5 comments about Quién se ha llevado mi queso? (Spanish Edition).

1. Anyone who is reading me is able to adapt to technology. Do we need a stupid book to tell us so?



2. La historia del libro es jocosa y me ayudo a ver como en el pasado yo enfrente los cambios: en el trabajo, con mi familia, con los amigos... Se que me ayudara a enfrentar los cambios del futuro y a no cometer los mismos errores.



3. While the world changes ever more rapidly and with wider volatility, many people continue to wish (in vain) for constancy. People will probably never lose their desire for predictability, but acting as though no change is happening can be very harmful.
   
   While we can all relate to this problem intellectually, Who Moved My Cheese? brings to bear the all-to-human emotions that keep us from taking timely, appropriate actions. As you read this book, you will experience those emotions and recognize their power. This will help you the next time you experience these emotions, because you will realize what you are doing. By making you consciously aware of your wishful thinking, you should be better able to overcome it.
   
   I hope that Dr. Johnson goes on to write sequels to this book that deal with all of the major stalls that people are subject to: Disbelief, Miscommunications, Procrastination, Avoiding Ugliness, Defensiveness, Tradition, Misconception, Bureaucracy, Directionlessness, Helplessness, Xenophobia, Over-Optimism, Covering-Up, and Taking on Excess Volatility.
   
   If you read this book from a literal perspective, you will probably not get too much benefit. Try to imagine yourself as each of the characters. It'll work better that way.
   
   Enjoy!



4. Ayer leí el libro "¿Quién se ha llevado mi queso?" de Spencer Jonson. Es un libro muy corto, cuya lectura no es tediosa en absoluto. Se puede leer fácilmente en una hora, o máximo dos horas.
   
   La esencia del libro es una fábula en la que intervienen cuatro personajes: dos ratoncitos y dos hombrecillos que vivían en un laberinto.
   
   Los cuatro personajes necesitan queso para poder alimentarse y para ser felices, por lo que recorren el laberinto en busca de queso.
   
   Un día encontraron un almacén con abundancia de queso, por lo que vivieron durante un tiempo sin preocuparse, y muy felices. Entonces, el queso desapareció.
   
   Los cuatro personajes, que en realidad representen las partes simples y complejas del ser humano, se ven en la necesidad de encontrar nuevo queso.
   
   Las ideas principales que esta fábula expone son las siguientes:
   
   * El cambio ocurre (el queso no cesa de moverse)
   * Anticípate al cambio (prepárate para cuando se mueva el queso)
   * Controla el cambio (olfatea el queso con frecuencia para saber cuándo se vuelve rancio)
   * Adáptate al cambio con rapidez (cuanto más rápidamente te olvides del queso viejo, antes podrás disfrutar del queso nuevo)
   * Cambia (muévete con el queso)
   * ¡Disfruta del cambio! (saborea la aventura y disfruta del sabor del queso nuevo)
   * Prepárate para cambiar con rapidez y para disfrutarlo una y otra vez (el queso no cesa de moverse)
   
   
   Como se pueden dar cuenta, los principios expuestos en la fábula son muy simples y sencillos, pero muchas veces nos olvidamos de ellos, o simplemente no los queremos aplicar, porque eso implicaría que saliéramos de nuestra zona de confort.
   
   No pueden dejar de leer este libro. Es una cuestión de cambiar o morir.



5. He visto varias opiniones de 1 estrella que en verdad considero pobres. El libro no es una gran fuente de conocimiento, tal vez no aporta nada nuevo para quienes se adapten al cambio fácilmente, el libro es algo redundante y tal vez es cierto que se pueda resumir en unas paginas pero he comprobado que una idea no se puede presentar en una lista. Solo la arrogancia puede concluir que un libro se puede presentar tal.
   
   El libro manifiesta una idea por medio de una fabula muy sencilla de leer, el cambio no solo es en cuestiones tecnológicas, tal vez uno es apto para adaptarse al cambio tecnológico, pero que tal el cambio emocional, social, político o infinidad de posibilidades que necesitan nuestra atención de manera oportuna.
   
   Creo que no es un libro para niños como afirman, porque se necesita un nivel conciente y de experiencia que un niño no posee para poder comprender y obtener provecho el mensaje del libro.

2 comments about Simple Living for the Worn Out Woman (Lists to Live By).

1. This book has a lot of great insight in how to simplify your world and to calm down and reawaken a love for life. I am really enjoying this book, it has so many great quotes and sayings. Fantastic uplifting read.



2. This book is an excellent companion to the "Worn Out Woman." I am using them to teach a women's Sunday School Class. It fully met my expectations and I can recommend it highly for women who need a positive lift.

5 comments about Insight Meditation.

