5 comments about The Art of Effortless Living: Do Less, Let Go, and Discover Health, Emotional Well-Being, and Happiness.

1. This book was suggested by a friend and it was exactly what I needed at this time. It is a great resource for making work and life transitions with ease. I have always been looking for a book like this one, and I finally found it. It is a truly wonderful book.



2. Ingrid's book is about learning to live your life from an inner place. A place that allows you to access your inner wisdom and get in touch with feelings and feeling your body. She talks about how we have gotten to a place of stress in our lives and informs us on how to let go of that. She mentions the fact that not only are our minds, thought and actions so stiff and so frozen, but it also effects our health.
   
   I highly recommend this book it is a jewel and will guide you on a new path of effortless living that brings joy and well being into each moment. I hope that she writes another book, her input and the way she writes is like listening to a dear friend who has your best interest in mind. Awesome book, I have highlighted it and will treasure it and go back to it for inspiration many times.



3. a must read for dealing with your own health and finding your true pleasure in life.



4. "The Art of Effortless Living" by Ingrid Bacci is a quest for personal empowerment and transformation through meditation and yoga.
   
   Ingrid Bacci provides well developed practical approaches to creating an 'effortless' lifestyle.
   
   Connection to the Higher Self is important along with various practices to develop physical and emotional awareness.
   
   Also read:
   
   Nexus: A Neo Novel
   
   Change Your Thoughts - Change Your Life: Living the Wisdom of the Tao



5. If you are looking for a life changing book, here it is. I suffer from Fibromyalgia with chronic pain. This book is one of the "text" books I use to lean into my life, yes life is in session and Bacci has built for us a guide on how to better take all of it in no matter how complex things can get. I spent over 26 years of my life in a high pace driven corporate world as an International executive with a family of 9 at any given time, this number varies depending on the circumstances. Today at 52 I am a registered Yoga Instructor with my own small studio in the middle of Texas on my way to getting my Certification in Yoga Therapy and soon start my studies for my licence in Massage Therapy to continue my education in Cranio Sarcal Therapy. The later I fell in love with after reading the Art of Effortless Living" By Ingrid Bacci PhD. Thank you, Ingrid!The Art of Effortless Living: Do Less, Let Go, and Discover Health, Emotional Well-Being, and Happiness

5 comments about Happiness: Lessons from a New Science.

1. An unsettling paradox: over fifty years of marked progress yet we are not any happier...
   
   Why does a leading economist write a book about `soft stuff' such as happiness? Even more puzzling: why does he title the book "Happiness. Lessons from a new science"? Richard Layard is the founder of a relevant economics research center within the London School of Economics, author of several academic books on topics such as unemployment and inequality. This latest effort of his is truly ground braking and starts from a simple observation: "There is a paradox at the heart of our lives. Most people want more income and strive for it. Yet as Western societies have got richer, their people have become not happier. This is no old wives' tale. It is a fact proven by many pieces of scientific research. As I'll show, we have good ways to measure how happy people are, and all the evidence says that on average people are no happier today than people were fifty years ago. Yet at the same time average incomes have more than doubled. This paradox is equally true for the United States and Britain and Japan". Layard in this book tries to go to the roots of this paradox and in the process makes a strong case for learning how to use the `science of happiness' in our daily lives while supporting the argument to raise this science to the level of public political debate and action.
   
   The seven factors that influence happiness
   
   Layard points out seven factors that are key to the perception of happiness. They are (listed in order of relevance) 1) family relationships; 2) financial situation; 3) work; 4) community and friends; 5) health. The two additional factors influence all of the first four and are equally relevant: a) personal freedom; b) personal values. The description of these factors articulates some interesting conclusions that may appear as part of `common sense', yet now they are `certified' by official scientific method and research. Here some of them: we are happier when we manage not to be totally self absorbed and we actively manifest an interest towards other people well being; work does not provide us simply with material means to survive, it gives us an intrinsic sense of meaning and satisfaction that has a strong influence on our perception of happiness; the way that we `frame' our daily reality has a strong impact on our perception of happiness; happiness is fundamentally and individualistic value, yet as human beings we have a moral sense that brings us to value other people perceptions of happiness. Layard leverages upon this last assertion in order to stress the importance of beginning to consider happiness as a way to measure the real progress and development of a collectivity (being either a community, a nation or a continent).
   
   Measuring happiness to understand the real progress and development... OK! Are economist out or their league?...
   
   One of the key chapters of the book is about this thought. Layard states that for a long time the development of a nation has been measured in terms of Gross National Product (GNP) and certainly happiness is not a monitored factor. Quite interestingly it was not always this way: during the 19th century most of the British economists considered happiness, collective happiness, as a measure of the real development of a nation. These economist saw happiness as a measurable factor and thought that an increase in material wealth brought a progressively decreasing perception of happiness. Unfortunately during the 1930s behavioral science (James, Pavlov, Skinner) conquered center stage discarding the relevance of `inner' feelings: concrete numeric data relevant to observable and measurable behavior took over for good and the utilization of GNP became the key tool to measure of progress and development. This way increasing purchasing power has been considered as a display of increased progress and well being. All of this has gradually shaped a false perception of reality; just try to ask anyone if he/she considers the GNP as an actual measure of a nation well being... Layard is quite effective in developing this argument and articulating the need for a `new economic science': a science capable of integrating psychological and sociological factors to the current one dimensional focus on numbers in order to properly represent the reality perceived by the people. Unfortunately this one dimensional focus is currently the one many public policies are based upon.
   
