If you love Mana, you'll love Isabella. If you love funky Kogaru-Lolita fashions, you'll love Miwako. If you've ever wanted to design beautiful clothes or model or just look at a really cute goth boy, you'll love the others. The art is brilliant! (& very similar to I.N.V.U.)This story is also hillarious^.^

If you love this book, I reccomend Under the Glass Moon.

Ai Yazawa does it again. Her gorgeous art makes this book great- for paradise kiss fans or anyone else who happens to open it. Yazawa is a creative genious and her fashion designs are beautiful, using the gothic lolita style that has become increasingly popular in the US. I suggest you read this book...if not for the awesome story, then for the even more awesome art.

This is a great shoujo/fashion manga by the talented Ai Yazawa, packed full of an amazing attention to fashion...It is a fashion manga after all, it's focus point being on the less sociably acceptable styles ie: Gothic Lolita or in the case of Arashi and his family, punk. Not only are the outfits portrayed in the story fabulous, the story it's self is solid. The drawing ranging from simple and elegant to technical and elegant (this goes back to the detail payed to the fashion aspects). Paradise Kiss revolves around the life of Yukari aka Caroline, who after being hunted down by Arashi, on the streets, to be the model for a fashion show, gets swept up in the world of the Yaza School for the Arts student designer group Paradise Kiss. Paradise Kiss consists of George (Yukari's love intrest, also the head of Parakiss because he designs the clothes), Miwako (who's sister also attended Yaza School for the Arts and is now the top desinger for Happy Berry), Arashi (Miwako's Boyfriend), and Isabella (a stately drag queen, who cooks a mean feast). Yukari who was frustrated with her school and her demanding mother, breaks out into the modeling world...but soon finds things aren't as easy as they seem at first glance, especially not her tangled relationship with George. I can't wait until the next issue comes out in the US, to bad i have no clue when that will be. The Tokyopop website says Paradise Kiss is OT (older teen 16up) but the books say T (teen 13up), so *shrug*, there's a little profanity and a little nudity so you be the judge.

This book is a great primer on Daoism. At the same time, the illustrations are often downright funny. The comic format makes it perfect for the compulsively busy friend you want to give some Daoist inspiration. I've read though this book countless times and always seem to find some new insight every time I pick it up. It is worth every penny.

This was my first book on Daoism, and I was very impressed. It conveys the principles of Daoism amusingly and interestingly. Not only is it full of 100% daoist wisdom, its a lot of fun to read! You can read this 10 times and still find it interesting. Buy it!

Great thanks to the illustrator - we call him Tsai Zhizhong.I remember the countless hours I spent on the original edition of ZHUANG ZI full of ancient charactors and strange grammar,fed up every time I took it up.Who would read it even in China? College students of Chinese department hardly do.But with Tsai's pictures,everything's lovely and easy.I cover it in two hours,and then laugh in a foolish way like a child.And great respect to the translater,for his learning of chinese traditional classics,for everything he's done for it.They opened a door to endless wisdom and freedom for much much more people in this world. When you're enjoying this book like a small child with its picture book,you are already in the mood of Tao!

Just getting started on your desire to understand eastern philosophies? Have you stood at the bookstore for hours pouring over where to start and what to buy?

Any of this authors books are a wonderful place to start. The reason? Because these books are all about the title subject in a nutshell, easy to read as a comic book, the story lines and illustrations are wonderful, and after you read this as well as all the other books by Tsai, you will have a great, well rounded start on your path and will know what you want to study more deeply!

To add, when others ask you about your interest in eastern philosophy, you can get them started here as well, because these books are fun, consise, and you know they will enjoy them over and over again!

You may think, that the world we live in makes no sense. You may desperate to find poetry, pure joy and deep understanding of the true nature of things. Then please, take a wonderful moment of freedom and happyness and browse through "the Dao of Zhuangzi". The art of Tsai Chih Chung is unique and the message is enlightning.

This is an excellent introdution to Daoist thought, as well as thourough review.I am a fan of C.C.Tsai's other works and this is one of my favorites.

Clear, step-by-step, carefully illustrated instructions present the basic body movement skills that are at the root of all qi gong and t'ai chi forms. Weight distribution, concentration, and visualization are extensively considered, providing an extraordinary level of detail. The forms depicted include Holding the Ball, Bending from the Waist, Riding a T'ai Chi Horse, the Springy Step, Carry Tiger Back to Mountain, the Rooting Exercise, and the Ascending Dragon. The author includes evocative stories of his encounters with tai chi masters and a synopsis of the nine secret messages. Kotsias's style is deft and concise, his message sincere and gut-level. As a preparation for study with a teacher, a guide to practice, or simply as a system of exercise to practice by oneself, this text admirably serves the student's needs.