1. I purchased this meditation kit over a year ago. Previous to this course I could not get a good sense of direction in terms of meditation. I read some books, and got bits and peces here and there.
   This course is complete. It has everything you need to meditate... except something to sit on. The tapes are great. They start of really basic and gradually build on one another. One side of a tape is a teaching and the second is a guided meditation. It really makes you feel like you are there sitting with the instructor. I did an average of one course a month. With this I completed all the exercises in the book and wrote to my correspondence instructor every month. Most of the correspondence is pre-written but some is actual text from a live instructor. I had some problems/concerns and I wrote to the instructor. He answered all my question and was very attentive.
   This is NOT something you can do in one weekend. This is a lengthy but very rewarding experience. You need to spend an average of 45 minutes a day on this. To complete this course I meditated 3-5 times a week, 45 minutes at a time for over a year.
   The course really changed my life. I continue to meditate today. The way you look at the world will never be the same. I am more relaxed, I can control my emotions a lot easier, I fall asleep within 2 minutes or less etc. etc.
   I highly recommend this course to anyone looking for a little peace in this crazy world.



2. Each of the 12 lessons includes two dics of 40-50 minutes. The introduction discs seem thorough and set for the lesson objectives very well. The disc containing the guided meditation is easy to follow and is consistent with the introduction. I have allowed three weeks time for each lesson which will allow for course completion and some lesson reviews within the one year course period. I have enrolled with the Dharma Foundation and have been assigned an advisor. The advisor has been extremely helpful. One disc was defective and I called Sound True who immediately made arrangements to replace it. In summary, the course is exceeding my expectations.



3. I've been searching for materials on the fundamentals of Buddhism, and discovered that most resources are too esoteric for a neophyte Westerner such as myself. This "kit" is simple, yet comprehensive. Structured in a very easy to understand manner, it is unpretentious and free of cheesy gimmicks like similar items I have seen in stores. I like that it combines text, CDs and cards for a more complete multi-media experience. The CDs don't have any distracting new-age music, and the speakers' voices are calm and down to earth. They also do not talk excessively, but give just enough guidance along the way. The book provides a thorough overview without being too complicated, and the quotes sprinkled throughout offer ways to reflect on concepts in bite size bits of wisdom. This is a perfect primer for anyone beginning a journey into learning about Buddhism.



4. I have to admit that the way the meditation techniques and guidelines are presented in that course is unique, rarely found in other publications, including premium Buddhist authors. I found it very "enlightening", even having previous experience in Buddhist meditation practice. The presentation is done in a thorough, non sectarian way, eminently suitable to "western mind". The presentation of every technique or aspect is followed by several exercises and guided meditations which help to integrate it properly. The course, because it consists of several interesting topics, also helps to establish regular practice which is probably as important as the proper meditation technique. "It's not difficult to be mindful. It's difficult to remember to be mindful"- Joseph Goldstein



5. 12 lectures and 12 guided meditations with artful study guide. Very impressively packaged. Probably originally formated for 12 cassette tapes. All the sessions are 30-45 minutes long (enough for one side of a cassette tape). Goldstein's lectures are the most interesting. Salzberg's are to me, rather simplistic. If I had it to do over, I would have paid no more that $75.

5 comments about Traumatic Stress: The Effects of Overwhelming Experience on Mind, Body, and Society.

1. As a 2nd year psychiatry resident, I only recently discovered this text, however, am finding it incredibly helpful in understanding my patients. Although there are currently no plans for an updated edition (per the publisher as of November 2005), the material is still very relevant as far as the developmental effects of traumatic stress. I would highly recommend this to anyone who works with patients with PTSD.



2. Overall good book. The text can be a little technical at times but well written.



3. I work with persons suffering combat PTSD. I have found this to be, by far, the best book on treatment. The authors have a depth of understanding that goes far beyond those of most other authors. No simplistic solutions, here. Not a "just change the way you think about it" approach, and not a "just put on the goggles and re-experience it until it doesn't bother you anymore" approach ... not when the crucial events are such as seeing others' bodies torn apart by efficient weapons, or losing people one has come to love. Much wisdom in this book.



4. Thanks so much, Very happy with the speed of posting and the condition of the book.



5. The authors display an intimate knowledge of their subject. It is an invaluable contribution to the field of mental health. I highly recommend this book to all who have an interest in trauma stress studies.
   Mingmei Jiang BVocEd&Train(C.Sturt)

5 comments about The Answer to How Is Yes: Acting On What Matters.

1. Peter Block aptly reminds us how important it is to ask the right questions, listen to the answers, take time to engage in authentic conversation that goes beyond ping-pong talking to deep discussions and ongoing dialog. Thanks and thanks again.