   When economics starts to focus also on the mind and not simply on `economic behavior'...
   
   When this happens, the work of economics becomes much more difficult: no longer monitoring the `economic behavior' is enough to understand the well being of an individual or a collectivity, we need to go much deeper into aspects such as values (in a psychological and spiritual sense, not the material one), perceptions, psychological and sociological impacts of social changes, mental health and so forth. Layard articulates a very interesting overview of the topic writing about the roots, dynamics and effects of Buddhism, positive psychology and cognitive psychology in order to increase our sense of inner awareness. An awareness that too often is overshadowed by exterior and material aspects. For example, he points out that in the Western world depression has a very relevant impact at the social and productive level; yet only about one fifth of people with depression choose actively to cure it. Only physical illnesses take center stage. Layard reflections lead us to realize that learning to "know yourself" has not `just' a philosophical or spiritual relevance, rather it is very relevant for our overall well being.
   
   An `inner dimension' that has a strong influence not only on individual well being but also on productivity...
   
   What happens when we are working on something that we really enjoy, something that, no matter what kind of challenge we face, makes us feel satisfied, strong, empowered? It happens that we are able to give, almost effortlessly, the very best of our talents, experience and inner resources. The psychologist Mihaly Csiksentmihalyi has been studying and articulating this phenomenon during the last fifteen years naming it `Flow'. Layard makes reference to all of this and points out its value in terms not only of individual well being but also productivity, a kind of value that traditional economics totally neglects and, I add, not only economics but unfortunately also most part of management `science' and `talk' neglect it! (by the way, I strongly recommend the book "Flow. The psychology of Optimal Experience"). The author openly invites all of us to pay more attention to all of these `inner aspects' and their relevance to the economic dimension. He also notes that the educational system has often marked responsibilities... for example in Britain the concept of "getting ahead" is the official core motivator of learning; he observes that this contributes to missing the point of learning and expressing the own talents: beginning with the educational system we should start to emphasize that satisfaction does not come from simply "getting ahead", rather from doing something well expressing the very best of ourselves. This way the qualitative aspect of making (inclusive of the quality of our perceptions while `we make') increases its value respect to the quantitative one; all of this almost appears rhetorical, but actually if this kind of `rhetoric' would become integral part of our learning and doing we would have a revolution in the making!
   
   So what? So we can fuel this revolution beginning with ourselves!...
   
   Happiness as a `tool' to measure individual and collective progress, development and well being, all of these factors made to sum up a stronger utilization of our potential... This is (it would be) a real revolution. A revolution not simply based upon philosophical or ethical aspects, rather based upon a pragmatic interaction with the real world: an interaction not oversimplified by statistics, numbers or traditional economic data (and this book effectively introduces us to this kind of perspective).
   
   Do we want to try to fuel this revolution beginning with our work places? Here a pointer to start: when we select new hires or we interact with our colleagues to give and take feedback, let's try to ask this `simple' question: "what does make you happy?" . Please, let's not accept `granted' answers related to the `Gross National Product' mind set... let's not even fall into the false assumption that by asking that question "we will fuel unreachable expectations". In fact, let `s not forget that the perception of happiness is strongly linked to the way we `frame' a situation, therefore if we don't learn to understand our way of `framing' and other people way of `framing', we will never be able to fully utilize tools and strategies that can have a real daily positive impact on us and on the people close to us.



2. Layard is described on the dust jacket as 'one of Britain's best-known economists and a world expert on unemployment and inequality'. As you'd expect, his background profoundly informs his take on happiness.
   
   The first part of the book surveys the 'problem' - the now-well-known statistic that although (US) incomes have doubled over the past 15 years, people are no happier.
   
   In the second part Layard turns to remedies, which for him are essentially social and economic and focus on issues such as pollution, equality, poverty, and mental health.
   
   In short:
   Layard draws on research from psychology, neuroscience, sociology and applied economics in a style that's readable and clear. The book's analysis of the happiness 'problem' is comprehensive, but its solutions are largely social and economic. If you're looking for a more personal approach to a happier life, for techniques and tools to boost your own happiness, then this book may not satisfy you.



