It may be that astrology is the oldest continuous system of belief in the world. Millions of people consult their horoscopes every day. Even those who don't think the stars control their lives still know what sign they are born under. Campion (anthropology and archaeology, University of Wales, Lampeter) tells us how western astrology may have begun deep in prehistory and developed in early cultures of the Mediterranean and Middle East. He specifies that some form of astrology seems to be universal but he is concentrating only on the West. He notes that two distinct attitudes remain constant throughout. One believes that the stars do somehow affect affairs on earth and they give hints about the future. The other, exemplified by the horoscope, states that one can predict the fate of individuals. Campion discusses the Egyptian, Persian, Greek and Roman forms of astrology, ending with the rise of Christianity, but not the end of astrology. Annotation ©2008 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)