Tao Te Ching, 25th-Anniversary Edition (English and Mandarin Chinese Edition) Review

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(More customer reviews)It is hardly difficult to understand the enduring quality of the Tao Te Ching. Written by Lao Tsu in the sixth century BC is a simple, quiet book that reflects upon our true nature and our behavior. Broken up into 81 'chapters' or short poems, it comprises a mere 5,000 words. Every other sentence is a memorable quote, and one can read it in an hour and study it for a lifetime.
What I do find remarkable is the durability of this particular edition. My copy is ancient, dating back to my college days. At frequent intervals it seems to come to hand and I will peruse it again and enjoy the clarity of this translation by Gia-Fu Feng and Jane English. They have carefully chosen a simple, accessible style which I feel completely captures the nature of the Tao. "What is a good man? A teacher of a bad man.
What is a bad man? A good man's charge."
Accompanying the text are many fine examples of Gia-Fu Feng's calligraphy and Jane English's photographs. While I like Chinese calligraphy, I lack the understanding to make any judgement. I can only report that it shows flow and grace, and works perfectly with English's photographs. These latter capture, most often with natural images, a play of contrast which often is as calligraphic as the accompanying handwriting. Thus, the book itself is a careful balance between content and form.
At the end of the day, or in an otherwise tense moment, this volume has often been the source of the tiny bit of sanity that makes the next day possible. There is much to meditate on here and this edition is a precious resource for the seeking mind.

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The Importance Of Living Review

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(More customer reviews)Lin Yutang is endlessly fascinating, and his book of personal philosophy, "The Importance of Living," is a classic, especially his listing of the three American vices (gee, I thought they were virtues!), his unique perspective on loafing, smoking, vacationing, and women in conversation. I've read it several times and have spoken on Lin, and have even appeared as Lin Yutang one time.
But the Little, Brown "reprint" edition is a travesty of cheapness....a white cover and no running heads. Why do American publishers cut corners? It's an insult to the author and the reader. I recommend you avoid the Little Brown edition and buy the original 1937 edition, published by John Day Co., or if you want a new alternative edition in quality paperback, buy the recently published edition in Singapore by Cultured Lotus, available from http://www.selectbooks.com.sg. The original and the Singapore copies have beautiful Chinese paintings on the cover and delightful running heads.
Remember, "The busy man is never wise, and the wise man is never busy." -- Lin Yutang


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Devotions: Wisdom from the Cradle of Civilization (365) Review

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(More customer reviews)An astonishing gift to the literary kingdom. If a book was a mirror...it would look like this. God and Faith and and Humanity are reflected so vibrantly on every single page.
The devotions such as "You lack a foot to travel? Then journey into yourself - that leads to transformation of dust into pure gold" ~Rumi and "everyday one must dance, even if only in thought" ~Rabbi Nachman of Breslow are surpassed only by the staggering visuals of the accompanying photographs.
A wondrous "Panda" with an owl fetish gave me Devotions for Christmas and consequently I have been utterly lost in the magical light of what has turned out to be a profoundly moving and unprecedented reading experience.
This isn't "just" a book. It is LIFE.
If I had to deduct a star...it would be for the simple fact that Devotions did not come with a free tank of oxygen which would have come in handy considering the number of times it took my breath far and away.
It is hard to conceive that there is anything better in the universe than this book....yet there is. That is the knowledge that it is a part of a larger series.
Gorgeous, Gorgeous, G O R G E O U S!

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Devotions: Wisdom from the Cradle of Civilization is the sixth installment in Danielle and Olivier Föllmi's project Offerings for Humanity, which spans the world's cultures and traditions. In this new volume, the authors have traveled the Middle East and captured images from Morocco, Algeria, Egypt, Yemen, United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Israel, Lebanon, Syria, Iran, Afghanistan, and many other places. As in the other books, each photograph is accompanied by a quote for each day of the year.
Devotions presents not only religious quotes taken from the Koran, the Hebraic tradition, and Eastern Christianity, but also from noted authors such as the Sufi poet and jurist Rumi, the Persian writer and mathematician Omar Khayyám, and the Lebanese-American artist Khalil Gibran. A daily dose of wisdom coupled with breathtaking photography, Devotions allows readers to move a little closer to the heart of the wisdom found in the Cradle of Civilization.

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Sayings of Swami Kripalu: Inspiring Quotes from a Contemporary Yoga Master Review

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(More customer reviews)This book is timeless inspiring reading. Just the book to have on your bedside table, always delivers that important message to help us cope.

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1,001 Pearls of Yoga Wisdom: Take Your Practice Beyond the Mat Review

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(More customer reviews)This book is AWESOME!!! Not only is the information in it diverse and inspiring, 1,001 Pearls of Yoga Wisdom is great to read in any situation. It can be read the whole way through, section by section, or opened to a random page for one 'pearl' paragraph at a time. It contains yoga poses, quotes, insights, visualizations, advice, mantras, mudras, and much more. I am a yoga teacher, and I've used it in my classes. The students seem to really enjoy it as well. If you like yoga, or even if you don't know much about it yet, this book is an excellent buy.

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This chunky, richly colorful volume takes yoga "beyond the mat" to reveal classic yogic wisdom pertaining to the mind,emotions, spirit, and of course, the body. Drawing from such classical texts as the Bhagavad Gita and the Upanishads, as well as modern Indian and Western teachers, this treasure trove of yoga knowledge defines key terms and highlights important themes. It's also a helpful supplement to yoga classes, offering asanas, meditations, breathingexercises, mantras, and mudras for every occasion and skill level. Just the right size to pop into a yoga bag, here's a guide to the practical and philosophical aspects of yoga that complements any spiritual practice.

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