3. Like all comments in all other reviews the book is an easy read about a complex subject. The subject: why is happiness stagnating since 1950 and what can be dome about it.
   The authors presents some inconvenient truths about the causes of this stagnation being (1) broken families, increases in divorces and single parent families (2) decrease in trusting others (3) increase in women working with less time for children (4) television with negative impact on social life (5) Violence in TV (6) TV showing wealth and "beautiful people" (7) decline in religious beliefs (8) increased mobility. These are not opinions but proven by facts by analysing criminality levels, depression, life expectancy and suicide rates.
   The author presents the policies that governments should implement to stop these negative trends being (1): monitor happiness statistics, (2) education in morality (3) more help to the poor, (4) better help with serious depressions, (5) flexible working hours, (6) subsidise community development, (7) make people understand that ever increasing wants lead to unhappiness,. (8) establish taxes at a level that people spend more time with the family. Each of these points is extensively explained and thought provoking. The author advised the UK government and has policy making experience.
   The author recommends that the overall objective, the "end" should be to maximise total happiness, the idea of Jeremy Bentham (1748-1832) This subject is extensively covered with rebuttals of criticisms. Buddhism is described in a few pages. Buddhism recognises that all people want to be happy and that therefore suffering should be reduced as much as possible. The " means" is the "Right View". That is acting with the right intentions, recognising that, nothing is permanent, we depend on each other and we must understand causes and effects to find solutions. You can also say that the "end" is for people to adapt the "Right View". When actions are based on right view happiness will increase.



4. Mr. Layard proposes a redistribution of wealth as one of the important means to increase the overall happiness of a population, that is, take from the rich and give to the poor. The "rich" in this case is not just the wealthy; it is people like you and me, the productive members of society. He suggests that we take from those who have earned their money and give it to those that have not earned it. He suggests that it is morally correct for you to sacrifice a part of your well-being and property for the happiness of other people. Thus, the government coerces you to give what you have worked for to those that have not. This is an injustice. Your life, your money and your property belongs to you, not to somebody else, and it certainly does not belong to the government.
   
   However, it could be reasoned that redistribution of wealth works, just look at the Scandinavian countries, they are happy because of their social policies. Sweden and Finland's are happy, despite these welfare states going through an extended period of economic decline. As an example of this slump, the European Union 2003 Prosperity Rankings shows that Sweden has fallen to the 14th place from fifth since the 1970's. Sweden and Finland have not been able to create any jobs in over two decades. Nevertheless, they are happy. So perhaps Mr. Layard's proposals have merit. If you are a libertarian, his collectivist ideas will give you a headache, but his book would be definitely worth reading.



5. If you're seeking a brief, readable book that discusses what contemporary psychology and biology has to say about happiness, you would do well to pass over Layard and pick up Daniel Nettle's Happiness: The Science Behind your Smile. They cover similar territory, but Nettle packs more information into fewer pages and conveys it with far greater precision.

5 comments about Living the Truth: Transform Your Life Through the Power of Insight and Honesty.

1. Not only did this book help me with issues in my life but it made me realize some things that I didn't know I was bothered by. It started a path for me to actually start living the truth in my life. I cannot see anybody not finding something appealing in this book. It's not about covering things up, punishing the past, it's about learning why throughout the reader's story. Have you ever felt uncertain about something because you just didn't know why? This book helps you to realize the why in your life and sharing your personal story with people in your family can be a very positive thing. Reading the book itself and answering the questionnaires provided a source of therapy that was very unique. Thank you Dr. Keith Ablow!



2. You know I've purchased my share of self-help books, tapes, etc., over several years. This book is no different than the rest. Just another money maker for a doctor who holds you at bay throughout 320 pages. All the while you are thinking he's going to give you the reason for for your dismay in life. This book falls way short of anything.
   I'm just in a simple mid-life "is this all there is" crossroads in life at 45 and this book will do nothing for you. The "Truth" is you know all along what you need to do. Don't line anymore overpaid doctor's pockets with purchases of books like these. If it was humorous, that's one thing.
   But to lead a nieve purchaser into thinking he's going to "Transform your life through honesty" ?? Ha ha ... let's all get a grip and quit blaming
   someone else for your shortcomings. If all it takes to become a doctor
   of psychology by being able to write books like this and others then apply for med school and be a psychologist and rake it in like Ablow.
   Nice guy but this book is voodoo.



3. He encourages us to examine the incidents that have been so painful in our lives so that we can fully comprehend their impact and work them out with the same compassion we would show someone we love. I feel he has empathy and a true desire to help people understand themselves and others they have to live with.
   
   I liked the book very much.



4. I disagree with the person who said this was just like every other self-help book he/she had ever read. It was different for me. It really helped me. I discovered the root of my weight problem and I remembered some things in my childhood that shaped my current behavior. I've also been able to remember many details of my childhood that were blocked before. I recommend this book very highly.



5. Thanks to this book, I realized that I have been suffering from depression and anxiety for over 10 years now. I realized that I had not finished my own grieving after I lost my best friend (my mother) after her series of strokes. I also realized why I was using alcohol as a pain reliever. She is still alive and I still cherish her, but she is not the same person. I also realized that I focused too much on my career because it was easier than dealing with the difficult chapters of my life. Thanks to these realizations, I promptly went to a doctor who prescribed Paxil to me and have been rereading Dr. Keith's book when I notice my old self-defeating behaviors coming back.
   This book has been a life saver for me and also can be for others. This book was much better than going to a therapist for me because I could continue to realize my deepest feelings when I had time to read, and I wasn't held to any time constraint.
   For this book to have a beneficial effect, you must read it thoroughly and carefully and really believe that there is something in your life that you want to change that prompted you to pick it up, and you must be totally honest with yourself in the exercises.
   This book was literally a life and relationship saver for me and it probably can be for you too. For the first time in my life, I feel comfortable in my own skin and realize how much I have to offer to my partner and the rest of the world.

