Philosophy Books

Reinhold Niebuhr was one of the giants of twentieth century theology. His theology was not contained in a massive, multi-volume systematic treatment, but rather in the practical and spiritual applications he drew out of his philosophical and theological meditations. This collection of essays shows both the practical and spiritual aspects of what Niebuhr was about - they deal with ethics, politics, justice, the interplay of science and religion, and above all, God's grace and mercy that extends to the entire world.

The first book of Niebuhr's that I read was 'Leaves from the Notebook of a Tamed Cynic', in which Niebuhr reflects on life, society, and his time as a pastor at a church. That set the stage for a lifelong love of Niebuhr's way of thinking (if not always his particular conclusions), a love that is obviously shared by the theologian Robert McAfee Brown, the editor of this collection. These essays are somewhat different in tone from the first book I read, but there is a consistency of spirit. According to Brown, 'Niebuhr's resources in this sort of writing were always two: (1) the particular heritage of the Christian faith that he had appropriated, drawing especially on the Hebrew prophets, Jesus, Paul, the Reformation and Kierkegaard, and (2) a viewpoint in scrutinising the world around him not only in the light of this faith, but also with the tools of social science, political philosophy, and history that he acquired during his adult life.'

Niebuhr's influences drew him into a prophetic ministry. Prophetic ministry is not one in which the minister predicts the end of the world, but rather one in which the minister dares to speak the truth (and tells the consequences of such actions in no uncertain terms). Thus, Niebuhr called upon the Christian community to be engaged in the world. One wants to be careful to not read into Niebuhr that he is going to automatically be a proponent of any kind of social or military action - Niebuhr resisted the isolationism of the American Christian community prior to the second world war, but might not be a particular advocate of Cold War and post-Cold War military engagements such as we have now. After all, in the same essay in which Niebuhr argues against a general pacifist view, he also states, 'A simple Christian moralism is senseless and confusing. It is senseless when, as in the World War, is seeks uncritically to identify the cuase of Christ with the cause of democracy without a religious reservation.'

Niebuhr's work is very good at identifying the tensions in which Christians must live - the tension between following prophetic calls and being good stewards, between love and judgement, between righteousness and mercy. He identifies dangers in the prevalence of the secular culture, including its influence in the church itself. The paradox of the search for meaning and the ubiquitous nature of mystery is one that guides an early essay in this collection, also paradoxically named, 'Pessimistic Optimism'.

Niebuhr also looks at the Jewish-Christian relationship over time, and draws conclusions helpful for the bettering of relations for the future. He is distrustful of supersessionist views by Christians toward the Jewish people and culture.

This is an important collection of Niebuhr's thought

Niebuhr was not only one of the great Protestant theologians of the last century: he was one of very few thinkers ever to have derived a sophisticated and illuminating approach to the worldly order from theological premises. This collection of his writings contains some truly essential expressions of his philosophy, in the form of shorter essays and addresses.

The volume's consistent theme is the Augustinian realism that Niebuhr expounded in the darkest years of modern history, when the western democracies faced the tyrannies of Nazi Germany and expansionist Communism. Against these messianiac creeds, Niebuhr posited the merits of democracy, *not* because of its supposed congruence with the characteristics of the Kingdom of God but because of its effect in tempering the destructiveness of man's urge for dominion.

He did so, moreover, when many Christians were susceptible to the romantic illusion that discipleship required them to oppose the militant defence of western values. No one has better exposed these pretensions than Niebuhr in his essay 'Why the Christian Church is not Pacifist', included in this volume. Those Christians' mistake was to fail to understand the nature of evil. To regard the Sermon on the Mount as a manual for political action without seeing it in the context of Jesus's expectation of the irruption of the Kingdom of God into human history is a misreading. The message of the Gospels is not non-violence, but the immanence of the Kingdom. Niebuhr argues that while conflict is not part of the Kingdom of God, it does not thereby dissipate if Christians act as though they are already living in the Kingdom.

This is a powerful corrective to much wishful thinking that passes for Christian social ethics. It ought to be read urgently by anyone who imagines that the sentimentality of today's anti-war movement, when the western democracies are fighting an enemy as destructive and nihilistic as any seen in the last century, is an expression of the Law of Love.

