What do Princess Diana, Ronald Reagan, Sylvia Plath and Ted Hughes, Winston Churchill, William Shakespeare and the leaders of the Third Reich have in common? They all consulted astrologers. True as the Stars Above is a irreverent, intelligent defence of astrology, and an examination of the extraordinary role it has played in the past and still plays today. Among some of the revelations in the book: Margaret Thatcher sought astrological advice after the Brighton bomb. A significant number of the world's major financial institutions have an astrologer or two on their payroll. British intelligence employed an astrologer during WWII because they were convinced Hitler was doing the same. Ronald Reagan's Chief of Staff (to his fury) was forced to keep a colour coded calendar, with green for good days, red for bad days and yellow for 'iffy' days, in line with the views of Nancy's astrologer. This is astrology demystified, whether it's the ongoing row over statistical evidence for astrology or why Gone With The Wind's Scarlett O'Hara is definitely an Aries.
| ||||||||||||
Did you know you can trade in your old books for an Amazon.co.uk Gift Card to spend on the things you want? Visit the Books Trade-In Store for more details. Special Offer until June 30, 2013: Receive an additional £5 promotional Gift Certificate, when you trade-in at least £10 worth of books. Learn more. |
Book Description
Product details
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
|
More About the Author
Discover books, learn about writers, and more.
Product Description
Book Description
Entertaining and surprising examination of the ancient art of astrology and the extraordinary role it plays in contemporary life.
About the Author
Neil Spencer was Editor of the NME during its halcyon years in the late seventies and early eighties, where he made the paper a byword for provocative criticism and flamboyant writing. Since then he has worked for the Face, Arena, 20/20, the Labour Party and Thames and Hudson. He is now a music critic for the Observer.
Sell a Digital Version of This Book in the Kindle Store
If you are a publisher or author and hold the digital rights to a book, you can sell a digital version of it in our Kindle Store.
Learn more
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
7 of 8 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Paperback
Or as near as one can get to such a thing! Neil Spencer has put together a first class comprehensive overview of the position of astrology in contemporary Western society. It is entertaining, balanced, intelligent and often very funny. "Believers" and "sceptics" can both benefit from reading this book.
Early on there is a brief guide to the basics of astrology itself, followed by a quick look at the history of the subject over the last few hundred years. Most of the book is taken up with considerations of every possible aspect (pun intended) over the last century. The rise of newspaper horoscopes, psychological astrology as self-development, statistical evidence or lack of it, the use of astrology by the likes of Ronald Reagan and Princess Diana, successes and failures in predicting the future.
Spencer does a good job of exploding many popular ideas that are held by many e.g. being born on the cusp (you are actually either one sign or another) and the ever-present myth of the Age of Aquarius (highly dubious as to what it actually is). Although Spencer's own astrological input takes a back seat most of the time, countless examples of astrology in action are scattered throughout. The chart comparison between Bill Clinton and Monica Lewinsky is an entertaining example!
Read this book if you REALLY want to know what astrology is all about.
5 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Spencer's book should be recommended to anyone with an interest in astrology. It's intelligent, well-infomed and often very funny. In fact, non-astrologers could well find this is the book they've been looking for. Highly recommended.
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
In True as the Stars Above Neil Spencer takes us on a tour of the place that astrology has in Western society, with chapters on poets and astrology, music and astrology, financial astrology, newspaper astrology, and the age of aquarius amongst others, after having given a brief introduction to the art itself. At many points sceptical about the topic of his book, particularly on psychological astrology, the notion of cusps and the age of aquarius nevertheless shows himself to be no mean astrologer himself. an interesting and absorbing read
By Wild1
Format:Paperback
Original, well-written and utterly fascinating. This is a book for both astrologers and anyone with an enquiring mind who's open to viewing culture and world affairs from a new angle. How this hasn't become mega I'll never know!
By True Desire
Format:Paperback
I really enjoyed this wide ranging, informative overview of astrology. It is essentially a collection of essays on various aspects of astrology, including common themes in astrology such as the Age of Aquarius and famous individuals who have used astrology as a guide. It is a well researched book and covers quite a diverse range of subjects in an accessible way. The brief guide to astrology chapter is also very well written. If you have an interest in the history of astrology and its cultural influence I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this book.
Would you like to see more reviews about this item?
›
Go to Amazon.com to see the review
5.0 out of 5 stars
Was this review helpful?
Let us know
Customer Discussions
|
This product's forum
Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
|
Related forums
|
Listmania!
Look for similar items by category
Feedback
- Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
- I am the Author, and I want to comment on my book.
- I am the Publisher, and I want to comment on this book.
