Okay, I admit it.  I was all prepared to write a scathing review of The Complete Idiots Guide to Tarot and Fortune Telling written by Arlene Tognetti and Lisa Lenard and published by Alpha Books (ISBN 0-02-862737-7 $16.95).  But on a second run through the book for this review I found myself losing the "scathing" mood and moving into a "what a shame" frame of mind.

I bought the book because I am a grateful fan of the (Fill in the Blank) For Dummies books.  The shelf above my computer is lined with them and they have taught me enough about computers, html and web design to make me sound like I know what I'm doing at my day job.  But tarot is my heart, so a book that combined tarot and the practical "here's how you do it" of the "Dummies" series seemed right up my alley.  But at first read through, The Complete Idiot's Guide to Tarot and Fortune Telling was no "Dummies" book.
 
Anyone familiar with the "Dummies" series knows that they are chock full of references.  The "Dummies" series makes it clear that each book is an overview, a place to begin, a reference book.  All of the "Dummies" books I own list many references to other sources of information, nearly on every page.  These are sorely missing in The Complete Idiot's Guide to Tarot and Fortune Telling.  There is no bibliography, no booklist, and no "Other Resources" section to the book.  These items would have made this book complete --- possibly even the book I would recommend to beginning readers as a first "must have" book.  But without them, it misses the mark and becomes a book I will recommend to buy if you find it on sale.

Another useful item in the "Dummies" books are the reference cards meant to be removed from the front (or back) of the book and used as a "quick glance" reference.  The reference card included in The Complete Idiot's Guide to Tarot and Fortune Telling might as well be left in the book.  It includes the meanings for 4 Major Arcana cards and 4 Court Cards.  That's it.  A keyword chart for all cards, or correspondences for the four Minor Arcana suits would have been more helpful and these charts are actually included within the chapters of the book, as are many other great charts and tables. What an opportunity missed!

The tables and charts in the book are excellent references.  Other great sources for quick tarot information are the sections scattered throughout the book.  They are titled "Card Catalog" (explaining terminology); "In the Cards" (tarot trivia);  "Spinning the Wheel of Fortune" (reading tips); and "Fools Rush In" (warnings)   It is in this last section that possibly the
best advice for any tarot reader is included: "Are you secretly looking for an oracle to divine your true path and tell you what to do?  Avoid that temptation and listen to your own inner voice.  When you take responsibility for your decisions into your own hands, heart, and mind, Tarot can become a wonderful tool for personal exploration and growth.  But it's not a substitute for your Free Will.  Don't be a slave to the cards!"
 
Each chapter is summarized on its last page in a section titled "The Least You Need to Know".  Studying may be more focused if the reader reads these informational nuggets before going back and reading the actual chapter.

One flaw in the writing of this book, the flaw that originally had me in my "scathing" mood, was the continued stating of theories as fact.  As one example, the authors state that the Tarot has its roots in Hebrew Kabbalah and can be traced to Egyptian hieroglyphics.  These statements are unsubstantiated and offer no references for the student who wishes to
research further into the history of tarot.  Various theories regarding history, how the cards work, etc. are scattered throughout the copy of the book, always noticeably lacking substantiation or references.

The last quarter of the book is devoted to other methods of divination.  One chapter covers scrying, tea leaves, Ouija, handwriting analysis, palmistry, automatic writing, I Ching, crystal divination and Mah Jongg --- all in one chapter!  Another covers psychic development, reincarnation and channeling. Dream interpretation, astrology and numerology each warrants their own chapter.  Needless to say, these topics are glossed over, and again, the references for further study are noticeably missing.  Without the references, these topics might just as well have been left out of the book.

Over all, The Complete Idiot's Guide to Tarot and Fortune Telling is not a bad book.  And, maybe it will continue to reside on my bookshelf.  But at a price of $16.95 I still would not recommend this book, by itself, to a beginner.  Perhaps as a companion book to Mary Greer's Tarot for Your Self or Cynthia Giles' The Tarot: History, Mystery and Lore as examples.  It's really a shame.  There is some really good information in this book, but it lacks much that would complete it as a truly excellent reference/learner's book.

It's a good book to find on sale.
 
Guest review copyright 1999 by Daile Boulis; used with permission