Forget all the stereotypes. No old crones with shawls and crystal balls here. Just lots of fun, practical advice about how tarot applies to our modern lives. When I started tarot, I bought about a dozen books to guide me, including the classic texts. The Smart Girl' Guide to Tarot has definitely become my favorite and most valuable resource for interpretting cards. Unlike most authors who describe vague possible meanings, Emmi Fredericks gives witty and concrete guidance. Fredericks clearly knows her stuff, and she's careful to include both traditional and alternative interpretations.

Much as I love this book and consider it a "must have" for any tarot enthusiast, it isn't comprehensive. It glosses over the history of tarot and doesn't do a great job teaching about tarot spreads. The illustrations are fun but don't show the classic symbolism you'll need to thoroughly interpret the cards.

As a book for beginners and/or those who are hesitant to buy a book on tarot, this is great. I like her examples of interpretation, real life stories, and how her own biases in readings have affected things. I also like her interpretations of the cards and their meanings, and this is one of the few books I've read where I pretty much agree with both the upright and reversed interpretations of the cards. I'd highly recommend it as a good starter book to get.