17 Must-Read Tarot Books Listed from Beginner to Advanced (2020)

Growing and developing your tarot skills often means reading anything and everything you can get your hands on. This, however, can be a bit overwhelming. Especially when you are a total newbie in the world of tarot, as there are so many tarot books to choose from.

Where to start with so many options available, how do you know what to choose and what resonated with you?

As a tarot reader, I have sought many books about tarot to deepen my relationship with the cards and the tarot system. So before you spend hours searching for your first or next tarot book, check out this tarot book review list, which contains seventeen of my favorite books and guides on tarot.

Hopefully, in a few weeks from now, your bookshelf will color your little library with a lot more Tarot books and you can recommend some of your reads to me in the comments. But for now, without further ado, the ultimate tarot book list of 2019.

The Best Tarot Books Trending Today Reviewed

As starting with Tarot can sometimes be a bit overwhelming, I have selected a few of my favorite beginner tarot books and also included some of the top advanced tarot books for the more seasoned readers among us.

Please feel free to send me any tarot book suggestions of your own because I truly love diving in new ways of looking at spreads, cards, readings, and tarot guides.

*Some of the links below are affiliate links, which means that if you choose to make a purchase, I will earn a commission. This commission comes at no additional cost to you. To learn more, click here.*

Tarot Card Books for Beginners

When you’re just starting out with reading tarot cards and books, we suggest you take a look at the list below before proceeding with our more advanced tarot reading books. I have started with outlining more introductory tarot books and then touched on some specific beginners card reading books, followed up with tarot spreads books, to end with a book that teaches a more spiritual introduction in tarot readings and learnings.

The Ultimate Guide to Tarot – Liz Dean

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The Ultimate Guide to Tarot is definitely one of the best tarot books to start out with. I like to use this book as a guide as its easy-to-use, yet comprehensive enough. It provides easy to act on steps on how to begin reading and options for different card spreads, often followed by a detailed description of every card of the major as well as the minor arcana’s.

I personally return to The Ultimate Guide To Tarot Card Meanings time and time again when looking for a refresher. It’s comprehensive and accurate enough, yet easy to use. Therefore, I believe this is one of the best tarot books for beginners on the market. You won’t regret buying this book when you are just looking out to start with tarot and want a solid introduction.

The Easiest Way to Learn Tarot—Ever – Dusty White

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Do you want to have fun learning to hear what your cards are saying to you from day one? Then The Easiest Way to Learn the Tarot-Ever!! is the perfect book for you! Don’t be fooled by the lightened irreverent tone of the author. The information in this book is solid and the hands-on exercises are top-notch. With his unique, trademark confessional style, White will teach you the meaning of each of the 78 cards.

He will not let you memorize generic key-words. Instead, he included practical hands-on exercises for learning and working with the tarot. It will deepen your relationship with the cards. Also, it helps you develop skills for creating a system of meanings that are tailored to your unique instincts and intuition. The two exclamation points in the title are surely well earned.

Tarot Cards: A Beginners Guide of Tarot Cards – Julia Steyson

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Whereas the first mentioned books of this ultimate list provide a solid introduction in everything tarot, the focus in this book is more on the specific cards to enable one to be more aware and to see possibilities when normally it would be difficult.

The book explains the purpose of tarot cards and the meaning behind each specific card. Each card that is explained has a picture of that card with a clear explanation of what is to be seen, so you can recognize them when you see them, regardless of your card deck. The book also explains in detail, how to do a tarot reading and which spreads to use.

Especially for people with a background in eastern faiths like the Dao and Buddhism, this book is extra fascinating. Reading this beginner’s book, it becomes obvious the author has a true passion for tarot and even discusses the sacred nature of just picking the right tarot card deck for you. Definitely a must-have on your tarot bookshelf.

Easy Tarot: Learn to Read the Cards – Josephine Ellershaw

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Created especially for beginning tarot readers, this Easy Tarot kit is the easiest way to learn to read Tarot cards. In the Easy Tarot Handbook, the author Josephine shares mind-tricks, shortcuts, and valuable time-saving techniques to improve your card reading and general knowledge.

This is book makes it very easy and simplified that anyone can learn with this method. This tarot book explains everything and as long as you follow the directions in the book exactly, you can learn the exact tarot reading process within a couple of days.

365 Tarot Spreads: Revealing the Magic in Each Day – Sasha Graham

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Once you have mastered the basics of tarot reading, you’ll want to explore new spreads. As described in the Ultimate Tarot Beginners Guide the most given advice to beginners is to learn the tarot by pulling a daily card. This book applies this advice also to learning new spreads by providing a tarot spread for every day of the year.