The exercise forms that are lucidly described and illustrated in this book should be part of the practice of every serious Tai Chi student. John Kotsias was fortunate to have the opportunity to study with two masters of this art who had worked directly with the Yang Tai Chi family in China ­ an experience he describes at the beginning of the book. He thus learned forms that are seldom taught in the west. This basic form is the foundation for eveloping the strength of mind and body required to practice Tai Chi at the highest level. I learned it from Kotsias in the 1980s and insist that my students learn it before undertaking more widely practiced forms such as the 108 movement form of Yang Cheng Fu. Another outstanding benefit of this form is its ability to stimulate the flow of internal healing energy. I experienced this vividly at a conference where I was studying Tai Chi with a teacher from Europe. I had a nasty virus and could barely do the 108 forms being taught. I had promised a fellow student to show him the basic form and had to do so on that day since he was leaving for home. Amazingly when I was done demonstrating these 8 movements, my virus symptoms were virtually gone! I now regularly turn to the basic movements described in this book for self-healing. I strongly recommend this book to everyone interested in Tai Chi and chi healing.

I have studied Tai Chi with John Kotsias for the past four years. John is a knowledgeable and principled teacher and martial artist. I have read this book on Tai-Chi Chi Kung several times in the course of my studies and find it more informative each time. John's personal experiences in his Tai-Chi education are enlightening and entertaining. His descriptions of the movements are detailed and include foot and waist diagrams for clarity. The moves are not simple and will be learned only after repeated practice and study, but I have found them to be most useful in my personal attempts to integrate mind, body and spirit. I have sent copies of this book to many members of my family and friends. I enjoyed it thoroughly and have been blessed by my opportunity to study this fascinating discipline with John Kotsias.

God, this manga is mind blowing! I bought all four series at once and all i do is stay up till morning reading and rereading it. i would've given it 5 stars if not for the obvious Flaw: Yukari Hayasaka, the heroine.

The story starts off with Yukari grumbling about how she hates the city, walking across the street, her nose stuck in a book. yep, she's your typical japanese-university-entrance-exams student. But she was picked out by a real punky dude who noticed her unusually tall height (for a Japanese) and she was immediately sort of harassed to go somewhere with him. She was caught by the punky guy, Arashi and his 'accomplice' Isabella, brought down to their comfy studio, the hq of their fashion brand 'Paradise Kiss', and was proposed to be their model for their school's annual fashion show/contest. Here she immediately blows them off, showing her all-Yukari bitchy self (on which showson her looks, & on which Arashi had initially singled her out for), telling them fashion design-istas are NOTHING compared to the uni-entrance-students lot. Arashi then loses her temper on her, dissing her right back for being so stuck up while they had been nice to her all the while and scolds for being all-godly about herself, and in shock/shame, Yukari speeds off the studio, in her haste she had dropped her students pass.

Enter George(Gorgeous, more like) - Johji Koizumi - and he agrees after seeing Yukari's pic on the passbook, for her to be their model. He is, after all, their fashion designer extaordinaire, the 'lackeys' - Arashi, Isabella and Miwako - were Yazawa Arts school designer class rejects, after all. George is their king and master. They fear him. They are bewildered by him. They (Arashi, usually) constantly want to kill him. George, a self proclaimed bisexual, is weird, cocky and confused. Product of a loveless childhood - his father a multimillionaire who pours him with money, not love, and his mother the mistress, giving him neither. He pulls all his stunts to get Yukari to be their model,and eventually, she did.

The story simply developes itself at its own pace, delving into each character's lives and family, pushing the importance of family and friends, love and some other stranger, deeper emotions. Yukari and George try to figure out their feelings for each other, Yukari trying to figure out herself, George's cold attitude towards love and emotions (on which he has close to none except perhaps sadness). Isabella with her gender crisis (or not anymore, thanks to Georgy) and Miwako and Arashi's completely bewildering romance. And Hiroyuki, who doesn't know where to begin or start. He just is.

God what a manga. It balances almost perfectly between outrageous comedy, serious romance, drama and that damn-sweet clothes that they all don. But it rips your heart out in a way like you never known before. Prepare thyself.