5 comments about Let Go and Live in the Now: Awaken the Peace, Power, and Happiness in Your Heart.

1. Let Go and Live in the Now is a complete handbook of the art of self-knowledge and skillful living, practical and down-to-earth and yet lofty and spirit-filled. In this book, author Guy Finley uses original "truth tales" to convey deep spiritual teachings that concern the whole of Creation as much as the individual. These stories are thoroughly explained and elaborated upon within the chapters, most of which include practical "lists" of exercises and ideas one can work with right away. Here are some examples: "Five Ways to Raise Your Level of Spiritual Freedom" (p.60), "Seven Insights Into True Silence" (p.86), and "Seven Simple Exercises to Invite the Extraordinary Life" (p.181). For an example of the depth and the clarity of Mr Finley's thinking, I would strongly recommend that you carefully study the information contained in pages 49 to 59. There you'll find what you've been wanting to know all along.
   Particularly useful is the closing section of each chapter, which includes a Q&A section entitled "Ask the Masters", in which Finley quotes famous spiritual authors and philosophers (Thoreau, Eckhart, Krishnamurti...) to answer questions likely to be in the mind of every reader, and a final summary of the chapter under the title "Key Lessons in Review". These Key Lessons make excellent working tools for those who like to meditate on higher ideas.
   If you are familiar with Mr Finley's work you will recognize in Let Go and Live in the Now a different approach from his previous books; each one seems to appeal to a specific part in the reader (the mind, the heart, the emotions...), but all revolve around the same central idea: liberation from the prison of the self through true self-knowledge leads to the happy life --already awaiting you-- that your heart longs for.



2. Guy Finley is one of those treasures that everyone should get to know. I gave this book 5 stars, because I think it conveys very important concepts to live a happy, fulfilling life. Guy's writing style is a bit "quirky" and repetitive, and some find it a bit off-putting. I enjoy reading him, though, because I have heard his talks both on tape and in person, and can hear his voice when I read his books. So, I have an advantage.
   
   If you really want to get into some great material, get his tapes or CDs. Warning: they are highly addictive!! His talks are wonderful, and full of incredible metaphors, stories, and passion about what we are about, and how we can attain so much more through mastery of our selves.
   
   Guy Finley can best be described as a self-taught master of a wisdom tradition that incorporates the work of Vernon Howard, Gurdjieff, Ouspensky, and Krishnamurti, into a contemporary blend of thought that is not New Age at all, but transcends the superficial and aims much higher. He is iconoclastic and insightful, challenging and subtle.
   
   Anyone who has the opportunity to gainn access to his work, whether in book form or tapes of his powerful talks, should do so.



3. I read this book two years ago and again this week. It actually made no difference at all to me and I read it with a open mind . It is as other reviewers have mentioned incredibly repetitive of the one idea and this was the hardest part. I kept waiting to get to the part where he gives the solution but it never came. It is however a book that is easy to read and advances Tolles book on the same idea the Power of now .



4. I highly recommend this book Let Go and Live in the Now. All individuals walking the spiritual path and who truly seek to understand the Universal Principals that govern our daily life should read this book. This book is like nourishment for the hungry soul. As with all of Guy Finley's books I find it to be a true treasure. I have enjoyed reading this book and have read it several times, gaining a deeper understanding of truth each time. The style of Mr. Finley's writings in the form of parables allows the reader to discover for themselves these
   spiritual truths.



5. Try Happiness Now; it's a much better book. Once I read Happiness Now, skimmed this one and realized it was not as well written as the others.

2 comments about Simple Abundance: Living by Your Own Lights.

1. In our stressful lives, Sarah Breathnach's calm voice outlines a path to sanity. She advocates nurturing our spirits, our relationships and creating serene spaces in our lives.
   I want to play this over and over, so it soaks into my consciousness. I want to share this message with all the frazzled women I know. She blends literature and a variety of religions without being preachy. Quotes from Star Wars, Bhudda, Irish proverbs and Shaker writings are sprinkled throughout serving to launch her essays.
   Over all, it is about tuning into ourselves and paying attention to our basic needs (no, not material possessions, though she does not advocate a spartan lifestyle).
   For women who feel there is no time to tend to their inner needs and who find the daily demands at times overwhelming, I wholeheartedly recommend this.



2. I found this book quite by accident at a Barnes and Noble one day. After reading it I went back and bought one for all my close friends and sisters. Sarah Breathnach has defined in this book what is really important in life and helps you get in touch with these things. It's too bad we don't figure most of this out until later in life. Easy reading and a "feel good" book for someone who wants to enjoy life to the fullest.

5 comments about The Art of Forgiveness, Lovingkindness, and Peace.

1. Jack Kornfield has written a small book that packs a powerful and inpirational punch. Forgiveness, lovingkindess and peace are three attributes that lead to a happy life.
   
   The 3 attributes are explained through stories and quotes from people like the Buddha, Benjamin Franklin and Nelson Mandela. And at the conclusion of the writings on each of the attributes are meditations.
   
