25 Tarot Books You MUST Read If You Want To Grow Your Tarot Skills!

When I was a child, my mother used to say that I “always had my nose in a book”.

This is still true to this day – I am always reading something. In fact, I collect more books about tarot than actual tarot decks.

There are many great books about tarot on the market today (and more coming out every day). Here are some of my absolute favorite tarot books that I love to recommend:

(This list is not in any particular order nor is this list complete – you may have other favorites or may disagree with my choices. Also please note: some books may be out of print.)

Seventy-Eight Degrees of Wisdom: A Book of Tarot by Rachel Pollack – deep and rich with information, no list is complete without this book. If I did have to pick a favorite, this may be it.
Learning the Tarot: A Tarot Book for Beginners by Joan Bunning – based on her online course, this book will get any tarot newbie reading the tarot proficiently in no time.
Mary K. Greer’s 21 Ways to Read a Tarot Card by Mary Greer – novel ideas to expand your tarot skills.
The Complete Book of Tarot Reversals (Special Topics in Tarot Series) by Mary Greer – I’m a fan of reversals (they are not mandatory by the way) and this is THE book for those of us who choose to read upside down. (Honorable mention: Joan Bunning also has a good book on reversals, Learning Tarot Reversals )
The Complete Tarot Reader: Everything You Need to Know from Start to Finish by Teresa Michaelson – this book has a massive amount of information – it’s like a little encyclopedia
Tarot Masterclass by Paul Fenton-Smith – this book should get way more accolades than it does. One of my faves.
The Tarot Handbook: Practical Applications of Ancient Visual Symbols by Angeles Arrien – featuring the Thoth deck, this book will help you to understand tarot clearly – even if you do not read with the Thoth deck
The Way of Tarot: The Spiritual Teacher in the Cards by Alejandro Jodorowsky and Marianne Costa – This profound book gets super deep with the Marseille deck. How I wish I would have had this book when I first started out!
Tarot Plain and Simple by Anthony Louis – loads of interpretations and a slant towards beginners, this is the book I recommend to all my students
Understanding the Tarot Court (Special Topics in Tarot Series) by Mary Greer – face it, the Court cards are one of the hardest suits for any tarotist to master. Greer spells it all out with clarity. LOVE this one.
Tarot: A New Handbook for the Apprentice, Classic Ed (Connolly Tarot) by Eileen Connolly – this is the first tarot book I ever got my hands on. It’s still a treasured favorite. Some might be put off by her Christian undertones but I find the interpretations to be pure gold. I love all of her works.
SuperTarot: New Techniques for Improving Your Tarot Reading by Sasha Fenton – the revised version came out recently. The techniques contained within will help you expand your tarot skills.
Unlocking the Secret Language of Tarot: 22 Keys to Understanding Its Symbolic Imagery by Ruth Ann and Wald Amberstone – a fantastic book detailing the symbols in the tarot cards.
Tarot for Life: Reading the Cards for Everyday Guidance and Growth by Paul Quinn – A modern book with real-life examples of tarot readings, this one will help you bring your readings to life.
Best Tarot Practices: Everything You Need to Know to Learn the Tarot by Marcia Masino – another great book that tends to be overlooked, this one has novel exercises and good advice on reading tarot professionally.
Tarot: No Questions Asked: Mastering the Art of Intuitive Reading by Theresa Reed (that’s me!). Learn how to read tarot intuitively – and become a more confident reader.
Beyond the Celtic Cross: Secret Techniques for Taking Tarot to an Exciting New Level by Paul Hughes Barlow and Catherine Chapman – a very different approach to tarot – card counting and elemental dignities explained in a conversational format.
Rachel Pollack’s Tarot Wisdom: Spiritual Teachings and Deeper Meanings by Rachel Pollack – once again, Pollack delivers an impeccable and thought-provoking book with new insights for the modern tarot reader.
Classic Tarot Spreads by Sandor Konraad – I’ve had this book for years and learned many a good spread from it.
Tarot and the Tree of Life: Finding Everyday Wisdom in the Minor Arcana by Isabel Radow Kliegman for a glimpse on how Kabbalah weaves through the Minor Arcana.
Tarot Decoded: Understanding and Using Dignities and Correspondences by Elizabeth Hazel – every single dignity and correspondence you can imagine is featured here.
Archetypal Tarot: What Your Birth Card Reveals About Your Personality, Your Path, and Your Potential by Mary Greer – this is a fantastic book that gives deep insights on your personality, life, and journey based on your “birth card”.
The Ultimate Guide to Tarot: A Beginner’s Guide to the Cards, Spreads, and Revealing the Mystery of the Tarot by Liz Dean. A must have book for tarot lovers, both newbie and advanced.
Tarot Wisdom by Rachel Pollack – One of my favorite books. I use this all the time.
The Tarot Coloring Book by Theresa Reed Part coloring book, part tarot manual – 100% fun! Learn tarot in a hands-on experiential way as you color your way through the entire deck.