Every spread in the book connects to a historical or magical event that happened on that day and is accompanied by detailed information and sample questions to focus on. With 365 Tarot Spreads: Revealing the Magic in Each Day you will have a great journey to realize enlightenment every day of the year.

Power Tarot: More Than 100 Spreads – Trish MacGregor

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Another great book to learn tarot spreads is Power Tarot: More Than 100 Spreads That Give Specific Answers to Your Most Important Question. This book contains a good beginner’s guide to the tarot but also contains nearly 100 pages of tarot spreads.

These spreads are organized by how many cards they require. You can start with the single card “Yes/No” spread, but can also test your tarot skills with the comprehensive twenty-four card spread of the Double Horoscope.

Power Tarot, while not going as in-depth into the history of the cards as I would have preferred (which is great for beginners), does a very clear and concise summary of the use and origin of the tool.

There is also a good long explanation, not only of each card but how the cards can interact with each other. In addition, the authors also included empowerment meanings for each card. This is very helpful when you want to explain the usage of the cards in spells and incantations.

Seventy-Eight Degrees of Wisdom: A Book of Tarot – Rachel Pollack

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No tarot book list is complete without the classic Seventy-Eight Degrees of Wisdom Often cited as one of the landmark books in modern tarot, it will help you develop a relationship with your cards and your own spiritual side.

This book draws on history, mythology, and philosophy, and delves deeply into the symbolism and meaning of each card. In addition, it introduces common and practical spreads. As such, it is a clear and readable book. Deep and rich with information for both the beginning and advanced tarot student.

The author of this book, Rachel Pollack, is considered one of the world’s foremost authorities on the modern interpretation of the tarot. Rachel is not only a member of the American Tarot Association, the International Tarot Society, and the Tarot Guild of Australia but also has taught at the famous Omega Institute for the past 15 years.

Tarot Card Books for Advanced Readers

After finishing the beginner’s section of tarot books, we can now move on to the more advanced section to build more confidence in your readings, to apply astrology and get more perspective on the history and spiritual meanings of your spreads.

Tarot Beyond the Basics: Gain a Deeper Understanding of the Meanings Behind the Cards – Anthony Louis

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This is one of the first books I would recommend once you finished reading our beginner’s book list on tarot. It is truly a level-up in reading tarot that teaches you how to become an advanced practitioner. This book emphasizes the influences of astrology and shares how-to instructions for working with reversals, number symbolism, intuition, the four elements, and the philosophical roots of tarot.

A perfect follow up to take your readings to the next level and to deepen your advanced tarot knowledge. There is a good balance in this book between historicity, research, and personal opinion that is appealing and readable, and I know in time, I will go back and reread the chapters on the astrological influence at times when I need a refreshment.

Advanced Tarot Secrets – Dusty White

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This book reveals the advanced spread techniques and trade secrets used by the top psychics, tarot readers and mediums in this world on a daily basis. This is an advanced how-to tarot handbook for professionals who charge anywhere from $100 to $1,000 an hour. I really improved my accuracy and strengtheneth my intuition and reads by practicing the exercises and playing the games detailed in this book.

When you want to take your readings to the next level and be different than others, this is the book is the training you need to become a truly proficient tarot reader. Warning: a strong foundation and trust with your tarot deck are needed before you work on the secrets in this book. Otherwise, things just won’t fall into place and this advanced tarot book will be a waste of time, energy and money. 

21 Ways to Read a Tarot Card – Mary Greer

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This is also a great book to consider after you finished some of the beginner tarot books. Just as the twenty-six letters of the alphabet can be combined to form billions of words, Greer’s twenty-one methods can be used in any combination for gaining amazing new tarot insights. The techniques described in 21 Ways to Read a Tarot Card will help you to build your confidence to read on your own without the aid of a manual or a guide.

You learn how to read at the moment, without being tied to a book to consult each card’s meaning. This will result in a more present reading in which you are more open to the messages flowing through the cards. By mastering the 21 different methods, you will make progress to move from a beginner to an intermediate tarot reader.

Holistic Tarot: An Integrative Approach to Using Tarot for Personal Growth – Benebell Wen

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This book leaves out nothing. It covers beginners topics like picking out your deck and card meanings, as well as intermediate and advanced subjects, like how to use the tarot for improving relationships, professional development, and personal resilience.