This is my favorite volume in The History of Sexuality. In The Care of the Self, Foucault traces the shift towards a greater concern over sexual praxis which initiated a more severe ethical code from the one found in the Greek antiquity of his The Use of Pleasure. It is here that Foucault shows us the seeds of moral anxiety that would permeate later Christian sexual ethics. However, Foucault makes clear that this is not the sexuality found in the Christian era--there are still several substantial differences.

So what is the nature of the changes presented in this volume? First is the newfound and pivotal concern for the self nearly absent in the writing examined in the preceding volume. The Greeks seemed concerned for the self only insomuch as an untamed, desirous self would have no right to rule over others within the domestic or political sphere (Use 70-72). These political conceptions of the good, moderate citizen, in conjunction with any special birthrights, were to dominate the life of the individual men (I use this word literally) who would make up a Greek city (Use 72). But within the first two centuries of our own era, there was a new concern for the self and a general disconnection of its relation to the political sphere (Care 67-68). It was through the care of the self that one would discover how to relate to the political realm, and this would be regardless of class strata or other "external" difference (Care 87-94). In many ways, the development of more personal practices of the self would more definitely shape the greater moral code--this code would be more relativized, more individualized.

But this would certainly not mean that men could absolutely develop their own ethical code without regard to the discursive features of the period. It was not absolutely relative to the individual in question. The second theme, thus, was a shift in emphasis in practices related to the body, boys and marriage. In all of these realms, there was an increasing idea of the frailty of the fiber--morally and physically--of the self. For instance, the Greek's valorization of sexual moderation shifted nearly to idealization of sexual abstinence in Roman writings (122). What was once an anxiety over the effects of too much sexual activity became an anxiety over sexual pleasure generally--due very visibly to the new emphasis on the care of the self for the self's own sake (123).

Within this thematic of shifting values the question of marriage and of relations with young men was re-cast. Marriage became a much more personal institution; the idea of love, mutual care and fidelity began to dominate discourse on marriage. Where before the husband was not expected to have sexual relations exclusively with his wife (Use 180), it was now a weakness if he did not (Care 175). Marriage was idealized as the most perfect, most complete formulation for sexual relation. Therefore, Foucault writes, when the love of young men was posed, it would often be contrasted with this more "perfect" marital relation and held against a valorization of intentional virginity--ideally meant until the more excellent marital union might be realized (228-32). The love of young men became a weakness of the self in this ideational restructuring.

This is perhaps where I would call into question Foucault's hermeneutical method. While he makes it very clear that he is only analyzing an elite medico-philosophical discourse from the period (235), he does not mention exactly what this means: what he is leaving out. Martial's Epigrams, for instance, was a contemporaneous personal exposition into as many sexual acts and practices as one might imagine. Further, Garland's poetry from the same period speaks of a love for a boy held above any other love one might find in the earthly realm. Foucault can only (albeit convincingly) speculate that the early Roman discourse he is uncovering matriculated into the formation of the Christian Roman Empire (235), and that it was not, for instance, an inconsequential reaction to the varied "decadences" one might find in these other literary works. There is simply not a lot of methodological certainty about why or how this elite and small conversation between philosophers and medics diffused itself so completely into the later empire.

Nonetheless, I still think that this is the most exciting volume of Foucault's history. Its presentation is more complex and subtle then the almost schematically frigid The Use of Pleasure, and its articulation is more intentional and deliberate than the broad strokes of the Introduction. Moreover, this volume, I believe, shows us the very first seeds of the discourse that would eventually insist on an essential sexuality revelatory of the truth of the self: the idea of sexuality we all live with today.

All Volumes Reviewed: Is this the work of Michel Foucault, the author of "Order of Things," "Discipline and Punish," and "Archeology of Knowledge?" Surely, this must be a hoax. Foucault is notoriously provocative, keenly insightful, and always virulent. So what happened here? Hardly much of a history, anything but provocative, entirely pedestrian, already outdated, and woefully incomplete. Accessibility is not a problem, unlike "Archeology of Knowledge," but truly lacking in information, perspective, and relevance. Compare, for example, this trite and superficial reading with Compton's expansive and exhaustive "Homosexuality and Civilization." After all, Foucault was gay and into sado-masochism. The two are incomparable. A complete waste of time (since I was sure Foucault had something quixotic to write over three volumes), but hope never materialized into reality. Key theme: Sex is a power relation. Maybe for Foucault and his preoccupation with S&M, but some men, gay and straight, find romantic love, passion, intimacy, tenderness, and yes, by golly, love-making culminates in the sex act. How did we get it wrong? PASS.

