Editorial Review

In order to call themselves good Christians, many people have drawn overly flexible boundaries (unwilling to say no, always accommodating others' needs) or overly rigid boundaries (to the point of being righteous and judgmental). Psychologists and inspirational speakers Cloud and Townsend show readers how to set reasonable boundaries in order to follow the true path of Christianity. This book has become immensely popular, most likely because it makes personal boundaries easier to define and is filled with spiritual purpose. Some cautions: the format can be overly self-helpish for such a complex discussion and the authors at one point imply that judicious spankings may be an acceptable form of setting boundaries with children. However, many Christians will probably find themselves grateful for this biblical context of boundaries. Read more

Reviews (134)

Boundaries
Miniature edition.Not until you get to the book size at the bottom of the page is there any indication that this IS NOT the complete Boundaries book.Yes, I'm angry--I didn't get what I ordered!!

Total Farce
When I ordered this book I was led to believe it was based on the science of mental health. What I found was that it was a book on Christian values, Bible verses, and virtual preaching. Instead of sound psychological protocol I was given Bible classes. I am not anti-Christian, or anti-religion, but I don't expect to buy a book on psychology only to find it is about two men's religious values. I returned this book.

Fantastic!
My husband and I read this book and it really cleared up a lot of issues for us! We still refer back to it sometimes!
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Subjects:  1. Christianity - Christian Life - Interpersonal Relationships    2. Inspirational - Protestant Self Help    3. Personal Growth - Happiness    4. Religion - Christian Life    5. Self-Help    6. Christian Interest    7. Christian life & practice    8. Religion / Counseling   

Editorial Review

"One of the most salient features of our culture is that there is so much bullshit," Harry G. Frankfurt writes, in what must surely be the most eyebrow-raising opener in modern philosophical prose. "Everyone knows this. Each of us contributes his share. But we tend to take the situation for granted." This compact little book, as pungent as the phenomenon it explores, attempts to articulate a theory of this contemporary scourge--what it is, what it does, and why there's so much of it. The result is entertaining and enlightening in almost equal measure. It can't be denied; part of the book's charm is the puerile pleasure of reading classic academic discourse punctuated at regular intervals by the word "bullshit." More pertinent is Frankfurt's focus on intentions--the Read more

Reviews (148)

A Tongue -in-Cheek look at a Serious Subject
Horsefeathers, Hogwash, Balderdash do not carry the same weight as the title.Franfurt looks at the the subject and tries to explain what we mean by this term.It is both a serious look at the subject and at the same time it is tongue-in-cheek.Frankfurt explains the words place in our society and it is very funny the entire time without reaching to be funny.We all know what the word means without having it explained and yet, trying to explain it is very hard.Frankfurt explains the place this word has in society and why the other words don't quite measure up.The book is both a philosophical and comedic read.Frankfurt tells the reader this up front without ever explaining it outright.It is both very short and easy to read.One sitting, but it is very profound and that is the mark of a great book.Highly Reccommended.

Telling it Like it is
A tremendously artful (if very short) book, this is a republishing of a paper written in 1986. It not only is about BS, it is BS itself. It not only describes but exemplifies.
Title sells the book ...
The book definitely reads like a college thesis and severely lacks any original or entertaining thoughts.Save your money. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Ethics & Moral Philosophy    2. Ethics (Specific Aspects)    3. Moral Theology    4. Philosophy    5. Truthfulness and falsehood    6. American Language and Literature    7. Philosophy / Ethics & Moral Philosophy    8. Sociology    9. World History/Comparative History   

Reviews (223)

Don't jump to conclusions
Dr. Ehrman is a favorite of this reviewer and for that reason I hate to bring the rathing average down with my three stars. But, it cannot be avoided.The author's communication skills and flowing writing style are wonderful as in his other books. The content and the subject he covers are very good and at a good level of study for the layman. The service he has done in bringing out this study in popular form cannot be overemphasized and for that he is to be commended. However, I think his conclusions are based on his protestant experience which ignores the role that church tradition has played in the formation of the texts. This is unfortunate considering Dr. Ehrman's unquestioned encyclopedic knowledge of early church history. This book will make shakey ground for the evangelical Christian with dogmatic assumptions about scriptures.It will not put a dent in the armor of the Roman Catholic or Orthodox Christian however. Dr. Ehrman's non-antagonistic approach to the subject and his admirable attempt to remain objective while expressing the very findings that led to his own apostasy does him great credit as a scholar. For the research work background and as an introduction to this field of study, you will find this book quite helpful. But remember not to be jump too quickly to Dr. Ehrman's conclusions.