2. I re-read a lot of the first few chapters because I wasn't grasping what the author was trying to say. Hang in there, though, it all comes together later in the book. By the way, there is probably already a copywrite on it, but a more appropriate title for the book is "Learning how to think outside of the box".



3. This is an easy to read, practical book. The concept of focusing on what instead of how is empowering. As I flipped through the pages I could clearly notice the empowering nature of what it takes to ask the right questions. In asking how questions--we give away our power because how questions assumes that someone knows better or have a better experience or knowledge about something--whatever. What questions are empowering and lead to possibilities, individual role and responsibility and freedom. The book advances that in the twenty first century we need to move from the mechanistic way of doing things to become artist and architects in creating new and empowering situations that engage our better nature and lead us to adding and creating value.



4. Peter Block is a wizard! A book filled with insights, thoughts and questions that will make you pause and reflect. If you are leader in any capacity- READ this book.
   Peter uses mind bending questions to provoke deep thought about your individual and organizational purpose. "What are the crossroads that I find myself at?" "What is the 'no' that I have been postponing?" "What is the question, that if I had the answer, would set me free?"
   Peter has used these and other questions (all listed in the book) with schools, city governments, non-profit organizations, places of worship and businesses.
   Try a question or two at your next meeting! Change the context of the conversation!
   This is a book full of optimism girded in practical reality. Challenge yourself. Build community. Read this book, share the concepts!
   And if you ever get the chance to see Peter in person, do it! This quiet, unassuming man, with a gentle grandfatherly approach, is a wonder.



5. Yes, You must read this book. It is a must read. Very important book in these times. Peter Block is one of our world leaders! Thanks

5 comments about True Meditation.

1. I teach anger management and depression classes for a hospital and have been looking for some meditations on CD to bring to class. I got this three CD set today, and went right to the meditation on the third CD called "Allow Everything To Be As It Is." I listened to it once to see if I could use it- because if it had any overt spiritual references I wouldn't be able to- and then took it to class to play for them. It worked out really, really well. I especially appreciate the wisdom and technique demonstrated in allowing the listener to let go of the meditator in the meditation. This practice makes so much sense to me. I imagine I will be back with more appreciation of this CD set after I have experienced the rest of it. It is just that I liked it so much, and my class liked the meditation we did so much I just couldn't wait to tell you!



2. I think this is a great book that describes the essence of Adyashanti style meditation and highly recommend it to those interested in a more open less concentration based meditation. Those of you that have listened to or attended satsangs with Adyashanti will have heard everything in this book at one time or another. The beauty of the book is it brings all his teachings on meditation together in short succinct chapters each one explaining a simple point in some detail. When experimenting with the meditation style as questions arise, which they undoubtedly will, one can easily pinpoint the chapter that may help answer the question.



3. I HAD SEEN THE LISTINGS ON SOUNDS TRUE FOR ADYASHANTI...AND NEVER REALLY TOOK THEM OR HIM SERIOUSLY.....FINALLY, MY CURIOUSITY GOT THE BEST OF ME AND I BROKE DOWN AND PURCHASED THIS, AS WELL AS, ALL OF HIS OTHER AUDIOBOOKS LISTED HERE ON AMAZON....I AM ABOUT HALFWAY THROUGH THIS SET OF CD'S AND I AM VERY HAPPY I PURCHASED THEM....I HAVE BEEN OVERWHELMED WITH MEDITATION AND DISTRACTED BY THE "PRESCRIBED ROUTINES" SET FORTH BY A LOT OF TEACHERS....AND, I HAVE POOR POSTURE....ADYASHANTI HAS A NUMBER OF REMARKS REGARDING POSTURE THAT WERE LIBERATING TO ME...AS WELL AS, COMMENTS ON MEDITATION, WHAT MEDITATION IS...AND WHAT MEDITATION HOLDS FOR US...AGAIN, I AM HAPPY I BOUGHT THIS....AND, I'M LOOKING FOR THE ARRIVAL OF HIS OTHER AUDIO CD'S I HAVE PURCHASED ON AMAZON..



4. Very clear and cuts out the nonsense. I have both the book and the audio CD, both are good. I have a some minor technique issue differences with Adyashanti, but his "check this out for yourself" attitude is an important voice to be heard.
   enjoy.



5. I love this book. I think it's the best description of meditation I've ever read. It's very practical advice. The photo on the cover is misleading. Don't let the "spiritual clothing" fool you. Adyashanti is actually very down to earth and speaks with everyday language. I highly recomend this book no matter where you are in you meditation practice. Never meditated? This is the perfect place to start!

2 comments about The Healing Drum: African Ceremonial and Ritual Music.