I have used this book with my own kids, as a counselor and in the school setting. It is a great tool for getting kids to think about character traits and their own choices and behaviors.

I have a 7 year old daughter and I decided to purchase this book to see if I could use it to help her learn good character traits and morals without the religious overtone. It has worked out great! It's supposed to be for slightly older kids but I just work with her a little more slowly. I spend time reading the sections to her and after each paragraph, I pause to see if she has any questions. If she does then I spend the time to explain what she doesn't understand. At the end of each section there is an interactive part which encourages further thinking and discussion between us. She loves it now and practically begs me to learn more about good character. What's even better is she is learning and practicing it now. Soon, I'm going to have to get another book like this, which will more than likely be by the same publisher. This is an excellent book. Don't hesitate getting it. It will be one of the best things you, as a parent, will do with your child.

I loved Kuschner's first book. It was writen through him, not by him. I was so excited to see he'd written another book. This book was written through ego. He was told he'd written a first great book and to teach us again. He wrote the book and it was more about how he sees religion as the answer. He ignored other processes of people. His first book really guided us to sort it out for ourselves. This book hit you over the head with religion. Sad, I'm religious, but don't want people scared away being hit over the head with it.

Absolutely wonderful book. Simple to understand and very inspiring!!!

I found a copy of this thin book in the discount paperback section which I think is OK to say on Amazon since it appears to be no longer available here except through others just as the messages in this book are best understood through our relationships with others! This book threads the story of Jacob throughout, using this, other biblical insights and the Rabbi's experiences as a compassionate listener, to affirm the power and grace of right living; herein there is also a solid debate for forgiveness and citations of methods used for reconciliation.

This book created much meaningful discussion in our book club albeit not the preferred selection; several did not show that evening! I heard these comments from those who did show up; "this makes me think too much" "I don't like all the bible stories" "I like to do my own interpretation." The most revealing comment however I think speaks to why you should read this book and that was from one of the ladies looking almost angry throughout and when asked her opinion she honestly replied "I choose revenge." So read this book to see what you choose then consider how our choices shape the world we live in.

I became a fan of Rabbi Kushner when I read his book "When Bad Things Happen to Good People". When "Living a Life That Matters" was published, he came to Denver to promote the book at the Tattered Cover Book Store. How could I miss a chance to meet him? I was number 6 in line for his autograph and as thrilled as some groupie getting to meet her favorite rock star.

Rabbi Kushner's works are a joy to read even when he writes of sadness and grief. He doesn't pretend to have answers but his gifts of words and empathy are comforting. He's a genuinely nice person with a wonderful sense of humor.

That's not a book review. That's an author review. Which pretty much sums up the book.

This book began by raising some very interesting questions about "mother love" versus "father love", that is, about the need for a person to experience both unconditional love and earned love. I eagerly bought the book, logically believing these provocative questions would be answered at the end of the book, but IMHO Kushner wimps out. He writes that there really isn't any difference at all, despite the fact that he outlined significant differences earlier in the book.

I won't be buying Kushner's latest book, which was released earlier this month (although I'll probably read parts of it in a bookstore). I find myself growing a bit tired of his technique of profiling one Old Testament character per book. (He's profiled Job, the writer of Ecclesiastes/King Solomon, Jacob/Israel in this book, and Moses in his latest.) Kushner writes really well, and I'd like to see him break out of this mold and deliver some truly original ideas!

A really intensive beginning guide for students so that they can improve their yoga through understanding (anatomy, philosphy, spirituality are all included). Well done Gregor.

ASHTANGA YOGA: PRACTICE AND PHILOSOPHY is the first of its kind covering all eight limbs of Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga, and comes from a yogi who describes its history, the basic movements, and posture using photos, written instruction and even anatomical illustrations. Details on myth and philosophy accompany insights on techniques and are accented with black and white photos throughout, making for an excellent pick for any new age collection.