Interesting Take on the Transmission of Biblical Text
I am writing this review at someone who has always been interested in knowing why we are here and what does it all mean. I read Bart Ehrman's other book on Truth and Fiction in the Da Vinci Code and found it to be very interesting. When I saw he also wrote a book on the problems in transmitting biblical text from the originals (which don't exist), I wanted to read it.
Careful Work Of Scholarship
Don't buy this book expecting some major "bombshells" about how the Bible has been intentionally and substanially altered over the course of it's history. This book has nothing in common with the conspiracy theories of the "Da Vinci Code." Instead it is a cautious work by one of the world's foremost scholars in the field of textual criticism. Textual critics realize that we no longer have the original manuscripts on which the New Testament was based. So they study the earliest manuscripts available to determine what parts may have been changed before being collected as the canon of the New Testament.
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Subjects:  1. Bible - CriticismInterpretation - New Testament    2. Bible - Study - New Testament    3. Bible.    4. Christianity - General    5. Christianity - History - General    6. Criticism, Textual    7. History    8. Manuscripts    9. N.T.    10. New Testament Commentary    11. Religion    12. Religion - Church History    13. Religion / General   

Reviews (28)

good material - too bible thumping though.. love your wife
The book follows on the vein of 'men are from mars, women venus', both excellent for men and relationships (not for dating). To be honest the authors admit the survey of womens results will be slanted to reflect their christian background. The points made are 'Excellent'... no really they are..... but his wife is a woman columnist writer(read feminist) and he goes on to bash 'porn' (he neglects that 51% of all books sold are romance novels...... the same as porn for males, how many women go to movies and drool over brad pitt etc?). If you're going to do a survey then give us the results of how women think without the christian lecturing.... isn't it about time men can honestly admit to women, that yes we enjoy looking at women, even naked women.... without having to be lectured we're bad...... author needs to explain and accept male behaviour as it is, not as how he wants it to be..... warts and all. Feminists had to do this for women!
Love IS Possible between the sexes
Finally you Can Understand Her! Women, complicated and impossible to understand? Do you love and want to please the woman in your life, but just can't seem to figure her out? That was before For Men Only . Now at your fingertips is the tool that will unlock the secret to her mysterious ways. Through hundreds of interviews and the results of a scientific national survey of women, this book demonstrates that women are actually not random and that they really can be systematized and mapped. In fact, much to men's delight, this book shows that women are actually quite easy to understand and please as long as you know what it is they need. This simple map will guide you to loving your wife or girlfriend in the way she needs to be loved.

Please read the book before you review the book! Duh.
Two purposes for writing this review. First is that I LOVED the book.Jeff Feldhahn nailed the basic issues involved with understanding woman-kind a little better with humor and intelligence. Well done!
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Subjects:  1. Christian men    2. Christianity - Christian Life - Marriage    3. Christianity - Christian Life - Men's Issues    4. Conduct of life    5. General    6. Men (Christian theology)    7. Psychology    8. Psychology Of Women    9. Religion - Marriage & Family    10. Social Institutions    11. Sociology - General    12. Women's Studies - General    13. CHRISTIAN LIVING / PRACTICAL LIFE / MEN    14. Family & Relationships / Marriage   

Editorial Review

When Richard Foster began writing Read more

Reviews (85)

celebration
We use this book in a training for juveniles - maximum prisoners! It is a great celebration every week when we discuss the issues of the Celebration of discipline. Most of the guy's are just for one year Christians, and know nothing about these issues. We thank God and Richard Foster for the great Service they give to "our Boys". Martin de Bruijn and Anita Stigter Johannesburg SA.

