The 10 best astrology books, according to professional astrologers

Beginner

A practical guide for understanding all things astrology

Learning astrology can get complex quickly, but this book approaches the subject in a fun, casual style — as if you’re chatting with a friend. “April delivers exactly what the title promises: the whole kitchen sink of astrology, in a conversational style that makes potentially confounding concepts crystal clear,” says Elisabeth Grace, a consulting astrologer, writer, teacher, and conference speaker.

For example, the book addresses seemingly counterintuitive parts of astrology, like why horoscopes show southern planets above the horizon and northern planets below. “Thanks to April, I can now explain it in a few pithy sentences to a befuddled student,” adds Grace.

A beginner, hands-on astrology workbook to help you practice

This book breaks down astrology into an easily understandable format, with questions at the end of each section to apply what you’ve learned. It can be helpful to have a journal or notebook handy or jot down notes directly into the book.

This book comes recommended as a “thoroughly entertaining and fascinating guide to the language of astrology” by Amy Zerner and Monte Farber, astrologers, creators of The Enchanted World, and co-authors of the bestselling astrology books “Astrology for Wellness” and “Mindful Astrology: Finding Peace of Mind According to Your Sun, Moon, and Rising Sign.”

An astrology book that will help you finally understand Sun/Moon combinations

Weekly or monthly horoscopes often broadly focus on a person’s Sun sign, but astrology is much more layered than that. This book focuses on all the possible 144 combinations of Sun and Moon signs, helping you understand how they work together.”

The ability to synthesize the horoscope — to see all the parts as an integrated whole — is what skilled astrologers do that computer-generated reports simply can’t,” says Grace. Plus, if you’ve ever struggled to relate to your Sun sign description, this book will have a lot of answers.

A beginner book for reading and interpreting birth charts

Once you have a grasp on astrology, you’ll eventually want to be able to put all the pieces together and interpret your own birth chart (or the birth charts of your best friends/family/potential romantic partners).

Zerner and Farber recommend this handy, concise guide if “you already have some understanding of how real astrology works, and want to go deeper into the step-by-step process of reading a natal chart.”

Intermediate

An astrology book designed to help you find your destiny and life path

For anyone pondering their purpose in life, this book can provide some insight by looking at the rulers of your Midheaven and north node in your birth chart — two specific points in your birth chart.

“[North nodes] refer to past lives and soul growth in this lifetime; [the ruler of your Midheaven] refers to your ideal career,” says Grace. “What I love about this book is that it is a brilliant and concise reminder of how the world works, with specific guidance on how we can access our personal creative power,” she adds.

A book dedicated to transits and planetary placements

Transits are an important part of astrology — they refer to the current movements and placements of the planets and how they interact with your natal planets (aka, the locations of the planets in your birth chart).

“Whenever I see a pattern in a horoscope and I’m feeling stuck on how to relate its potential to my client’s life experience, I’ll reach for Hand’s candid insights, which suggest potential rewards and challenges,” says Grace. 

An in-depth guide on the astrological houses and house systems

Astrologers each have their own way of reading charts. One key component of their unique style and interpretation is based on the house system they choose and use (it can stir up a lot of debate within the astrology community).

“I learned so much about how the meaning of the houses has evolved through history,” says Grace. “Astrology has been around for thousands of years, and like all languages, evolves with the consciousness of the humans who use it.” Grace recommends that astrology students familiarize themselves with all the house systems and then choose the system they prefer to use. 

A book about the oft-misunderstood Mercury Retrograde

Mercury Retrograde may get a bad rap, but this book explains everything about this misrepresented astrological event and how it correlates to your chart based on the sign and house it’s in.

“There’s no reason to freak out when Mercury — or any planet — is retrograde,” says Grace. “There are plenty of productive things that can be done during these natural periods of rest and review.“ For instance, Wilkinson offers coping strategies like meditations for each Sun sign and Ascendant sign, which this book can help you figure out.

Advanced

A guide to understanding relationship compatibility using astrology

Whether you’re already dating and want to check your compatibility or simply curious about the most astrologically aligned potential partners for you, this book can provide valuable insight. It combines specific parts of each person’s birth chart to generate a third chart focused on the relationship, “as if the relationship was a person with its own needs and purpose,” says Grace.

“The composite chart offers insights on how a relationship actually functions, regardless of the attraction between the parties involved,” she adds. 

A thorough book on figuring out your career goals

Astrologers can gain a lot of information from looking at someone’s birth chart, including the ideal jobs or career paths for someone’s personality type. This book is a useful guide for helping people get on track with their goals and find a career that is actually fulfilling.

“When I prepare a horoscope for consultation, I rarely know what my new client does for a living,” says Grace. “I use the techniques in this book to jot down the kind of career the horoscope suggests they need to pursue in order to be happy.”