Astanga Yoga Practice and Philosophy by Gregor Maehle is the most thorough exploration of the various aspects of Ashtanga Yoga available today and a valuable resource for all yoga teachers and practitioners. In this book, Gregor extensively explains the fundamental techniques of breath, bandhas and drishti and makes a comprehensive study of each posture of the Primary Series, complemented by clear and informative anatomical illustrations, photos and descriptions.(Examples and links to excerpts appear below the buy button) He also shows how minor adjustments can make a big difference and how growth in one posture will benefit the execution of other postures. Additional information on the mythological background and yogic context of specific postures enhances and enlivens the text. The book does not stop there, however.
Gregor shows how Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga and the Yoga Sutra of Patanjali are an organic whole by clearly detailing how the 8 limbs are practiced within the Ashtanga Vinyasa system. Included in the book are sections about the deep influence of Yogic philosophy on the development of human society and Gregor's own transmission of and insights into the Yoga Sutras, informed by his extensive consultation with ancient texts.
This large format paperback book has 300 pages and weighs over 2 pounds. I am sure it will benefit all teachers and students of yoga who read it.

In the western world, yoga is often viewed as a great way to exercise- perfect for flexibility and stress management. It is that. However, in our ignorance, we are only getting part of the benefits of this practice.

True yoga is not only about the physical positions it is also about the philosophy. Without the philosophy, the forms have no context or meaning. Moreover, without this balance, students may actually be causing themselves and their bodies harm.

Ashtanga Yoga is an important resource for anyone who wishes to practice yoga. It blends practice and philosophy together for fuller understanding. Some of the best extras in this book include photographs of each posture, colour illustrations of the muscle groups used in each movement, and line by line interpretation of the Yoga Sutra.

This is not just another 'how to do yoga yourself' book, but a thorough study of both the postures and philosophy of Ashtanga yoga. At a time when almost every well-known teacher has their own 'brand' of yoga, Mr. Maehle goes back to the source to both explain the foundation of the practice and the philosophy that supports the physical practice.
Almost all western practictioners come to yoga as a form of excerise and are unaware of the philosophy from which the physical practice developed. This book covers both in accessable language and explanation. Serious student will want to have this as a resource and serious Ashtangis will find it invaluable along with D. Swenson's Practice Manual. Ashtanga Yoga: The Practice Manual: An Illustrated Guide to Personal Practice

An excellent guide to understanding an important Buddhist writing. Down to earth with a practical running commentary, I find it equally appealing as A Course in Miracles and de Mello's timeless book, Awareness. All three stand tall in helping us make sense of and survive in this sometimes "crazy" world in which we live.

No Time to Lose reads like a compassionate literary analysis of sacred prose, Pema takes us through stanza by stanza Shantideva's inspired work from the 8th century, revealing the cultural and spiritual relevance and sharing what she's learnt along the way, leaving plenty of room for us to also experience and apply its meaning in our own lives. Pema is well studied and an empathetic teacher who encourages us to try methods that she's tested some even as simple as copying down one or more of your favorite Shanitdeva's verses and reading it when we need to rekindle and reaffirm purpose. Here are some of my favorites:

On Transcending Hesitation:

"Just so and for the benefit of beings,
I will also have this attitude of mind,
And in these precepts, step by step
I will abide and train myself"
3.24

On Enthusiasm:

"Therefore leaving everything that is adverse to it
I'll labor to increase my perseverance
Through cheerful effort, keenness, self-control
Through aspiration, firmness joy and moderation."
7.32

Pema says for example about firmness that with commitment and steadfastness we can connect with and find confidence in our basic goodness which is our birthright as human beings. Pema provides ways that we can work to eliminate addictive behavior which she describes as `like licking honey on a razor's edge' (ouch!)

Reading books like this we see that the truth has not changed over the centuries; it merely awaits our committed response, as the concluding line to Shantideva's work challenges us,"Concern for others is the way to heaven"

I have always liked Pema Chodron's short easy-to-read essays.
This book is fatter than any of her books. The chapters are
uncharacteristically lengthy. I have not read the whole book,
but I will probably spot read it. An interesting feature is the
poems included in each chapter. They are surprisingly different
to Pema's work. I'm not sure if I like this feature or not. I
am a Pema Chodron fan, however, and her books have always given
me solace in this difficult world. "No Time to Lose" is worth
reading -- the title, at least, is like a gentle whip to our
flaccid brains.

I am discovering a whole realm of wisdom of the ages. She is commenting on an ancient rule of life in a whole new way...I have been reading other, older commentaries, from other cultures, in translation. Here, an American woman is sharing her Western version...and it illuminates the others.

Easy to ready. Well worth it!

