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Rating: 
Summary: Great Introduction to The Tarot, for Beginners
Review: A.E. Waite is a well-respected author in the study of The Mysteries. However, this book is not his best work. To be honest, I never could bring myself to do more than read sections of this book. I coul dnever read it straight-through. However, given the system of Tarot, flip-throughs are usually all you need, to discover what you need to know. There are many better books on the the subject of How to Study The Tarot, but this is a good Beginner's lesson. So many people try to make the Study of Tarot a "cut & dry" issue (i.e., "this is the way it is....")--however, in actuality, it is a life-long process of Study, Experiment, and Collection of Knowledge. It is best to read books by Many authors of Many perspectives and study Jungian Psychology, as well. Consider this book a "first stepping-stone on the Path of Enlightenment."
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Summary: Good but extremly confusing to learn from.
Review: I bought this book along with a rider deck and hoped I would learn alot. Found out that there are things to learn from the book but the way he writes makes it hard to remember. For example: When he explains the cards he allost allways begin with explaining how others interpreted the card. Then he goes on to explain why they are wrong and later presents his opinions of the matter. This leads to some confusing moments trying to remember if it was something Waite didnt like or if I remember what he did approve of.
As a beginners book for raider tarot it is hard to learn from. I do belive I will read it again when I have learned the basics from another book. Waite was after all a legend in tarot and magic so I still belive it will be usefull after I learned the basics.
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Summary: A hard to read, obscure, and confusing little book.
Review: I've bought this book with expectations of getting loads of information in it, and was somewhat disappointed by it.The book suffers from several problems : - The book is a hard reading - Waite's style is obfuscated, which makes the non-trivial material harder to understand. - Waite doesnt tell the whole truth, and not even half of it, not to mention the inclusion of misinformation. Examples include unexplained symbols (symbols on charioteer's belt, the fool's clothings, and many others), desciption of the emptress being 'virgo intacta', etc. - Some of the cards' descriptions contradict, or at least appear to contradict, the pictures on the cards. - Waite borrows a lot from earlier writers, but then goes on to pass criticism on his sources and belittles them. So the book has to be read very carefuly, criticaly, and with a lot of patience. And those who do so *will* gain - the book is better than many of the instant tarot reading guides, giving truer and deeper information from the horse's mouth. I suggest people to read this book, but *not* as the first book on the deck, and preferably along with other material (e.g. books about the golden dawn, tarot history, or symbolism).
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Summary: Essential obfuscation!
Review: This book has some weaknesses. Some aspects are obscured and Waite's languages is more than a bit archaic (you never guess from the word usages, spelling, or grammar how relatively recent this book actually is) -- that many people could find it hard reading. However, for divinatory purposes, it provides plenty of information. Of special note, this is the only work I've found that at least touches on the meanings of certain numbers appearing together, and that in itself makes it a must have.
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Summary: Essential obfuscation!
Review: This book is essential to figuring out the RWS and clones Tarot decks, Waite's personal insights bring forth things in the cards that no one else can, even though others have perhaps tried harder to make things clear. Many Tarot student feel that Waite leaves out more than he actually discusses, like his Golden Dawn symbolism should be kept secret or something...yet what "little" he does give us is invaluable. If only one could time travel, tape him to his chair and make him write more! (Note: The "Original Rider-Waite" set comes with a version of this book, but this is the one with the original uncolored prints by Pamela Colman Smith, the one that comes in the set doesn't have the pictures and it's tiny, this edition I think is much superior.)
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Summary: Pictorial Tarot
Review: To begin I have been reading cards for well over 10 years and was taught by family members with regular playing cards. In relation to the standard Waite/Rider decks the meanings tend to be the same. When I converted to the tarot deck I purchased this book as a primer and tutorial reference. I have to say that if you are a beginner this book should probably not be the first of choice due to the reference-like short meanings for the cards. This is more of a condensed version. I do consult the book once and a while to confirm meanings and for different spread configurations but for the most part, it is and always has been reference only. Thanks, Vandella X
Rating:
Summary: Pictorial Tarot
Review: To begin I have been reading cards for well over 10 years and was taught by family members with regular playing cards. In relation to the standard Waite/Rider decks the meanings tend to be the same. When I converted to the tarot deck I purchased this book as a primer and tutorial reference. I have to say that if you are a beginner this book should probably not be the first of choice due to the reference-like short meanings for the cards. This is more of a condensed version. I do consult the book once and a while to confirm meanings and for different spread configurations but for the most part, it is and always has been reference only. Thanks, Vandella X
Rating: 
Summary: A must to help wade through the other "Tarot muck"
Review: Waite's pretentious as all get out, but he stresses that the tarot reader is "Boss". THat Tarot is esoteric, and above all, when there is question, it is the diviner him or her self that must come to the answer. THat is what it's all about. He's the first that stresed this. BUY THIS BOOK AND READ IT IF YOU READ TAROT
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Summary: Waite not at his best...
Review: While Waites influence and authority in the esoteric world is without question, and equally without question is the massive influence he had on the art and practise of tarot, this book is not his finest work. 'Pictorial Key' is tolarable as a simple catalogue of meanings (which now can be got at any number of web pages) and gives a simple spread it is deviod of any real explination of why and wherefore. It does not explain the principles underlying the construction of the tarot and the practical results that come with the understanding of those principles. I would even go as far as to say that Waite deliberatly obscured and provided misleading information, prehaps in order to keep his obligations of secrecy to the G.D. or his own Order. As a practical beginners text I would say look elsewhere for clearer texts that have expanded and illustrated what Waite has published in 'Pictorial Key'. For more advanced folk I would say the 'Pictorial Keys's best application would be to bury it in peat for several hundred years, dig it up and use it to light a fire. I gave it a rating of three purely for its historical importance. To rate it on a scale of usefulness would be to rate it several points lower.
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