Review by Choice Review
Authored by astrologer and occultist Bartlett, The Secrets of the Universe in 100 Symbols is a lush, vibrant compendium of symbols and esoteric systems through the ages from around the world. A brief introduction outlines the organization of the book into its four chapters, "The Natural World," "The Divine World," "Signs and Systems," and "The Mystical World." The author asserts that the symbols were carefully selected but does not provide any explicit basis for her choices for inclusion. Within each chapter, two-page illustrated "catalogue" inserts treat such topics as "Mesopotamian Deities," "Tarot Cards," and "Protective Amulets." The clearly written entries are about 300 words long, and entries (e.g., "Ark of the Covenant") often segue into related subjects (e.g., "Cherubim and Seraphim"). The topics begin with nature-based symbols, such as the scarab, rainbow, or butterfly; work up in complexity to systems such as chakras and mandalas; and culminate with mystical manipulations such as oracle bones and tarot cards. There are no scholarly references. Beautifully produced with numerous color illustrations and suitable for browsing, the work is recommended primarily for generalists and undergraduates. Summing Up: Recommended. Undergraduates; general readers; practitioners. --Gretchen M. Herrmann, SUNY College at Cortland
Copyright American Library Association, used with permission.
Review by Booklist Review
This curated collection of objects, emblems, icons, and motifs from a variety of cultures during every period of history attempts to illuminate and explain the complex way in which human civilizations have represented their relationships with each other and the divine. The symbols are categorized into four sections: The Natural World, which includes the butterfly, skull, and handprint; The Divine World, featuring the all-seeing eye, tree of life, and the ark of the covenant; Signs and Systems, such as cuneiform, playing cards, and the golden ratio; and The Mystic World, including the evil eye, labyrinth, and baresman. A one-page introduction to each chapter sets up the context of the category, providing a broad explanation of the inspiration human culture has drawn from it over time. Individual symbols are given a two-page spread that includes a general account of the understood meaning of each and a brief synopsis of its place within specific cultures. Annotated illustrations and color photos of the symbol complete each entry. Individual symbols within broad categories that are included in each chapter such as flowers, serpents, Hindu deities, and tarot cards are presented as a double-page span of 12 symbols, each with an illustration and explanatory paragraph. The glossy presentation and bite-size pieces of information make this a good choice for the browsing collection of public libraries.--Szwarek, Magan Copyright 2010 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Library Journal Review
The beautifully depicted signs, symbols, and objects in this work by astrologer Bartlett (Tarot Bible) illustrate 100 attempts to make sense of the world and our place in it. They are divided equally among chapters that cover "The Natural World," "The Divine World," "Signs and Systems," and "The Mystic World." The introduction explains what symbols are and their importance throughout history. It outlines the coverage in the book and discusses the "catalog pages" that illustrate groups of 12 symbols from various traditions. The entries that follow generally portray on a two-page spread each, an item and its history-handprints on cave walls in Argentina, the breastplate of Aaron, -Vitruvian Man. Several entries address a type of item, such as tefillin (phylacteries worn by Jews), playing cards, or Fibonacci series. In many cases the book goes into extra detail. The summary on the Hindu elephant-headed god Ganesha, for example, is accompanied by information on Kangi-ten, a Japanese pair of gods that are male and female -elephants, and followed by pages on Hindu deities generally. Entries are accompanied by vivid reproductions of artworks. The accompanying captions provide basic facts on the items, though the descriptions are at times quite general rather than offering thorough explanations on the particular object shown. Since the spreads are fascinating but brief, some may wish for further reading advice that is unfortunately lacking. Still, this is a wonderful browse and a great jumping-off point for reports on history, mythology, and religion. -VERDICT Books on 100 objects of various kinds are common now yet usually address history rather than signs and symbols. This is therefore a worthwhile addition to public library reference shelves.-Henrietta Verma, Library Journal © Copyright 2015. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