Celebration of Disciple
When I first heard of this book I thought the title was an oxymorom. there never has been much celebration when I am being disciplined.But it was required reading, so I read it. It is wonderful. I'm sure it will take 2-3 readings to get it all absorbed, but even reading it once has changed my attitudes and my own practices in living for Christ. I recommend it.

Practical and theologically sound guide to spiritual disciplines
The reasons that I have recommended Celebration of Discipline to so many people over the years are 1) the book fully explains each of the disciplines, giving their biblical foundations and their practice in the church over the years, 2) the book is theologically sound, and 3) the "how to" aspects are fully and clearly explained for each of the disciplines.
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Subjects:  1. Christianity    2. Christianity - Christian Life - General    3. Inspirational - General    4. Religion    5. Religion - Inspirational/Spirituality    6. Spiritual life    7. Spirituality - General    8. Christian Interest    9. Christian spirituality    10. Personal Christian testimony & popular inspirational works    11. Religion / Christian Life    12. Religion / Spirituality   

Editorial Review

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Reviews (118)

BestSales Book ever written
I am an avid Mandino reader.This is the best sales book ever written.It is inspiring and speaks the truth of the success principles which are applicable to sales, to relationships and to life.Every individual who wants to become a leader must read this amazing book and learn the scrolls.

Mandino is Brilliant
I have read everyone of Og Mandinos Books and all I can say is that he writes with brilliance, clarity, enthusiasm, and spirit.You can never go wrong with any of his books.He points out the path to success and motivates the spirit within to achieve all that we as human beings are capable.He helped me to tap into my innate genuis and create a life of prosperity and creativity.If you havent raed his books, start now and your journey of the spirit will begin.He was a born writer and even after his passing continues to have a great influence on many people old and young.He truly lived a purposeful and divine life.Go buy all his books and enjoy the growth and enlightenment.After that Buy my Book " Your daily Walk with the Great Minds of the Past and Present".Enjoy and rememeber you are capable of great things in your life.

Good Stuff To Remember
This book says the secret to learning is forming good habits.In other words, one only learns by repeating the same good things over and over again.Simple idea that I think we can all agree on.
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Subjects:  1. Fiction    2. Fiction - Religious    3. Religious - General    4. Fiction / Religious    5. Philosophy    6. Religion: general   

Editorial Review

Blasphemy! Heresy! Who does this man think he is, claiming to speak directly to God?! Jesus did it, Muhammad did it, the Jewish prophets did it, but none of their Gods had the sardonic wit or raw verve of Prophet Walsch's God. Neale Donald Walsch isn't claiming to be the Messiah of a new religion, just a frustrated man who sat down one day with pen in his hand and some tough questions in his heart. As he wrote his questions to God, he realized that God was answering them... directly... through Walsch's pen. The result, far from the apocalyptic predictions or cultic eccentricities you might expect, turns out to be matter-fact, in-your-face wisdom on how to get by in life while remaining true to yourself and your spirituality. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Alternate Spirituality    2. Body, Mind & Spirit    3. God    4. Miscellanea    5. Mysticism    6. New Age    7. Parapsychology - General    8. Spiritual life    9. Spiritualism - General    10. Spirituality - General    11. Walsch, Neale Donald    12. Mind, body, spirit: disciplines & techniques    13. Occultism & quasi-religious beliefs    14. Religion / Spirituality   

Reviews (27)

Engrossing, Frustrating
I have been nourished in my faith by Barbara Brown Taylor's writings and presentations over the years.This book is no different.Once I began reading it, I was engrossed in her images and descriptions and connections, as she described her spiritual and professional journey.In many passages, she writes moving descriptions of the grace that happens in congregational life.I highly recommend this as an example of intellectually honest and deeply rooted faith.I have been thinking about it a great deal in the months since I read it.
Cathartic, Even for Me
Barbara Brown Taylor never claims that her approach to the ministry was typical, nor does she advocate that other people follow her footsteps in leaving the church (although she does have some interesting suggestions for empowering churchgoers and the faithful in general).Her story of "finding, losing, and keeping," is merely one personal narrative that successfully avoids the pretense that everyone shares the same dramas and should therefore listen to her wisdom.She is not selling anything.Her book is rather an intimate, articulate self-revelation about her path in the world.
Missing a Sense of Call
I have enjoyed Barbara Brown Taylor's essays in The Christian Century and there is no question that she is a talented and descriptive writer. This book is a pleasant (and quick) read largely because her prose flows so beautifully.
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Subjects:  1. Anglican Communion    2. Biography    3. Biography & Autobiography    4. Biography / Autobiography    5. Biography/Autobiography    6. Christianity - Episcopalianism    7. Clergy    8. Episcopal Church    9. Episcopal Churches    10. Personal Memoirs    11. Religious    12. Taylor, Barbara Brown    13. United States    14. Women    15. Biography & Autobiography / Personal Memoirs   