New additions to the list:

The Cards You’re Dealt – How To Deal When Life Gets Read: A Tarot Guidebook by Theresa Reed. My guide to delivering compassionate tarot readings in tough situations.

The Weiser Tarot Journal by Theresa Reed. Finally, a tarot journal that meets my picky standards!

The Inner Tarot by Kate Van Horn. An excellent deep dive into tarot for self-care and reflection.

Tarot in Love: Consulting the Cards in Matters of the Heart by Elliot Adam. The ultimate book for relationship readings.

Tarot for the Hard Work: An Archetypal Journey to Confront Racism and Inspire Collective Healing by Maria Minnis. An excellent workbook for tarot as a tool for anti-racism.

Magical Tarot: Your Essential Guide to Reading the Cards by Madam Pamita. A brilliant guide that takes your skills to the next level.

Finding the Fool: A Tarot Journey to Radical Transformation by Meg Jones Wall. This book is a deep dive into your soul. So, so good.

Lessons from the Empress: A Tarot Workbook for Self-Care and Creative Growth by Cassandra Snow and Siri Vincent Plouff. This book blew me away – I wish I wrote it!

Modern Tarot: Connecting with Your Higher Self through the Wisdom of the Cards by Michelle Tea. A smart, funny guide to tarot. Loved reading this one!

Create Your Own Tarot Cards: A Step-by-step Guide To Designing A Unique And Personalized Tarot Deck by Theresa Reed and Adrianne Hawthorne. A sweet little book with instructions on how to paint your own tarot deck – plus it comes with cards so you can make your own personalized deck!

The Living Tarot: Connecting the Cards to Everyday Life for Better Readings by T. Susan Chang. I love everything she does. This new book helps you find the cards in your daily life. So smart!

Books added awhile back:

Guided Tarot: A Beginner’s Guide to Card Meanings, Spreads, and Intuitive Exercises for Seamless Readings by Stefani Caponi. An easy to use workbook that will help you grok tarot in no time!

Tarot for One: The Art of Reading for Yourself by Courtney Weber. Yes, you can read for yourself. Courtney shows you how in this helpful book.

Queering the Tarot by Cassandra Snow. An LGBTQAI+ tarot book every reader will want on their shelves.

The Creative Tarot: A Modern Guide to an Inspired Life by Jessa Crispin. An intriguing look at tarot through a creative lens.

Tarot for Self-Care: How to Use Tarot to Manifest Your Best Self by Minerva Siegel. Learn how to use tarot for self-care.

Tarot for Change: Using the Cards for Self-Care, Acceptance, and Growth by Jessica Dore. A therapeutic approach to tarot.

Tarot for Beginners: A Practical Guide to Reading the Cards by Barbara Moore – the easiest beginner book out there, this one will appeal to absolute newbies and those who are really sure they can’t “get it”. Moore shows you that you CAN.

Tarot 101: Mastering the Art of Reading the Cards by Kim Huggens – excellent exercises, good reading list suggestions, and a unique format make this book one you cannot miss. Good for all levels

Fearless Tarot: How to Give a Positive Reading in Any Situation by Elliot Adam. Learn how to make even the harshest reading helpful and soothing!

Advanced Tarot: An In-Depth Guide to Practical & Intuitive Tarot Reading by Paul Fenton-Smith. This book delivers – you’ll grow your skills if you start here.

Truly Easy Tarot by Mantis. The perfect book for beginners!

The Big Book of Tarot: How to Interpret the Cards and Work with Tarot Spreads for Personal Growth by Joan Bunning. Bunning does it again with this huge and useful book!