1. If you like traditional and ceremonial music from West Africa, you have to check this one out. Born into a family of musicians and healers, Yaya Diallo brings you authentic music from a dying culture. Djembe, dnounouba, balafons, tama, voice, and other instruments grace this cd with the power of music from a society that depends on music for so many things. Healing, celebrating, working, honoring, mending disputes, you name it. It is music from a people that understand the impact of sound, and the effect sounds have on the listener. Four of the twelve tracks are actual field recordings made in Yaya's native village of Fienso.



2. I was looking for a drumming based CD to aid with my soul expansion and this was extremely helpful. Good centering beats!!!!

5 comments about Mantra Meditation for Creating Abundance (Mantra Meditations Series).

1. I was initially looking for more financial abundance, but decided to also do the mantra for abundance of relationships with family and friends, abundance of energy and patients. This really worked for me . I felt so calm and peaceful. My relations with everyone were great. And yes I had more than I expected for financial abundance. I'm very pleased with this. This is not a "magic spell". This re-directs energy in the right places and opens up doors of opportunity. It is up to you to walk through them. Listening to this CD was facinating. Never a dull moment. Really opened my eyes.



2. I wanted a new mantra, and this fit the bill. Each mantra is given, and explained with some fascinating personal stories. According to my Hindu friends these mantras are correct. Since each requires a 40-day period to complete, I can't tell you yet how much I will benefit. But I feel much better and have more confidence in my self. (I am a salesman.) True, mantras should be given by a guru, but I have been on the path for a few years, and will make it. You will need japa beads since each mantra is recited 108 times.



3. A few years ago I purchased another of the author's works and chanted for abundance in a casual, somewhat haphazard way and didn't get results. Thinking that the failure might be do to my approach and application, I chose to get serious about chanting for abundance by purchasing this cd and diligently following the instructions. I set up a small altar and performed a 40 day Lakshmi discipline. And then another 40 days. After 80 days without results I added a Ganesh chant to the mix. Now, after 100 days, with nothing to show for my time, it's safe to conclude that chanting does not work for me. I gave the program more than a fair try, but enough is enough. I am not going to waste more time with this.



4. I recently acquired the Sounds True disc, Mantra Meditation For Creating Abundance. On track # 11, it appears as though the translations for the following may have been reversed:
   6. Om Hrim Lakshmi-yei Tarjane-bhyam Namaha (index finger)
   through
   9. Om Hrim Maya-yei Kanishta-Bhyam Namaha (little finger).
   
   When Thomas Ashley-Farrand gives the audio instructions, he begins the sequence with the little finger and ends with the index finger.
   Hard to say which version is accurate (although I would assume that it is a misprint and that Mr. Ashley-Farrand got it right on the recording). Its a mystery whether the translations have also been reversed, or whether the translated meanings are still accurate and only the order of the fingers has been reversed.
   
   Also, on #9. Om Hrim Maya-yei Kanishta-Bhyam Namaha,
   the pronunciation sounds like "Kanishtika-Bhyam" rather than "Kanishta-Bhyam".
   Again, no way to know if this is a misprint or simply a different pronunciation.
   
   I am about mid-way through a 40 day discipline and have been following the wording and order given on the audio, ignoring the printed material. I did write to Mr. Farrand's email for comments (which, incidentally, is [...], but reads [...]) but received no response.
   
   Overall, I feel that when undertaking a mantra discipline, accuracy in pronunciation and wording is of great importance. Mr. Farrand's CD's may serve as a rudimentary introduction to Sanskrit mantra for the typical Westerner, but for the serious seeker, I would recommend an authentic Indian text.



5. I've been into the self-help books since I was 20, today I am 34 and I've read 200 (or more) books of this kind (including almost all books from "the law of attraction"), so after so many years reading so much rubbish my mind was very confused and my life too. On the financial realm, I got a enourmous debt, on the professional realm, I got only stress and more stress and a unhappy job, the more I "tryed" to use the secret and others "tools" (like Dyer Japa meditation to manifestation...) the more my life sunk.
   
   I made all the mantras they say here, and believe me, nothing happened, no wait, my financial situation actually got worse!!!
   
   One day, in deep depression I collapsed, and I did what I should have done 10 years ago, going to a psychologist, a real professional about our mind health.
   
   Only when I started to visit a "real" psychologist, my life startet to turn to a "real" good life, a better work, making theaters clases to learn how the be an actor (what a always wanted since I was 16, but never had the courage to do it), and so on. Today I can say I have a happy life, because, and I quote, I live in the "real" world right now, I am working hard to change my financial situation, and I know it will take a long time to fix the mess I made following so many self-"help" books.
   
   Do you know what the secret really is? And nobody from the self-help business want you to know??????
   
   YOU DON'T NEED THEIR BOOKS TO HAVE A HAPPY LIFE!!!
   