Reviews (55)

Wonderful tale with special meaning
This is a very charming tale and has deep meaning behind it. A great book to read more than once because of how powerful it is. A classic.
A most consuming story of a shepherd boy on search
Not often do you discover a goldmine in the simple story of a Shepherd boy. Santiago is seeking his Personal Legend to find his destiny in the Language of the World and in his heart of love. Traveling from Andalusia and beloved, Fatima, meeting the King of Salem, the Englishman, finally the mystic, Alchemist, he learns to turn himself into the wind, overcoming his fears of an African desert and those distant Pyramids of Egypt he discovers his Treasure! In discovering his treasure he loses his fears, learns things along the way he would have never discovered without following his dreams!
Sales/Motivational Book sold as Mainstream Fiction
Not that there's anything wrong with that.It was a cute book and a good fable about following your dreams and creating your own reality with the power of your mind and the strength of your spirit.I enjoyed it.
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Subjects:  1. Brazilian Novel And Short Story    2. Fiction    3. Fiction - General    4. Literary    5. Portuguese (Language) Contemporary Fiction    6. Fiction / Literary   

Editorial Review

In Read more

Reviews (88)

Is this what Jesus would talk about?
It's a devout Christian's dream: the chance to have a heart-to-heart with Jesus Christ himself. What questions might one ask about oneself, life, the universe? What would Jesus think of us? What would he look like?
Simple premise. Lighthearted message
How many times during your life has someone asked you who would like to meet from history if you could? Jesus would top my list. Gandhi. Princess Diana. A host of others. Now imagine that this could actually happen. One day you receive an invitation to meet Jesus over dinner at a local restaurant. No big drama. No last supper kind of scenario. No church hierarchy sitting in the wings editing everything that you two discuss. Just you and him. You approach the whole event skeptically. This must be some sort of joke. You review your belief systems to determine if such a thing is even possible to begin with. But you are intrigued. You still have that hope that you had while you were a child that God exists and that he loves you and is interested in you. Such to me is the basic premise of this seemingly simple book.
Awesome book.
Easy read, an excellent and insightful book to reveal the truth of our Lord, Jesus Christ. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Businessmen    2. Christianity - Christian Life - General    3. Cincinnati (Ohio)    4. Dinners and dining    5. Fiction    6. Fiction - Religious    7. Jesus Christ    8. Popular American Fiction    9. Religion    10. Religion - Christian Life    11. Religious - General    12. Restaurants    13. Religion / Christian Life   

Reviews (61)

