Signs & Symbols: An illustrated guide to their origins and meanings; Editorial Consultant - Miranda Bruce-Mitford for publisher Dorling Kindersley, 2008, 352 ff.
An encyclopaedia of symbols
By Howard Jones
This profusely illustrated book, in full colour on every page, is characteristic of these publishers, who specialize in so-called `coffee-table books'. There is a huge range of symbols described here - religious and tribal symbols, sacred trees, symbolic languages that use ideographs, like Chinese; other languages that do not use the letters of the English alphabet, like Arabic and Hebrew; symbols in mathematics, heraldry, art and architecture, astrological signs, I Ching and tarot used in divination, flags of the nations, body language gestures, heraldic emblems; and other symbols that humankind have created for social communication.
There is not a great deal of information about each symbol, but enough that each is clearly defined and described in the appropriate context. This is not therefore so much a book to read, as such, but rather to browse or to consult for specific topics such as those I have described. I have found it fascinating and informative. At the end, there is a Glossary of some key terms, some hundred books for Further Reading, and an Index, which is in rather small print!
Dr Howard A. Jones is the author of The Thoughtful Guide to God (2006) and The Tao of Holism (2008), both published by O Books of Winchester, U.K.; and The World as Spirit published by Fairhill Publishing, Whitland, West Wales, 2011.
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| What It's About | Decode the language behind ancient signs and symbols - discover the roots of fertility symbols and the meaning behind modern logos. Six sections cover the history of symbols from religion, ancient civilisations, the stars and more! | Dive into the world of legends and mysterious myths with this brilliant guide to all elusive folklore. Learn about the beginning of the Universe through Japenese mythology or who brought death to the world in the eyes of the Maori myths. | Described as the longest poem ever written, this Sanskrit epic of India from 3rd Century BCE still carries truth and wisdom in our day. A story of conflict, tragedy, love and death with ancient roots is celebrated incredible artwork and honour. | Discover the tale of Rama, the exiled prince of Ayodhya and his battle with the evil king, Ravana. A tale of good versus evil, love, friendship and loyalty. Timeless lessons taught in a modern world with beautiful images makes the text unforgettable. | From the ancient art of Alchemy to the Wiccan religion and modern chaos Magic - this text covers all the mysteries enjoyed by mystics. See key Deities, practices, spells, symbols and more with this practical guide to magic. |
| Features Vivid Imagery | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Includes Historical Materials | ✓ | no data | no data | no data | ✓ |
| Pages | 352 | 352 | 512 | 392 | 320 |
About the author
Simply excellent!
As always, when dispatched from Amazon, the packaging was sturdy and secure to ensure that my copy of Signs & Symbols: An illustrated guide to their origins and meanings was undamaged - including the corners. The book itself is high quality, with a well-designed cover of all-over gold embossed symbols and signs. The spine is also nicely decorated and as such, would look equally smart on a coffee table or bookshelf. The paper is also of high quality as is the print and illustrations and believe me, the book is jam-packed with beautiful illustrations. The book is divided into 6 sections, the first 5 being: The Cosmos Natural World Human Life Myths and Legends Society and Culture Each section is then subdivided into further categories; for example under Society and Culture there is a sub-section on The Home, from which I enclose a photograph (not a very good effort - I am not a good photographer and it had to be taken in low light) of The Arnolfini Marriage, whilst perhaps the title of the painting is not known, the image most likely is. I have looked at this picture many, many times and was unaware of all the symbolism contained in the portrait. The 6th section of the book is entitled Symbol Systems which I found to be absolutely fascinating. It ranges from Flags, through Alphabets, then Professional Symbols such as the Caduceus of the medical profession and the Barber's pole. Also included are Assay marks in precious metals, to the symbols on clothes labels, such as the Wool-mark and also there is an informative piece on Sign Language and Braille. Overall, this 6th section is very, very interesting as it makes one realise just how many signs and symbols we are surrounded by in everyday life but are mostly unaware of them. This is a very impressive book, especially at a price of just under £20. This would make an ideal gift but I will definitely not be parting with my copy! With a very apt use of symbols, a top score of ***** !
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- Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 13 June 2011
