The Modern Witchcraft Book of Tarot: Your Complete Guide to Understanding the Tarot

This book gives you all the basics--how to choose a deck, how to lay out the cards, a brief history of tarot--before moving into a detailed analysis of the meaning of not only each card, but each suit, symbol, shape, color and number. It's very straightforward and organized, so it's perfect for beginners, or as a reference for more advanced users. What's more, it has useful information about the specific applications of some of the cards--"it might indicate this in questions about love or relationships, but this in questions about a career"--and their meanings if laid down upright vs. reversed.