   One comment on peace from Kornfield's book that really hit home with me was, "Peace requires us to surrender our illusions of control. We can love and care for others but we cannot possess our children, lovers, family, or friends. We can assist them, pray for them, and wish them well, yet in the end their happiness and suffering depend on their thoughts and actions, not on our wishes."



2. I love everything Jack has written or recorded. But what's special about this book is how moving it was to my mother, and how it connected us even though we pursue different spiritual traditions (me Buddhism, her Catholicism). Because this book is divided into short paragraphs, you can read one and then meditate or reflect on it. Each story or quote is worth it. Jack has such a large and wonderful storehouse of quotes and stories from every spiritual tradition, from the Dalai Lama to Martin Luther King. Highly recommended.



3. This little book packs a mighty wallop in that it speaks in a warm, loving, accepting and compassionate way about positive topics. It has helped me to think more clearly about forgiving abuse I experienced as a child. Very comforting and wise! I have used it with a group of Christian women without naming the origin. It was very well received.



4. Jack Kornfield is one teacher who undeniably lives in my head. I first read this book over twelve hours of flying across country on three planes, and for one of the few times in my life, I looked up when finishing the book and felt disoriented! What? You mean, it's over? I wanted to keep on flying so I could find hidden pages and read some more! I wanted to read it again, front to back!
   
   That's how good this book is. One needn't be a Zen student to "get" what Kornfield is talking about. Making nimble use of marvelous quotes and his own unique wit and humor, Kornfield offers beautiful meditations on the cornerstones of any worthwhile spiritual practice. He is an author/mentor who always inspires and provokes me. I hope to meet him one day, but for now I delight in knowing he is among us, keeping the Yak butter lamps burning.
   
   --Robert McDowell, The Poetry Mentor (www.robertmcdowell.net), is the bestselling author of POETRY AS SPIRITUAL PRACTICE (July, 2008) from Free Press.



5. For me and the women in the Women for Sobriety group I lead, the jewel in the crown of this book is "The past is over: Forgiveness means giving up all hope of a better past." Just one beautiful observation that deserves contemplation. A gorgeously produced book, feels like you are receiving a gift when you open it. Never used the word lapidary before, but each page is a meditation.

1 comments about The Gift of Loving-Kindness: 100 Meditations on Compassion, Generosity, & Forgiveness.

1. I've mentioned loving kindness meditation here on the DailyBuddhism quit often in my postings the past few weeks, and it may still not be clear what it's all about. This book makes it clear as glass. The book is small (6"x6"), and as the title itself suggests, would make an excellent gift for someone interested in taking up a simple form of meditation for perhaps the first time. Although the introduction and explanatory pages mention Buddha a few times, the book is not religious and could be enjoyed by anyone of any faith.
   
   The introductory section explains why the authors wrote the book, how to use the book, and basic instructions for both formal and informal loving kindness meditations. This takes around 44 pages, and is an interesting, fast read. The instructions on the formal meditation are clearly presented, and easy to follow and practice.
   
   The book centers heavily on the ideas of generosity, forgiveness, and compassion. Towards others, of course, but starting with directing those concepts towards yourself. The book explains early on that it's hard to direct loving kindness outwards towards others if your mind is filled with blame or self-hate. Therefore, the book focuses on directing loving kindness (generosity, compassion, and forgiveness) towards yourself first, and then expanding that mindfulness outward towards others.
   
   The rest of the book is broken into four parts, consisting of exercises that expand or modify these basic instructions in simple, yet useful ways. Part one of the book consists of meditations of loving-kindness towards yourself, part two is about loving-kindness towards difficult emotions, part three covers loving-kindness towards others, and finally, part four involves loving-kindness towards the world. On the last few pages are some additional resources for further exploration.
   
   The bulk of the pages are filled with 100 mindful practices that can be attempted in any order. Some are quite good, others are a little weak, but since you can pick and choose the ones that appeal to you, there's plenty to work with. Each exercise is explained clearly and concisely, usually with only two or three paragraphs. Some of the ideas are a bit saccharine, but with a book on this subject, that's nearly unavoidable.
   
   Buddhism Level: Beginner. All DailyBuddhism readers should be able to understand all parts of this one. It has no jargon and requires no special background. It's even find for those who may be uncomfortable with Buddhism, yet interested in meditation.
   
   It's easy to do, it's easy to understand. Send yourself a little gift of loving kindness, and you can learn to pass it on to the rest of the world.

5 comments about The Importance Of Living.

1. First off, allow me to say that I'm shocked this book hasn't had more reviews. This book was a major turning point in my Life. After working the "American Dream" i.e. 50 hour work weeks and having zilch to show for it in 3 years, I had a nervous breakdown. Luckily I survived and made it through. Afterwards, I searched the bookstore for a genuine book and found this diamond in the ruff. Wow, was I not dissappointed! This book is totally refreshing for the stressed out individual. Like the heading I wrote proclaims, welcome BACK to your childhood and to the Mystery thereof. After reading this book, I realized that unless one enjoys Life, it is simply not even worth living! Sounds harsh but it's true, you know it. Lin Yutang boldly stands for the human condition. This book relearned me on the fun of my childhood. How could we have gone so far astray? I've dove head first into various religions which did do some good but really only left me full of dogmatic doctrines and repetitive rituals. The Bible says that we should be as children. What good is that advice without a proper manual for the return to this innocense? This book is the manual leading one back to the joys of those not so distant memories. I recommend it to everybody I meet. Take back that precious gift which was stolen from you, the Mystery of Life. Just because you are breathing and active does not mean that you are truly Living, never forget the importance of it! Stand with us and don't look back upon, otherwise babblonn!!! And thank you!!!