   If you are confused about your life, or you don't know what path follow to have a better life as I was so many years ago, instead of reading this "be happy now" books, go to a psychologist, or to a certified life-coach, and you will see that after fixing the mess you have in your head, your life will be "the mirror" that will reflect a better life for you, in the "real" world.
   
   The only self-help books I found very useful after all this years of research, are from Dr. Martin Seligman, Dr. David Burns and Tony Robbins, they talk about the real life but even their books won't replace any therapist.
   
   This kinds of books are like the tv comercials that say "lose weight fast and get a body like this in 10 days!", are you really sure you want to put your mental health (this books cause depression in the long term) in risk and spend your time trying this? It's very attractive to the people that feels lost, but thanks to God there are people that "really" know how to help others.
   
   
   
   You could ask me, do you have a explanation for the people that get "lucky" and win the lottery for example? No, I don't have it, and honestly, I don't think any of us could "really" know about it, but the real question is: from the people that have a happy life, 90% worked hard to get it (to have a healhy body, financial stability, loving relationship...), and 10% got "lucky" (won the lottery, etc...), so if you were in a cassino betting your life, in which place you would bet? Why try the path of the few winners??? Why don't try the path of the people that with patience and endurance works for a better life for them and for others around them?
   
   I hope this review is helpfull to you trying to understand what is all this fuzz about this book and dvd.
   
   God bless you all.

5 comments about Alter Your Life: Overbooked? Overworked? Overwhelmed?.

1. "If you do what you've always done, you'll get what you've always gotten." (Quote by Anonymous, page 55 Alter Your Life)
   The greatest threat to America and its inhabitants has been revealed and experts are naming it, "Stress." As a medical professional, I'd like to add complacency, and lack of knowledge regarding how to break the stress- cycle to the problems facing American's today. Turn a page in any health magazine, flip through your local TV stations and what you will find is: article after article, report after report, linking stress and the fast-paced American lifestyle to: cancer, obesity, heart disease and a myriad of other diseases. Overworked, overweight, undernourished, and suffocating under piles of work, over-using our natural and spiritual resources, we American's are in a heap of trouble. Fortunately, Dr. Kathleen Hall author of Alter Your Life has devised a sound, step-by-step, non-dogmatic approach to changing your life-and your own special corner of the planet-without having to: surrender all of your worldly goods, give up your job, or move to the mountains. Sounds easy, doesn't it?
   Hall will hook readers from the first page by appealing to their desire for a better life. Her plan, carefully woven together with the wisdom and appreciation of multiple spiritual traditions, provides a true blueprint for a better life. Learn how to wake up and embrace life without caffeine in chapter one. Follow simple steps to turn your commute in to your chance to commune with your Divine Self in chapter six. Rediscover the joy in life by reclaiming your leisure time on page 127.
   Alter Your Life is flawlessly written, well edited, and the information is presented in a format readers can actually apply to their lives. Blissfully devoid of double-speak, cryptic passages, and superior guru-ish talk, Dr. Hall's self-help masterpiece is not your mama's promise-you-the-world, but give- you -zilch- for-useful- information, type book. Anyone willing to live a better life, can easily pick up a copy and apply the simple techniques to achieve a better, more compassionate existence, without abandoning their faith, their family, or making any drastic, overnight life changes.
   Review by Kate St.Amour



2. Alter Your Life is not your regular self-help inspirational book. It is practical, engaging and powerfully life-changing. Unlike other self-help books that focus on the goals you'd like to create for your life, Dr. Hall provides a different angle of everyday activities, so you'd be able to alter your perspectives, which are the key of lifetime joy and happiness.
   
   Divided into 24 chapters, this book talks about ways to give meaning in the simplest and overlooked activities, such as walking, shopping, gardening, listening to music, taking a bath, watching the evening news and, even, washing dishes. The author's easy-to-read conversational tone is an added plus, as most people prefer not reading a preachy book.
   
   Written by a former Wall Street stockbroker who lived joylessly for years, the soul of this book shines throughout the pages, making the reading a breeze. The author has walked the walk and talked the talk, indeed. It is evident from the depth of one's innermost issues covered as she encourages the readers to choose the joy and the enlightened path in their hectic and, oftentimes, boring lives.
   
   Alter Your Life is, indeed, a self-help book of its own class. For once, an enlightened friend has spoken. Thanks, Dr. Hall.[]
   
   A review by Jennie S. Bev of BookReviewClub.com



3. There is little question, it seems to me, that most Americans living in this new century of ours are suffering from a condition one might refer to as the "stressed-out" syndrome. (And the really unfortunate thing is that this is true of young people as well, some of them barely into their teenage years.) Many of us are working harder, trying to raise families while advancing a career, competing obsessively in the marketplace for that promotion, striving to keep up with the Jones next door, hoping that the pay check will last until the end of the month, and, well, you get the point. Are we simply condemned to this malady by the realities of modern life, or is there a way of successfully meeting this challenge and conquering it? Dr. Kathleen Hall, the author of this book and one of our nation's leading authorities on stress management, thinks there is and she calls it "living an intentional life."
   
