Teheuti
I think you've made a very fair assessment, Lee, including several things I found problematic when asked to endorse this book. Much of the book involves very good step-by-step processes with lots of example readings that I truly appreciate. Wen's approach is quite sensible.I want to post some thoughts on this book as I have a bit of a different perspective than some of the previous posts in this thread.
She is so authoritative that it makes problems with factual material doubly disturbing.
In the Tarot history section and later historical references, Wen says not much is known about Tarot history, focusing instead on fringe theories that have no evidentiary support. What is most confusing is use of the phrase "there is speculation that" or "some speculate," without telling us who did the speculating (much of which I'd never heard before!). The true, rich historical background that is known and readily available is ignored.
Golden Dawn associations are modified in ways that make little sense. For instance, why change only the Magician to associate it with Earth instead of the Air? There are other places that talk about Golden Dawn tarot (like the Opening of the Key spread) but then present material that has little to do with the GD method without making this clear to the reader. I'd hate to think someone would believe they were learning GD tarot from this book.
I, too, found the put-down of divination to be gratuitous.
For the educated Tarotist these may only be annoying factors in an otherwise good book. But, for a newbie who uses this as their introduction to Tarot, it may make it difficult later to accept the true facts.