2. Lin-Yutang (1895-1976) a Chinese humanist and humourist, was
   steeped in the ancient wisdom of his motherland. Lin-yutang was also a cosmopolitan. Educated at Saint Johns University in Shanghai, he went on to take his Master's degree at Harvard, then his doctorate at the University of Leipzig. His two most well known writings 'My Country and My People' (1935) and 'The Importance of Living' (1937) brought him international fame, the latter a perennial classic and best seller for decades. A decent reprint of this remarkable book has long been overdue. Happily, the Singapore based publisher, Cultured Lotus, has made a new edition available. The positive reviews were gratifying to see.
   
   This isn't a book to read in a hurry. As the cover-blurb puts it: "offered as a remedy to modern day living, is the classic distillation of Chinese wisdom, revere inaction as much as action , observe the place of humour to ensure healthy living, and simply celebrate existence. Gaily serious, cynicaly kind, shot through with a sense of comedy and backed by sages of many centuries, it brings forth the salt and tang of life.
   
   Lin Yutang observes: " a man who loves life intensely must be always jealous of the few exquisite moments of leisure that he has. And he must retain the dignity and pride of the vagabond. His hours of fishing must be as sacred as his hours of business, erected into a kind of religion as the English have done with sport. "
   
   Superficially, one might see such a philosophy as a refusal to take life seriously - but, Lin Yutang's perspective here is summed up by the quotation from Chang chao:
   
   "Only those who take leisurely what the people of
   the world are busy about can be busy about what
   the people of the world take leisurely. "
   
   Hence, what this outlook refuses to embrace is the notion that the only meaningful activity open to us - is that which is purpose driven, against which, leisure time will be evaluated as 'dead time.' Lin Yutang reminds us of the positive, living potentialities of 'leisure' time. Much of this is of Taoist inspiration, but like the ancient Greeks, even Confucius recognised that human life is meaningless, if reduced to repetitive, merely utilitarian processes.
   
   Lin Yutang's thought ranges over many aspects of life. Not everything said in this book reflects the 'oriental' point of view (he knew Europe and America)- or Taoist wisdom. Whatever he touches on, usually elicits some witty fact or observation. Nevertheless, many - if not most readers, find Lin-Yutang at his most compelling when digressing on the finer details of ancient Chinese culture, be it the appreciation of tea and incense, eminent Chinese painters and poets - and their works. Although but sixteen pages, the 'Critical Chinese Vocabulary' Lin-Yutang appended to this text is immensely interesting and worth its weight in gold, when it comes to unpacking the delicate shades of meaning permitted by the combination of various Chinese characters. This is a charming and delightful book.
   



3. What was true about Chinese and Americans no longer hold, but the brilliance of this book is for all human kind!
   As a Hong Kong Chinese, i have heard of the name LinYuTang for a while, but knowing the era (1930s)in which he was active, i figured that it must be some boring scholar. I was surprised that how undercredited he was in Chinese society when i found out that he, using English as second language, can write a 52 week bestseller in USA in 1938. He was nominated twice for Nobel prize but lost , yet i think the CHinese Nobel prize winner Gaoxingjian cant measure up to a tenth of LinYutang's achievement in writing bestseller, compiling Sino-English dictionary and invented Chinese typewriters.
   What was true about Chinese and Americans no longer hold, but the brilliance of this book is for all human kind!
   Interesting enough the traits that was used in the book to describe Chinese and Americans have switched places. Nowadays, our impression about European/Americans are that they got labour unions to protect workers right, minimum age, so many vacations, family is given a top priority; while lot of Chinese are working non-stop, dumping the Made In China labels to every corner of the globe.
   I ordered the Chinese version online the other day, but yesterday, i couldnt wait for its arrival and i went to the bookstore in shenzhen to get a cheap english copy, it was indeed cheap, less than USD2 and brandnew, however, in the Foreword by Editor, iwas told that Lin is a great man and a pride of Chinese, however his views are against Marxist ideas and readers should be careful, so they apologize for having to make some deletion. OH, i guess i need to buy a complete version in amazon again.
   
   However, when i reflect on this a little bit, has China really changed so much? Freedom of speech will lead to social turmoil and riots in a yet developing country with enough illiterate everywhere, Democracy is a form of thinking which in itself is a by-product of evolution of our brain as said by Lin; the ultimate function of brain is to help us live, so problem of hunger and poverty must be solved first before everything else. So is the logic of Chinese Communist party and that of majority of citizens here. This seemingly negative trait has been glorified well by Lin in a logical way.
   
   Therefore, i guess despite how life-enjoying americans have become and how all Chinese are burning candles at both end, this book still hold true in some way.