   This is a self-help book, to be sure. Many of you probably think as I do: most self-help books are so full of psycho-babble, unrealistic expectations, impractical advice, dogmatic prescriptions, and are so far out of touch with the actual world in which most of us live, that they seem to be written only to make some quick money for the author. I assure you this is not the case with Dr. Hall's book. Believe me, I look hard for incidences of psycho-babble in self-help books (it's one of my pet peeves) and I could not find a single case of it here. In sum, she has outlined a simple, easy-to-read, very practical and, above all, undogmatic, blueprint for living an intentional life.
   
   The "intentional" life, Dr. Hall says, has three simple ingredients: awareness, choice, and energy. These are not sequential; it is simply necessary to "become aware of these three key elements in your life and learn how to navigate them." She emphasizes that we ought to look at our daily experiences, listen to what our body and mind are telling us, and become more conscious of how we are living our lives and how we want to live them. If I could put this general prescription into my own words, I would say she is proposing living a "proactive" life as opposed to a "reactive" life, and most people do seem to mostly "react" to the situations they encounter in life rather than make a proactive choice.
   
   There is absolutely nothing complex about the prescriptions in this book regarding how to live an intentional life. Above all, they are very down-to-earth; very much a matter of applied "common sense." It is simply that so many people, if not the majority in today's hectic world, either "forget" to pay attention to these simple ideas or are stressed out and distracted by the events surrounding them. The author here is really recommending that we all need, now and then, to "stop and smell the roses," so to speak.
   
   But, of course, there is much more than that presented. She gets down to the "nitty-gritty," shall we say, and, chapter by chapter, discusses everything from making your morning shower an event for setting the stage for your day, suggesting gardening (even though you may have to plant a "mini-garden" in your bathroom) as a means of reclaiming your roots to the soil, altering your dinner experience at home so you have "dined well," and, yes, even how to turn dishwashing into a unique and fulfilling experience. To point out the range of "ordinary" daily experiences she discusses, just let me say that Chapter One is entitled "Waking Up" and Chapter Twenty-four is entitled "Sleeping." Between those two points of reference are chapters devoted to most of the other daily activities we perform and encounters we experience (breakfast, commuting, working, leisure, family, etc.). Furthermore, most chapters end with a suggestion as to how to "alter your life" in the area discussed.
   
   What I like most about Dr. Hall's book is that it is sound, pragmatic, and undogmatic. It deals with the simple pleasures we can experience in our lives, if only we would pay attention to them rather than ignore them or get distracted by other things which contribute to our "stressed-out" syndrome. Since I am by education, inclination, and choice, a philosopher in the formal sense (and an Aristotelian realist, at that!), let me conclude with a more philosophical observation.
   
   Aristotle's famous work, the "Nicomachean Ethics," was written to provide us with a blueprint for living "a life worth living." His book is, in my opinion and in the opinion of many others, the only sound, pragmatic, and undogmatic work in moral philosophy within the Western tradition of intellectual thought. I have used those same words (sound, pragmatic, undogmatic) to describe Dr. Hall's "Alter Your Life." I think this is justified. Furthermore, I suspect that Aristotle, if he were living today, would also approve of her work; he was, after all, that most practical and commonsensical of philosophers. His "Ethics" was a manual on how to put together a "good life" through the practice of the virtues; hers is a manual on how to deal with the stresses of this contemporary world or, if you will, how to live a "good life" through the practice of intentional living in spite of the stresses surrounding us. I think Aristotle and Dr. Hall would have gotten along famously.
   
   I recommend this book and my fellow males should not shy away from reading this book. After all, women on the average live longer than we males do, and it may be (at least partially) because they are willing to seek help and guidance rather than face stressful conditions alone. I know men tend to avoid self-help books because they consider them to be "for women." This is unfortunate. Men also need to learn strategies, even the simple ones suggested in this book, in order to live a healthy and meaningful life.



4. So many of us are overwhelmed by the day-to-day demands of our careers, our families, sometimes even our friends. We often feel there is not enough time in our lives to do the things we need to do, let alone to do the things we want to do. And, most importantly, there never seems to be time just for ourselves.
   
   The book, Alter Your Life, discusses many aspect of your life. The book discusses daily tasks that we all do and points out ways we can live intentionally, i.e. by making choices by intention, not by default.
   
   What impressed me about the book is that it is not based only on theory. The author has implemented changes, and has altered her life to one of intentional life vs. life in the fast lane where she felt overwhelmed, overworked and overbooked! She discusses the three components that are the foundation for living an intentional life and they are simpler than you think. Her story is an inspiration for us all. While we may not choose to live the life she chose, you will find ideas and thoughts to alter you life in everyday tasks.
   