Pema Chodron's book is not for everyone Unlike some of her more popular books, this text stays closer to tradition: it is a line-by-line commentary on an ancient text, "The Way of the Boddhisattva." I bought it not knowing quite what I expected: but what I did find was nourishing food for the journey: support for staying open-hearted and compassionate in a global time of confusion and suffering.

I'm a high school math teacher. I love this book. IT STAYS IN MY OFFICE AT HOME because BC calculus students, as gifted as they may be, are nevertheless ill prepared to conquer this.

The student who failed to test out of Calc I and II is a lot like a lawyer who represents himself (he has a fool for a client). Students, take the risk and ASK A FEW PEOPLE WHO KNOW! We want you to succeed--especially those of us who aren't in lock-step with the dumbing down proces.

Here's the good news for this student, if (s)he actually managed to grasp just 20% of "The Principia" (s)he will absolutely fly through calc and may well walk away with a better, deeper grasp of the material than his/her teacher.

I think I read it at the right time, after I began teaching. Had I tried to read it before answering the same questions I might not have understood it enough to continue. This is THE EPOCHAL MATHEMATICAL WORK of it's century and perhaps of a few nearby ones as well! It is on par with Euclid (another amazing book that is NOT for children).

All that being said, I have no problem with highly motivated youths and super-geniuses making a go of it. I grew up in Palo Alto and went to school with all sorts of super-smart people (such Bobby Fisher's family and the children of many Stanford Professors for instance). I know that some kids can handle anything and exist WAY above their teachers. What I also know is that discovering things that are totally beyond their comprehension can be profoundly unsettling to significantly bright children (120
Instead, I advocate assigning controversial literature reports (as extra credit) and letting that drive their lit. and social studies teachers crazy! It's much more fun and we can always find tie ins to math.

Tschuss

I FINALLY UNDERSTAND CALCULUS.I RECOMMEND PEOPLE TO TAKE THEIR TIME READING AND UNDERSTANDING THE PHILOSPHY OF ISAAC NEWTON.

At least if you read this book, you will know where it all started. Nothing more than basic calculus and mechanics is required, but the book is still tough going for those of us who aren't physics studs. The style is archaic, and Newton even includes the occasional theological comment (for example, in one of the Lemma's he refers to God as "an infinite and elastic spirit)." But for those with the patience, determination, and discipline to make it to the end, you can pride yourself on having read one of the most important founding works of modern science, and perhaps the most important and revolutionary single science book ever written.

My edition of this book was part of the famous Great Books of the Western World set, and it was one of my favorites. The only work in the set to require any higher math, there is no doubt it had to be included in the set because of it's importance. But unfortunately I suspect it's the most neglected work in the entire set of 54 volumes and over 300 works because of the level of technical difficulty.

"I hope that, decades from now, when I and my other books have been forgotten, this will still be useful to scholars and students". So spoke Harvard University Professor I. Bernard Cohen some years before his death in 2003. His co-translator Anne Whitman had died in 1984. The translation and the extraordinary commentary is 974 pages long and took 15 years to complete. I have had this edition for many years and in reading it again I decided to write this review. I feel grateful to Cohen and Whitman for what they accomplished.