The Power of Tarot by Liz Worth. I love this book – it’s so wise!

Tarot For Troubled Times by Shaheen Miro and Theresa Reed. A book that explores shadow work, birth cards, difficult situations, and self-care.

Tarot For Yourself by Mary K. Greer. Updated and essential for every tarot library.

The New Tarot Handbook: Master the Meanings of the Cards by Rachel Pollack. Once again, Rachel delivers essential tarot info.

Tarot: Your Everyday Guide by Janina Renee – this book focuses on using tarot for dispensing advice.

Tarot Elements: Five Readings to Reset Your Life by Melissa Cynova. This unique book has a series of spreads designed to help you un-fuck your life.

Llewellyn’s Complete Book of the Rider-Waite-Smith Tarot: A Journey Through the History, Meaning, and Use of the World’s Most Famous Deck by Sasha Graham. This is a MUST have for every tarot library!

Positively Tarot: A Modern Guide to a Mindful Life by Emma Toynbee. This book is so rich and fabulous.

The Book of Tarot: A Guide for Modern Mystics by Danielle Noel. I love this book. It’s really good!

Your Tarot Court: Read Any Deck With Confidence by Ethony Dawn. A super guide to understanding the Court Cads, one of the trickiest parts of tarot.

Tarot Inspired Life: Use the Cards to Enhance Your Life by Jaymi Elford. This creative book shows you how to work with tarot in many different ways.

Kitchen Table Tarot by Melissa Cynova – a fun, down-to-earth look at the tarot.

Modern Tarot: Connecting with Your Higher Self through the Wisdom of the Cards by Michelle Tea. One of my recent faves – this book is smart, edgy, and personal. I love it!

The Ultimate Guide to Tarot: A Beginner’s Guide to the Cards, Spreads, and Revealing the Mystery of the Tarot by Liz Dean. A clear, comprehensive dive into the tarot. No wonder this book is such a best seller!

WTF is Tarot?: …& How Do I Do It? by Bakara Winter. A hip and modern take on tarot.

Holistic Tarot: An Integrative Approach to Using Tarot for Personal Growth by Benebell Wen – this may be the mother of all tarot books! At over 800 pages and almost three pounds, this hefty book is full of on-point tarot information, useful spreads, and wise instruction. This book belongs on every serious tarot reader’s shelf. A MUST HAVE.

Tarot Diva: Ignite Your Intuition Glamourize Your Life Unleash Your Fabulousity! by Sasha Graham – don’t dismiss the fun, sassy tone here. This book packs a lot of punch and is a joy to read.

365 Tarot Spreads: Revealing the Magic in Each Day by Sasha Graham – you’ll never run out of tarot spreads with this book!

Tarot Coupling: Resources & Resolutions for Relationship Readings by Gina Thies – uncover relationship issues and solutions with this wise book.

Tarot Spreads: Layouts & Techniques to Empower Your Readings by Barbara Moore – think you can’t create a tarot spread? Think again. Moore helps even the most non-creative types learn how to craft wonderful custom spreads! I LOVE this book.

Everyday Tarot: A Choice Centered Book by Gail Fairfield – super practical and useful, this book takes tarot from away from divination towards self-development.

The Tarot Activity Book: A Collection of Creative and Therapeutic Ideas for the Cards by Andy Matzner – a unique tarot spin with therapeutic exercises and games that take tarot in a whole new direction.

Tarot and Astrology: Enhance Your Readings With the Wisdom of the Zodiac by Corrine Kenner – finally, a book that brilliantly weaves tarot and astrology together!

Psychic Tarot: Using Your Natural Psychic Abilities to Read the Cards by Nancy Antenucci and Melanie Howard – if you are an intuitive reader, you need to get your hands on this book.

Tarot Beyond the Basics: Gain a Deeper Understanding of the Meanings Behind the Cards by Anthony Louis – this new book promises to become an instant classic! I just got it and am LOVING it.

101 Tarot Spreads by 20 Modern Tarot Masters by Sheilaa Hite – join Sheilaa and 20 other tarot readers (including me!) for a fab tour through some amazing tarot spreads.

As I stated above, this list is by no means complete. I revise my list often because although there are the classics that stand the test of time, there are also good things coming out from our talented tarot community constantly.

Happy reading!

Theresa

Updated 7/3/24

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