4. I first heard of Lin Yutang, I am almost reluctant to say, many years after my exposure to Alan Watts and the "New Left", long before the "Neo-Cons" came to be a force majeure....in fact,..it was during a Michael Savage discussion of his new (4th) political bestseller, "The Political Zoo." He even remarked that he was probably hurting his own sales to remark on this classic work of Yutang--which experienced a resurgence in sales the LAST time he mentioned it in about 1998. But I ordered the Political Zoo at the same time--they are so different as to occupy quite different spaces in the mind and thought.....
   
   I know that fans of Savage (Michael A. Weiner, Ph.D.) are have probably already purchased this book--those who missed the mention in the late 90s, or if they failed to write it down in the recent mention, have found it.
   
   Yutang makes people like Watts, westerners who dabbled in Eastern thought, seem like the true dilettants they were. In any advanced Psychology class contrasting Western and Eastern Philosophy of Living, Yutang comes across as the one who has truly digesting both styles of living, to the point of being able to allow an intelligent lay reader to thing deeply and make some rational and deeply philosophical decisions about life-style.
   
   I'll give one example--the Western custom of shaking hands, versus the Eastern tradition of shaking one's OWN hand. In the mid-19th century, Col. Fremantle discussed the dirty American habit of hand-shaking--which was not done in the upper classes in Britain and in the the officer corps. The point being--close human contact was considered a very special phenomenon and not part of daily human discourse......even in a western culture. There are many such relevations in this book--which is why it fascinated Savage, and why it will fascinate and reader who is interested in cross-cultural psychology and comparative con-specific behaviour....well written, and highly recommended!!



5. Lin Yutang has a lot to say on "the importance of living"- nearly 500 pages worth. I read most of this book and skimmed through some of it. Reading Lin Yutang is like liesurely conversation with a learned friend. I found some of his opinions on life quite profound and humorous; other things that he had to say I thought were silly, chauvanistic and even insulting. But he does give you a lot to think about.
   
   I basically agree, however, with the basic theme of the book which is to take some time to contemplate life. It's actually a much needed message for the Western world that is getting so caught up in rush, rush, rush. I would even say with the emerging China that is becoming more and more American with the emphasis being on rushing around, and the pollution, and living to make money; that Lin Yutang's message is especially needed in reminding us all of the old Chinese way.
   
   Actually, Lin Yutang's philosophy is very close to Emerson and Thoreau and the other New England transcendentalists in his understanding of the natural world. Lin Yutang, is also quite critical of Christianity in this book. Not quite so much as Mark Twain in his scathing and sarcastic "Letters From Earth"; but critical all the same. As a Christian myself, I took his criticisms in stride. I didn't agree with him completely but I do think that it would do Christianity some good to focus more on "living a happy life" than being a religion that sends people to heaven or hell.
   
   Lin Yutang's idea on living as it relates along spiritual lines is best expressed in the following quotation: "It is against the will of God to eat delicate food hastily, to pass gorgeous views hurriedly, to express deep sentiment superficially, to pass a beautiful day steeped in food and drinks, and to enjoy your wealth steeped in luxuries."
   
   Incidently, Lin Yutang, later wrote "Pagan to Christian" which explains how he left the paganism he advocates in this book and turned back to Christianity which was the religion of his youth. Actually he eventually manages to come to a shaky reconcilliation between Paganism and Christianity or the so-called "Eastern" and "Western" worlds.

5 comments about A Thousand Names for Joy: Living in Harmony with the Way Things Are.

1. I love this book. A great recommendation from the folks at [...] where I watched all the video clips and felt the direct power and grace of The Work she is doing with everyone. Loving What Is, the title of her first book, says it all, but A Thousand Names For Joy: Living in Harmony with the Way Things Are arrived first in the mail. Joy is joy, and the laughter came freely in every short chapter of this, Katie's meditation inspired by her husband Stephen Mitchell's translation of the Tao Te Ching. About half way through, Loving What Is arrived and I read that perfect introduction to The Work, Katie's reality check and guide to self-inquiry, before continuing with A Thousand Names For Joy. There may not be easy laughs on every page for you, but there is amazing grace there. I have, of course, ordered Katie's other books and preordered her next one. I find her to be the most quotable of writer-teachers, thus the title of her most recent book, Question Your Thinking, Change the World: Quotations from Byron Katie. And here, from A Thousand Names For Joy, is the passage that prompted me to write this review:
   
   "Beyond what the mind can see is kinder than what it sees--that's the privilege of an open mind. Kindness resonates with the way things are. Kindness is sipping a cup of tea without the thought that I'm even sipping it. It's like being my own plant, feeling myself being watered, beyond any thought that that's what I even need. It's the sound of rain against the window, the gift of the sound of rain in my ears, the gift of life, which I did nothing to deserve. Kindness prepares what I am to eat in the next season. It even leaves a rainbow. It's infinite. It's the hair that protects my head in the sun, the ground that supports the floor. There's nothing that isn't kind. A death accomplishes what ordinary life could never do, letting you experience what is beyond identification: the bodiless self, mind infinitely free.
   
