerology and an explanation of the symbols, the author reveals a clear and simple way to read these cards.

I also appreciated his discussion of what he calls “open reading,” using the cards as triggers for your own subconscious and your culture’s meanings for the symbols.

Finally, I have the paperback version of this book, and it is one of the most beautiful paperbacks in my library. Between the high paper quality, the full-color illustrations, and the thoughtful layout, this book is a delight.