New thoughts for an "old" Christian
I thought I had heard every angle, every "sermon" topic in my 40 years of being a Christian and growing up in the faith.Miller managed to make me see things in a new light...from an undiscovered angle.I was moved and awed by many of his insights.As I read, my family was in the car together on a trip.I found myself reading many of his anecdotes outloud to my 10 & 13 year old children.They enjoyed his story about "Pete", the totally dorky kid Miller knew in school.It led to a great discussion about nerds that my own kids knew, and what really makes a person popular, and is it really so important?
A worthwhile read
Donald Miller's "Searching for God Knows What" is a worthwhile read for dedicated followers of Christ.Mr. Miller has an unusual way of making Christians think outside the common culture of modern Christianity.He does this with a confrontational and non-traditional style, as well as a non-conservative social/political perspective, which are considered irreverent by more pious members of the Christian community.All and all his style and sound biblical interpretation have inspired me as he presents many profound truths and inequities that are common in the modern Christial community.I recommend this book, as well as his first big hit, Blue Like Jazz.
Why Jen Galicinski is a great reviewer.
Jennifer is really cool. She is an ESL teacher in Busan, SOuth Korea right now, but is actually from Toronto. I got to know her about 3 weeks ago, and I think she's fantastic. She has a great smile and cute eyes. She really Don Miller alot, which makes me a bit jealous, but that's cool. I'm not sweatin' it. I enjoyed her review. To be honest, I skimmed it a bit. But I trust her judgment. Although she doesn't know how to spell "gnawing." She spelled it "knawing," which had me laughing a bit. Anyway, I may see her in january. We'll probably go snowboarding if the weather permits. She has a cute, funny Canadian accent, you knowm like "Sooory," and "eh?" and "tuh-more-ow." Anyway, I think she's alright. Check her out sometime. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 1971-    2. Bible - Study - New Testament    3. Christian biography    4. Christian life    5. Devotional    6. Miller, Donald,    7. Miscellanea    8. Religion    9. Religion - Inspirational/Spirituality    10. Spirituality - General    11. United States    12. Religion / Spirituality    13. Spirituality   

Reviews (3)

Best Complete Old Testament Commentary Available
Keil & Delitzsch is a great help that I use quite often. Sometimes a little dry, and not the best book to read while you are sleepy, nevertheless K&D will give you a wealth of information as to what the original Hebrew says.I've found these volumes particularily usefulstudying the prophets. When there was a point of comparison in the Hebrewpoetry that I didn't understand, K&D came through for me with a clearexplanation.An even better OT Commentary is the one by Leupold. I findhis "Genesis" clearer and better written than Keil &Delitzsch. Unfortunately, Leupold did not write a commentary on the ENTIREOT, so K&D remains your best source for sound commentary on the wholeOld Testament.

great commentary, dubious editing
Originally published in the late 19th century, the Keil and Delitzsch commentaries on the Old Testament are virtual monuments of rigorous scholarship.The authors have given us a work that is full of historical,linguistic, and archaeological information, a great majority of which isstill quite current.They perform very admirably, as well, in refuting therationalistic Biblical criticism of their day and in upholding the veracityof the Scriptures. A word of warning, however, is in order.HendricksonPublishers (who is responsible for this edition) has done aless-than-thorough job of editing the text.I have had my set for lessthan a year and have done in-depth study in only two of the volumes.However, both of these have been riddled with typographical errors.Thereare several punctuation mistakes, but the real problem lies in runningwords together (for instance, the phrase "it has been" appears as"ith as been," and so forth).These can be mildly annoying but,in the end, the sheer value and richness of the commentary overshadowsthese problems and should not deter the interested reader from takingadvantage of the tremendous learning of Messrs. Keil and Delitzsch.

Plowing in Fertile Soil
It's like plowing in fertile soil to peruse the volumes of Keil & Delitzsch.The authors examine the cultural aspects that background each OldTestament book, and squeeze the Hebrew and cognate languages toprovide the best possible interpretation.Nor are the authors myopic; forthey note within the text and within rich footnotes the conclusions ofothers --even those with whom they disagree.One does not always have toagree with an author's harvested conclusion in order to find benefit instudy. Sometimes just being in the sun and walking behind the plow is a"harvest" in itself. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Bible - Commentaries - General    2. Bible - Commentaries - Old Testament    3. Bibles - Other    4. Old Testament Commentary    5. Reference    6. Religion    7. Religion - Commentaries / Reference    8. Biblical concordances & commentaries    9. Old Testament   

Editorial Review

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to sit down with the Dalai Lama and really press him about life's persistent questions? Why are so many people unhappy? How can I abjure loneliness? How can we reduce conflict? Is romantic love true love? Why do we suffer?How should we deal with unfairness and anger? How do Read more

Reviews (311)

Interesting introduction to the Dalai Lama's thoughts and beliefs
For anyone seeking a simple, introductory look into the fundamental beliefs and principles of the Dalai Lama, "The Art of Happiness" would be a great place to start. The book, authored by Howard C Cutler, MD, consists of excerpts and commentary from a series of documented conversations held between himself and the Dalai Lama.
one of the best self help book
everytime when I struggle with some emotional problem, this book always helps me to feel better and resolves my problem no matter which page I flip to.How amazing?It is a must-have book!