   "When you realize where you come from, no imagination can move you to believe that you are separate. Everything is seen for what it is, and you understand that no one is in danger of losing anything but his identification. And in that forever good news, in the face of everything that appears to be real, only kindness remains. It's nothing that can be taught. It's an experience; it's self-delight. When I give to you without motive, I am delighted. I act with kindness because I like myself when I do that. That kindness can only be to myself. It doesn't include anyone else, not even the apparent receiver. I am both giver and receiver, and that's all that matters.
   
   "The whole world belongs to me, because I live in the last story, the last dream: woman sitting in chair with cup of tea. I look out the window, and whatever I see is my world. There's nothing beyond that, not one thought. This world is enough for me. Anything I ever need to do or be is in this unlimited space. It's enough to accomplish my purpose, and my purpose is to sit here now and sip my tea. I can imagine a world outside what I can see, and as it happens I prefer this one. It is always more beautiful here, wherever I am, than any story of a future or a past. The here and now is where I can make a difference. It's what I live out of. Nothing more is required."



2. I enjoyed this book and got a lot out of it because it ties in the mindfulness aspect of The Work with the theosophy of the Tao Te Jing such that the Tao helps clarify why The Work is truly helpful. I recommend this to anyone interested in looking at their thoughts and feelings with greater honesty and responsibility.



3. I absolutely loved this book! It empowers me to but things in perspective and find the joy in the moment. I have read the book numerous times in the last 9 month's it's one of those books I'll reread the rest of this human experience. I also purchased the CD set of Byron Katie reading the book....it doesn't seem like she is reading...just sharing. Her gentleness and love is heart felt. My husband and I listened to it on our way back home in the car, 12 hours. It was joyfull! In it she shares her experiences as a Lover of What Is and what that looks life as a human organism, a wife, a mother, a teacher, you know all the labels we put on ourselves and others. Anyway...ENJOY YOUR LIFE!



4. I have read this book a couple of times and find it insightful and helpful in guiding me to true understanding of where I need to be. If you like Eckhart Tolle and want something more to guide you , this is the book. If you want to get past all your anger and frustrations , this book will lead you there gently.



5. If you could read the words of Buddha or Jesus in their native tongues, in the era they were alive, wouldn't you want to? It is a rare treat for an English speaker to read the words of a spiritual master in contemporary phrasing, in our native language, in a personal and virtually unedited format. For this reason, "A Thousand names for Joy" is and will prove to be a classic. This is Life described in Katie's own words, her own style, and it allows access to a perspective unhindered in the great Way. Without trying to, she speaks in some of the most beautiful poetry I have heard, and her delight and love of what Is is communicated in an easy, subtle way. I am often astonished at how it leaves me in a space of understanding her way of seeing, in a moment of grace. What a gift! I can't stop re-reading this book. It is among the most powerful books I have come across in my life. She embodies the taoist Master perfectly, and anyone looking for spiritual insight will find this book to be a jewel.

5 comments about Our Love Is Too Good to Feel So Bad: Ten Prescriptions To Heal Your Relationship.

1. Kirshenbaum spends a lot of time repeating that your problems are very simple to solve, when really she is just over-simplifying the problems. Most of the book can be summed up as "talk to each other" (which I'd already figured out) or "just let it go if you don't want to lose your relationship" I got nothing of help from the book.



2. This book, the paperback version of "Our Love...", did for me what no advice from friends or family could do. It gave me real tools to work out my problems with my husband. We can talk to each other in a clear way, and love each other in a healthy way. With all my heart I want to thank Ms. Kirshenbaum for writing this book!



3. I was very impressed. While the book is intended for those with troubled relationships, which mine is (thankfully) not, I still found it very helpful. It kind of gives you a new perspective on your relationship; you'll look at day-to-day problems in different ways. Most of the advice is not revolutionary, but in the same way that cars need tune-ups, the book is helping me keep my relationship running well.

   I would happily have given it 5 stars, only I don't really know how well it would work if one's relationship was really in trouble.




4. Mira Kirshenbaum truly illuminates the meaning of a loving relationship. A "no nonsense" sort of person, she methodically lists what might be causing pain in a loving relationship, and teaches the reader to fix the problems and rekindle the joy in loving.
   
   In a negative way, it was extremely helpful to me. It showed me how far my marriage had strayed from a working ideal and gave me the courage to change. From the Diagnosis of Love Killers, Routine Maintenance, Criticism, Distancing, Not Communicating, Needs, Sexual Depression, Difference Sickness, Problem People, to Low Expectations; she helped me see what a marriage should be.
   
   This was one more of her books that gave me what I needed to initiate changes in my life. I have bought many copies for friends and patients, and I am sure that I will buy many more. A truly worthwhile book by a brilliant author.



5. Something must happen. You need immediate results. You have to be able to actually realize the recipes. This hands on classic is for your.
   
   Yes, it is not always easy to realize Kirshenbaums recipes. Yes, it is not always pleasurable. But you find steps you can actually go. You find steps that lead to outright positive results.
   
   Kirshenbaum demonstrates ten different basic problems in relations. She starts from simple ones and ends with the difficult. It is enough for the beginning to identify exactly one problem. Help for other problems comes as a side effect.
   
   A beautiful first aid and an excellent book. A must read.