This particular edition by Cohen and Whitman of The Principia stands alone (as far as I know) in making one feel that a teacher, guide, and historian are holding your hand while exploring and understanding one of the most dramatic and powerful scientific and mathematical treatise ever written. I am surprised at some of the reviews here in that they seem to discuss the applicability or utilization of The Principia as a Physics or Math textbook. This is certainly not a textbook in the modern sense in any respect. This is not a book you would use to prepare for any normal Physics or Math examination. It must be kept in mind that this book by Newton was a human accomplishment and this particular edition with its extensive commentary by Cohen lets one be exposed to both the scientific rigor and social aspects of the world of Isaac Newton. And due to the fact of Newton's extraordinary scientific and mathematical accomplishment it caused historical alteration in the course of human events as does each great expansion of human knowledge. Sometimes when mathematical expressions and concepts of Physics are portrayed we forget that the ideas are first and foremost a human experience, it is not some distant and inscrutable theory but part of our most intimate life. We try to understand what we are and where we are. In the days of Isaac Newton Natural Philosophy was thought of as an expression and search for the truth and mathematics was sometimes able to be the handmaiden of this exploration. Unfortunately, from my point of view, philosophy has become detached from much of mathematics and this has done a disservice to both Physics, Math and what is currently thought of as Philosophy. I see no advantage in this current day separation and when immersing yourself in this edition of The Principia, there is a longing for those days now past when there was a unification of science and philosophy.
There is little reason in this review to explain the significance both mathematically and historically of the writing of Isaac Newton. Whether a student is using a conventional Physics textbook to master the understanding, laws and calculations described in The Principia or is exercising physics problems to show facility and prepare for an examination, each and every aspiring learner is obligated to master the ideas and knowledge as expressed in The Principia one way or another. Certainly our current day Physics textbooks do not teach as Isaac Newton taught and wrote. The Principia is not a book normally used to prepare for any Physics examination whether in High School or University. But the law of science and math as expressed in The Principia is as valid in general application today as it was in 1729. Our understanding of the laws of Newton as they relate to later discovered equations and expressions, including Relativity, does alters our knowledge of applicability of Newtonian physics. It does show the limitations of our belief in the immutable Laws of Nature, including those mathematical laws. In some respects radically so. So, it really depends upon the demands you put upon the math and knowledge as expressed in The Principia. Do not read Isaac Newton in the light of Albert Einstein and others. First read Newton in the light of his age, then step back and remember how we have continued along this amazing path to knowledge. So The Principia is another place in our human endeavor. This is not just a book for mathematicians. As related on pages 297 and 298 that wonderful contemporary of Newton, John Locke, without benefit of full mathematical understanding was still able to comprehend the ideas within. So will you. This is by far the best edition of The Principia I have ever read. Kenneth Ellman. ke@kennethellman.com

I am writing my dissertation on Newton and have found this translation incredibly helpful and surprisingly readable.

The Principia is one of the most difficult and inaccessible books ever written -- so much so, in fact that even John Locke (himself a pretty smart guy) had to ask Christian Huygens to explain much of it to him. This difficulty was intentional, because Newton did not want people who only understood math a little to try and undermine his arguments. For this reason, he rewrote book three so that only those who had read and understood book 1 could understand its concepts.

People laugh when I tell then that I own a book with a three hundred page introduction, but it's a book that needs a three hundred page intro. In their intro, Cohen and whitman describe the history of the principia, its structure, an explanation of where prior translations have fallen short, and -- most importantly -- note which of the Principia's sections have been most significant during and after Newton's time. This is helpful so that when you get to each section, you are more likely to notice which elements may have seemed most controversial, where he is taking down Descartes' vortices, etc. I'm not saying I agree 100% with cohen and whitman on all of their points, but they have produced a work that does not simply translate the book; it also shares the writers' substantial knowledge about the principia.

This is an essential and monumental translation. If you are at all interested in early modern science, you must own it.

I found the book well written, easy to read and understand the content. It provided helpful information concerning why/how we make choices about food and how we approach eating in general.

This book was very helpful and actually changed my life in a way that no other book has! I recommend it to anyone who is an emotional eater!

The information in this book is vague, hazy and totally non-motivating. Please, before you spend $$$ on Eating Mindfully purchase The Seven Secrets of Slim People. It is focussed, dense with wisdom and EXCELLENT exercises that develop your sane sense of how, why and when you eat so that you can lose that obsessive relationship you now have with food. Eating Mindfully will leave you treading water with no shore in sight.
The Seven Secrets of Slim People

What a wonderful, compassionate and helpful guide! I've run across this book in several places but I finally broke down and bought it when I saw it in Oprah Magazine. I'm glad I did. It was different than the other diet books I've bought. It was insightful, easy to read and positive. It helped me to understand why I mindlessly eat and gave a lot of helpful hints for eating in a more mindful, relaxed way. If you want a sample of what is inside this book before you buy it, check out Dr. Albers' website. It was a helpful resource for me and would be for anyone with eating issues.

This book is a collection of 46 brief observations on mindless eating. The observations are short, one or two pages, and include suggestions on how to turn mindless eating into mindfull eating. The observations themselves are diverse so every reader will most likely find several that relate to their specific problems with eating.

However, very little of the book is devoted to the fundamentals of "mindfullness". The book causally quotes the Buddhist origins of "mindfullness" but does not expand on the topic. This causes the observations to feel a little empty since they're constantly referring to a "mindfullness" concept that hasn't been meaningfully explained.