   Dr. Kathleen Hall's book is one which made me realize even the simplest of things I was doing every day were being done without intention. When you stop and answer some of the questions the author asks, it makes you realize that there is more. In fact, we do have the choice to change our lives so we do not have to feel so overwhelmed.
   
   I would highly recommend this book.



5. Stress management expert Dr. Kathleen Hall presents Alter Your Life: Overbooked? Overworked? Overwhelmed?, a no-nonsense self-help guide to finding more time in one's life and balancing responsibilities in a manner that reduces tension, cultivates energy, and primes one for the knock of opportunity. Chapters discuss simple changes and mindfulness that can be incorporated into any routine, from the morning shower, breakfast, and commute to daily exercise, shopping, learning to be a more attentive listener, and even turning routine chores such as washing the dishes into a fulfilling experience. The "Ask, Tell, Give" sections condense extended discussion points into simple sentences and precepts; for example, "Ask yourself 'Why do I, or why don't I have a pet?' 'How can I bring more quality to the time I spend with animals?' 'What can I learn from the animals in my life?' / Tell yourself 'Animals support and guide my journey through life.' / Give yourself 'A bird feeder by your favorite window' 'time each day to relax with your animal' 'sponsorship of a cause that supports animals'." An uplifting, motivational guide to lifestyle changes that can make each day richer.

5 comments about Relax and De-Stress: Rest, Re-balance, and Replenish with Classical Music for Healing.

1. I use this tape in my massage practice and the people seem to like very much and I find they seem to relax easier.



2. "The music will help slow your heart rate, deepen your breathing, and move your brainwaves in the direction of calmness. Think of this CD as an acoustical balm for your nervous system to be played whenever you feel the need for peace, stillness, and tranquility." - From the liner notes
   
   The hurried pace of overcommitted lives and manic striving is a breeding ground for stress and disease. Stress hormones bathe our delicate nervous system resulting in the fight-or-flight response once reserved for survival, resulting in fatigue, fuzzy thinking and irritability.
   
   Fortunately, there are wonderful stress-reduction products out on the market like Dr. Andrew Weil's Music for Self-Healing: Relax and De-Stress. Joshua Leeds, an expert in psychoacoustics, has designed this CD to soothe the body's primary pulses--heart rate, brainwaves, and breathing rate.
   
   In a sonic progression spanning 60 minutes, Leeds has selected and re-arranged instrumental compositions by renowned composers expressly for inducing the relaxation response. By arranging the musical selections so that each piece is progressively slower in tempo and simplified in melodic complexity, gentle healing sounds can relieve an overtaxed nervous system.
   
   With lovely performances by the Apollo Chamber Ensemble, the Relax and De-Stress CD features the piano, cello, and oboe arranged by Leeds with four psychoacoustic techniques in mind:
   
   1. Resonance - The impact of one vibration upon another
   
   2. Entrainment - A natural process whereby heartbeat, breath and brainwaves speed up or slow down to match an external rhythm
   
   3. Auditory Pattern Identification - Passive hearing techniques designed to relieve the mind of the tendency to "work" to figure out musical patterns
   
   4. Beauty - Resolution between dissonance and consonance found in harmonies, melodies, and performances
   
   Here are the eleven musical pieces found on the Relax and De-Stress CD:
   
   * Aria Lento by Bach
   * Reverie by Debussy
   * Concerto for Oboe and Strings Sarabande (with nature sounds) by Corelli-Barbirolli
   * Arioso from Cantata No. 156 - Bach
   * Intermezzo Op. 116 No. 4 in E Major - Brahms
   * Concerto for Oboe K. 314, Adagio non troppo by Mozart
   * Cello and Piano Sonata in G Minor, Op. 65 Largo by Chopin
   * Sonata Andante transcribed from Cello Suite No. 3 by Marcello
   * Sonata in A Major D959 Andantino by Schubert
   * Winter, Largo from The Four Seasons by Vivaldi
   * Meditation by Moussorgsky
   * Theme from Largo of "The New World Symphony" by Dvorak
   
   I've listened to Dr. Andrew Weil's Music for Self-Healing: Relax and De-Stress several times and find it to be very relaxing. Aesthetically speaking, these aren't musical selections I'd put in my stereo to listen to for pleasure, yet I can tell a measurable difference in both my mood and bodily state after I begin listening to this CD.
   
   In fact, I'm listening to Relax and De-Stress right now and I'm noticing that my breathing has deepened and slowed--and that tension in my shoulders and neck seems to have melted away.
   