An interesting debate
A bit of a tough read, but worthwhile all the same! It takes the Dalai Lama's views and mixes them with explanations from an American psychiatrist (East meets West). The result is a useful tool kit for creating more happiness in your life, but beware, it requires some deep thought - and some very active mental changes in your normal patterns of behaviour. Happiness, it seems, requires a great deal of mental discipline! But remember, its the end purpose we are working towards, not the short term pleasure...so put those chocolates away, and read the book!
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Subjects:  1. Buddhism    2. Buddhism - General    3. Doctrines    4. Happiness    5. Personal Growth - Happiness    6. Psychology    7. Religion    8. Religious Life (Buddhism)    9. Religious aspects    10. Religious life    11. Religion / Buddhism   

Subjects:  1. Crusades    2. History    3. History - Military / War    4. History: World    5. Medieval    6. Middle East - General    7. Military - General    8. History / Medieval   

Reviews (75)

Great analysis, Dated polemic, Big irony
Ironically, Dennett (and Dawkins and Darwin) provide sophisticated believers with the best tools ever for understanding how a God might have purposefully injected the human memosphere with permanent belief in himself and endowed his believers with the sense of purpose, intentionality, goal-seeking, and teleology that keeps religion alive and growing. A God can accomplish all that *simply* by imbuing the Universe with Darwinian selection, since all Darwinian systems exhibit an epiphenomenal teleology so realistic that we might as well just define real intentionality as "the behavior of individuals (memes or genes) struggling for survival in darwinian system."
Remember the Audience
It is not difficult to dismiss Daniel Dennett's latest work, Breaking the Spell, as an under-researched and unscholarly polemic containing many assertions that are dubious and unproven at best.Dennett, of course, would agree.The book says from page one that it is not intended to be a scholarly work, nor is it intended to offer definitive proof as to the evolutionary origin of religion.If this were what the book were trying to offer, then perhaps the ranting and raving about Dennett's lack of scholarship and his unverified claims would be more to the point.As it stands, though, Breaking the Spell succeeds in getting its intended message across, and it does so in a manner that would not frighten off its intended audience--the average lay theist.
Quite possibly Dennett's worst - and most illogical - book ever, including his getting off on the wrong foot in first 10 pages
But I'll throw him a bone with a second star. (See end of review for why.)
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Subjects:  1. Controversial literature    2. Philosophy    3. Religion    4. Religion - Commentaries / Reference    5. Religion / Philosophy   

Editorial Review

Kabat-Zinn, founder of the Stress Reduction Clinic at the University of Massachusetts Medical Center, is perhaps the best-known proponent of using meditation to help patients deal with illness. (The somewhat confusing title is from a line in Read more

Reviews (32)

WONDERFUL: Nuts and nolts for learning about yourself
Jon Kabat-Zinn helps even the most distressed of us learn about self-healing and self-nuturing. I am a physician and I recommend this to ALL of my chronic pain/depressed/anxious patients, and it has dramatically changed many of their lives.
Great gift for a friend.
This book is a bitof a paradox.It is dead simple but quite complex all at the same time.I have utiised the program as detailed in the book in its most simple form.Follow the steps and see what happens.It is a great guide and it works and that is why I bought my most recent copy as a gift for a friend.However the basics are just the beginning.In very simple language this book gives you access to a new way of thinking about "you & the world" and a vast array of quality sources and peer reviewed references to support and elaborate on the ideas presented in the book.This book is the antithesis of most of the self help babble in the market place.It's the product of research, clinical experience, time and results.It's a great book that plots a simple path for those who need to find the space and time for centering their lives, once there, it gives them a framework and any number of directions that will enable them to anchor that tranquility in real time.

A study and course in life
This is really a mini course in a book form on how to keep and get you life together. I have practice a lot of various faiths, that have helped my life. So this book has come at a point in life that has fit in quit well. It is a book which you have to take your time and work with. You should follow the exercises