Advanced readers will also enjoy the nuanced theoretical discussions of the tarot. The book will teach you to tune with your inner self by reflecting on card imagery, meanings, and associations. As Holistic Tarot: An Integrative Approach to Using Tarot for Personal Growth is so all-inclusive. You will return to it over and over again!

Tarot and Astrology: Enhance Your Readings with the Wisdom of the Zodiac – Corrine Kenner

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The science of astrology is a very important system to incorporate with your tarot readings, as it links intrinsically with tarot for six centuries. In this user-friendly book, Kenner makes it easy to explore and learn from this fascinating intersection, even if you have no astrology knowledge at all.

She will help you start your journey by discussing both the tarot and astrology basics, the cards’ archetypal symbols and imagery, the twelve signs of the zodiac, and the planets.

Tarot and Astrology: Enhance Your Readings with the Wisdom of the Zodiac will teach you to combine tarot and astrology for yourself―and expand your tarot practice while enriching your life.

Tarosophy – Marcus Katz

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Certainly, not the least book on my list is Tarosophy written by Marcus Katz. The book features a collection of all the knowledge and wisdom Katz has gained upon 30 years of studying, reading, researching, and teaching tarot. He successfully combined academic rigor with practical experiences.

With 50 unique exercises and detailed reading lists, it will give you a lot of tips and ideas that will help you explore the wisdom of the cards in a playful manner. It really is an eye-opener for tarot readers who want to go deeper. I’ve really enjoyed reading this book and recommended it to all my tarot minded friends, so I would entice you to definitely read it too!

The Essential Lenormand: Your Guide to Precise & Practical Fortunetelling – Rana George

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Not so much an advanced tarot reading book, but more so a book on general fortunetelling. I choose to include this book on the list to broaden your scope on card-readings to further improve your skills and abilities. For over 150 years, the Lenormand deck has been a popular divination tool around the world and a must-read if you want to become a top reader.

From simple questions to critical dilemmas, the Lenormand provides a glimpse of the future when you need it most. The Essential Lenormand includes old-school reading methods, modern techniques, tricks and tips for working with multiple spreads, and ways to use the Lenormand within your next tarot reading.

Bonus: Best Tarot Coloring Books

Whenever I need a little break from the ‘heavy’ teachings some of the above books, I like to switch to some mindful coloring. Below my favorite three tarot coloring books to inspire and spark more creativity while working on mastering the beautiful world of tarot.

The Tarot Coloring Book – Theresa Reed

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This coloring book is just AWESOME. Even as a beginning tarot reading you can literally color your way through every card in the deck―and go from “Tarot rookie” to “Tarot master” in no time. Talking about a fun way to learn how to tarot, right?

Created especially for new practitioners and people who’ve been intimidated by Tarot, this guide was created to help you get going immediately with a Tarot practice that will only grow and deepen. Beautifully spiral bound it has large reproductions of the Rider-Waite-Smith tarot deck, with major and minor arcana, with suggested colorings, and ideas to spark creativity for going outside of the suggestions.

The Tarot Card Adult Coloring Book – G.C. Carter

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Whether you are new to the tarot or an experienced reader, The Tarot Card Adult Coloring Book will help you discover and explore the cards in a new and playful way. However, there is no info given about the cards so if you want to learn tarot while coloring I suggest you go with the first tarot coloring book. This book is great if you’re looking to practice your coloring skills on all cards and give your own personal twist on a deck that’ll become truly yours.

Coloring Book of Shadows: Tarot Journal – Amy Cesari

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What’s different about this tarot coloring book is that it is not focused on coloring the tarot cards but all the beauty and magic around tarot. This coloring book takes you on a magical ride of exploring richly illustrated note pages, different tarot spreads, magic spells, and so much more as you follow your intuitive path in this enchanting tarot coloring journal. Truly one of my favorites when I need a little break of life and want to go down the rabbit hole like Alice in Wonderland.

Choosing your Tarot Book and Card Decks

I’m truly happy to be able to share these books which I also recommend to my students who are starting on their journey through tarot. And now, more than ever, people are looking for answers within. Through our readings, cards, and books we will find more meaning and through the community, we are building online and offline we will find better ways to apply that meaning and spark more joy to those around us.

As I mentioned at the beginning of this article, this list is by no means complete. I revise my list (too) often because although there are some classic tarot books that are there to stay forever, there are also new books published with modern takes and stunning tarot designs from new upcoming readers and our community.

Hopefully, you can leave your thoughts in the comments below and let me know which tarot book you like best. Once read and approved, I’ll make sure to add it to this ultimate tarot book list with kudos to you!

Will you let our community know your favorite tarot book?