If you want a fundamental understanding of Buudhist "mindfulness" before you apply it to eating problems then I would read "The Zen of Eating" by Kabatznick. If you prefer a more 'thought for the day' type of format then this book is more appropriate.

This is it; skip all the rest; "the unfettered mind" tells the master
swordsman, right off the bat, how to stay cool enough to survive. Do I have to say more?

This is a legacy of Takuan Soho, a Zen monk from medieval Japan who live in the same period with Minamoto Mushasi, author of The Book of Five Rings. In this book Takuan Soho was trying to explain the concept of Zen to other sword master, Yagyu Munemori, and of course from the perspective of Buddhism. "A" gook book actualy but it takes a great amount of time to read and understand it.

I would suggest this book for Kendo and Kenjutsu practitioners for spiritual reasons.

Soho was the spiritual teacher of a famous Swordsman Yagyu Munenori. In Yagyu¡¦s books his strong Zen background is evident. Soho was not an excellent swordsman himself. However he pioneered the spiritual aspects of chopping someone¡¦s head off. He was more of a cook than swordsman. As is evident by his now famous pickle.

So buy a jar of Soho pickles to munch on before reading this book. º

You might be someone who's down to earth, just like, figuring out how in someone's name some Japanese sword fighter is going to help you out in your daily life. Well, he isn't going to.

What this book does teaches you is to seek within yourself and return to your own core. As I'm not someone who meditates or does much spiritual enlightment, this book still taught me a lot. As for the time of reading it, it takes you back into time and makes you think of certain things you might not have thought about all your life. So, if that's enlightment, count me in.

With only 92 real pages to read, this book still gives much value for its price. Most sentences are compressed with knowledge and sometimes make you read them twice. Hey, that's 184 pages already then!

Are you interested in gaining some spiritual thoughts and maybe some habits as well? Then read this book.

...I'd like to meet him. But not in a duel. The title of the book is appropriate. Do not park your mind. Zen is a no-parking zone. It is alright to park your tail on a cushion, though. To understand this book, you need to be a bit of a martial artist, and a bit of a zennist to begin with. Not for beginners, or for those who like their gruel thin.

I bought this book a few weeks ago and really enjoyed reading it. I think it was thought-provoking. I really liked the way the authors looked at what the families purchased and then discussed the items and their origins. I think that helps the average person to relate to the information. I highly recommend the book to all people that care and are curious about where their food comes from and if there are ethical implications that they should consider before making the purchase (e.g., environmental considerations, animal concerns, etc.). Two thumbs up for this book!

Throughly researched, this book provides an insightful and provocative look into the ethical/environmental concerns revolving around our meat eating culture. What Singer and Mason are able to avoid is taking on a holier-than-thou tone, while they come to the sensible conclusion that a vegan lifestyle is preferable to an omnivorous one. However, they also investigate the truth behind food labels, and the issues of organic and local food. Very thoughtful, and hopefully this book will instigate further change in people who wish to make a positive change for the sake of the world.

This book offers a very thought-provoking view into the world of food. Forget restaurant hygiene and other crazes, this book portrays the alarming state of the food industry as it operates in the USA today (with a slight glimpse into Europe as well). The authors do a very good job at presenting facts and issues surrounding the ethics (obviously) of the food industry, with a focus on farming. Unlike many other similar discussions, I felt the authors' approach was very easy to read (or digest, heh), with a seemingly open-minded view on the world.

Since finishing the read, I have altered my personal food buying decisions. I'm not perfect by any means, but I feel learning about the "what goes on behind closed doors" has helped me find a new appreciation for awareness and conscientiousness about food. I've given up some foods entirely, and am doing much more research in my buying decisions. I appreciate the education the book provided me, and already feel like a better person for the decisions it's helped me made.

Note: I'm an omnivore, and I *love* steaks. I'm just a bit more thoughtful than I was before about them.

I really thought this was a great book. It is well written (believe it or not it is a "page turner") and it covers a broad range of topics in an open minded and sober manner. It deals with ethical, envirnomental and economic political side of what we eat, as well as other topics and uses a narrative thread following 3 different families with different lifestyles. I got a lot out of it.

This is a superb book. Everyone should read this to know what they are truly consuming and how it effects our planet and its inhabitants. It's time that we are aware of the consequences of our food choices so that we may hopefully make better choices and decrease our impact on the planet.