   If you're looking for a soothing CD to put in the stereo after work or perhaps to listen to while you make dinner or get ready for bed, I can recommend with confidence the Relax and De-Stress compilation arranged by Joshua Leeds.
   
   (Note: Although the Amazon.com description says "audiobook", it is NOT. This is a psychoaucoustically arranged musical CD WITH sixteen pages of liner notes.)
   
   Janet Boyer, author of The Back in Time Tarot Book: Picture the Past, Experience the Cards, Understand the Present (coming Fall 2008 from Hampton Roads Publishing)



3. "The music will help slow your heart rate, deepen your breathing, and move your brainwaves in the direction of calmness. Think of this CD as an acoustical balm for your nervous system to be played whenever you feel the need for peace, stillness, and tranquility." - From the liner notes
   
   The hurried pace of overcommitted lives and manic striving is a breeding ground for stress and disease. Stress hormones bathe our delicate nervous system resulting in the fight-or-flight response once reserved for survival, resulting in fatigue, fuzzy thinking and irritability.
   
   Fortunately, there are wonderful stress-reduction products out on the market like Dr. Andrew Weil's Music for Self-Healing: Relax and De-Stress. Joshua Leeds, an expert in psychoacoustics, has designed this CD to soothe the body's primary pulses--heart rate, brainwaves, and breathing rate.
   
   In a sonic progression spanning 60 minutes, Leeds has selected and re-arranged instrumental compositions by renowned composers expressly for inducing the relaxation response. By arranging the musical selections so that each piece is progressively slower in tempo and simplified in melodic complexity, gentle healing sounds can relieve an overtaxed nervous system.
   
   With lovely performances by the Apollo Chamber Ensemble, the Relax and De-Stress CD features the piano, cello, and oboe arranged by Leeds with four psychoacoustic techniques in mind:
   
   1. Resonance - The impact of one vibration upon another
   
   2. Entrainment - A natural process whereby heartbeat, breath and brainwaves speed up or slow down to match an external rhythm
   
   3. Auditory Pattern Identification - Passive hearing techniques designed to relieve the mind of the tendency to "work" to figure out musical patterns
   
   4. Beauty - Resolution between dissonance and consonance found in harmonies, melodies, and performances
   
   Here are the eleven musical pieces found on the Relax and De-Stress CD:
   
   * Aria Lento by Bach
   
   * Reverie by Debussy
   
   * Concerto for Oboe and Strings Sarabande (with nature sounds) by Corelli-Barbirolli
   
   * Arioso from Cantata No. 156 - Bach
   
   * Intermezzo Op. 116 No. 4 in E Major - Brahms
   
   * Concerto for Oboe K. 314, Adagio non troppo by Mozart
   
   * Cello and Piano Sonata in G Minor, Op. 65 Largo by Chopin
   
   * Sonata Andante transcribed from Cello Suite No. 3 by Marcello
   
   * Sonata in A Major D959 Andantino by Schubert
   
   * Winter, Largo from The Four Seasons by Vivaldi
   
   * Meditation by Moussorgsky
   
   * Theme from Largo of "The New World Symphony" by Dvorak
   
   I've listened to Dr. Andrew Weil's Music for Self-Healing: Relax and De-Stress several times and find it to be very relaxing. Aesthetically speaking, these aren't musical selections I'd put in my stereo to listen to for pleasure (even though they're pleasant), yet I can tell a measurable difference in both my mood and bodily state after I begin listening to this CD.
   
   In fact, I'm listening to Relax and De-Stress right now and I'm noticing that my breathing has deepened and slowed--and that tension in my shoulders and neck seems to have melted away.
   
   If you're looking for a soothing CD to put in the stereo after work or perhaps to listen to while you make dinner or get ready for bed, I can recommend with confidence the Relax and De-Stress compilation arranged by Joshua Leeds.
   
   Janet Boyer, author of The Back in Time Tarot Book: Picture the Past, Experience the Cards, Understand the Present (coming Fall 2008 from Hampton Roads Publishing)



4. I love this cd. It is wonderfully relaxing. After listening a few times, your body relaxes almost automatically. It is very soothing. I play it at night to help me go to sleep, and first thing in the morning. Worth the money.



5. Wow, this artfully designed musical collection truly does what it says - the psychoacoustics technic really works! Carefully selected classical pieces and soft instrumentation make this an absolute delight to listen to.
   
   However, what I originally purchased this for was to have some relaxing ambient background music to play while I'm working - and this definitely does NOT work - it's too relaxing! The songs are specifically ordered to be gradually slower and softer, and I can't get through half the songs before I want to take a nap. So for daytime ambience, I don't recommend it. If you're looking for a late-night wind-down or a cure for insomnia, I could not recommend it more highly. You'll be ready for sweet dreams in snoozeville by track 11, no drugs required!