Does anybody have any good book recommen

Here are a few that have held up well, sorted by what kind of learner you are. I can't verify current editions or prices right now, but the books themselves have been around long enough that they're easy to find in libraries and used bookstores.

The foundational one

Seventy-Eight Degrees of Wisdom — Rachel Pollack
The book most long-time tarot readers say they came back to. Covers every card in depth, but reads more like a thoughtful essay per card than a dictionary. Good if you want to understand *why* a card means what it means, not just memorize keywords.

The workbook (if you learn by doing)

Tarot for Yourself — Mary K. Greer
Half reference, half journaling prompts. Built around the idea that you learn tarot by reading for yourself regularly and noting what happens. Pairs naturally with a one-card-a-day practice.

The image-first one (matches the way I suggested you learn)

The Way of Tarot: The Spiritual Teacher in the Cards — Alejandro Jodorowsky
Heavy on image and story, light on keyword lists. Each Major Arcana gets a long meditation on the picture rather than a definition. Useful if "look at the picture, then make up a sentence" is how your brain actually works.

One newer, more comprehensive option

Holistic Tarot — Benebell Wen
Thick, more like a textbook. Covers tarot history, multiple spreads, and reading techniques in one volume. Best if you want *one* book that does everything, not three smaller ones. Skip if you want something gentle to start — it can overwhelm a beginner.

How I'd actually pick

• "I want one book and to feel held" → Greer.
• "I want to understand tarot deeply, not just use it" → Pollack.
• "I want to learn by looking, not reading definitions" → Jodorowsky.
• "I want one volume that does everything" → Wen, accept that it's dense.

A few things worth skipping at the start

• Pure keyword dictionaries (those big "1001 meanings" books) — they teach you to look up, not to read.
• Anything that promises tarot can predict exact dates, names, or diagnoses. That's not tarot, it's a sales pitch.
• Decks that come with a "beginner-only" simplified book — they usually teach a watered-down version you'll have to unlearn.

Honest limit

I can teach you the method and walk you through readings, but I can't browse a bookstore or check what's in stock near you. If you tell me a city, I can look up nearby bookstores; if you want, I can also pull a single practice card right now so you have something concrete to anchor whatever book you choose.

Want me to pull one practice card, or look up bookstores in your city?