I'm a big fan of shoujo manga, but I have to say that I was worried if Paradise Kiss would be good or not. The last manga I read, Love Story, was not quite my style, so I was wondering if the new surge in good titles (Marmalade Boy and Kodomo no Omocha [Kodocha]) would only be short-lived. However, Paradise Kiss was excellent! The storyline is unusual, but good: Yukari is an 18-year old girl who focuses a lot on school and academics, when all of a sudden she's swept up into a crazy situation of being the model for a group of students (at Yazawa's School for the Arts) who design clothes (very interesting clothes, too). At first she completely refuses it, but then she realizes that she sort've likes being around those people, and she likes how they value something other than school for once (fashion!).

The characters are also quite interesting... Many people think face piercings are weird, but Arashi goes beyond that and has SAFETY PINS pierced into his lips and eyebrow. (Ouch!) Miwako has some crazy hair (so much and so curly!), and she keeps calling Yukari "Caroline" throughout the entire first book (and it's catchy... I keep thinking her name's actually Caroline and not Yukari, too). There's also the transvestite, Isabella, and of course, the boss Georgie! Also, a romance erupts between George and Yukari (George may look gay, but he's actually bi, so it all works out), as one might expect in a classic shoujo manga. There are also some other love triangles, although I won't get into those to prevent spoilers.

So, if you like fun, crazy manga (with some romance thrown in), you'll definitely like Paradise Kiss. Yazawa Ai's art is also very distinctive, but it adds to the craziness and makes everything even more fun. I highly recommend Paradise Kiss. It's one of those mangas that makes me start to whine and pout that the next book won't be out for over two months, and nearly pushes me to buy the original Japanese version and translate it myself! (Yup, it was that enjoyable to read!)

Okay, I'm not a teenager, but I love this manga. There is something profoundly "real" about Paradise Kiss, while it maintains its ability to stay, well, manga.

Yukari is an engaging character, going through the trauma that is adolescence. And, although she tries to change and get stronger, she can't help her feelings for George, the leader and main designer for Paradise Kiss, and the primary tormentor in her adolescent life, right next to her mother. Her relationship with George is painful and pleasurable, since he is a perverse individual and an admitted "tri-sexual" (He'll try anything!), and it makes her feelings for him all the more confusing.

This is one of those manga, however, that I have reservations about giving to kids under the age of 16, simply because, by book 3, there is a LOT of sex. The tension is always there, but it is open in book 3, and, frankly, kinda graphic. As a long time reader of shojo manga, I was flatly surprised.

I LOVE the designer wear and costumes, the characters are fun and interesting, the problems are quirky and real (some of them I STILL haven't figured), and I just love it. Not only is the drawing style beautiful and detailed, but the characters are FUN, just FUN. I wish there had been a high school like that when I was going through it!!

I highly recommend this for adolescent humor and just good time!

This book is the only authorized translation of Master Cheng Man Ching's Thirteen Treatises, written in 1947 prior to his emigration to Taiwan and thence to the U.S. Besides Cheng's essays on his insights into tai chi chuan, additional sections include oral secrets from his teacher, Yang Cheng-fu, descriptions and photos of a 37-posture short form, Push Hands, ta lu (four-corner push-hands), san shou, and answers to students' questions.

This is a beautiful edition of Cheng Man Ch'ing's text on Chi Tai Ch'uan. There are other translations of this text available, but this is by far the best for several reasons. First, it is hardcover, and the layout is beautiful. The cover has a color print of one of Cheng's paintings, and there is an example of his calligraphy on the inside. The book is also larger than other editions I have seen, and the prints and pictures are printed larger and more clearly as well. The larger pictures of Cheng performing the Tai Chi form are especially useful. And, while this may not matter everyone, this edition of Cheng's book is also the only one authorized by his estate, and contains a preface by Cheng's wife. I highly recommend this book.

The book is very clear in its message, the treatise is awakening, making us to refresh our study in Taijiquan, and for me, especially the chapter "Swimming on the Land" is enlightening.

good book. Informative for someone getting started in robotics. Explains different basic programming techniques for robot behavior. I had it as a textbook in my robotics class

Robin Murphy's book is a one-stop shopping source for AI and Motion planning in mobile robotics. She provides a breadth of topics and puts them in an organized historical context. I plan on using this book as a supplement for my undergraduate course on robotics, as well as my graduate course on motion planning. This book has also inspired me to write a conference on the relationships between architectures and behavior-based methods. The book also contains examples of many up-to-date robots. Barring popular media-style books, this book contains the most vast collection of robots and relates them to the academic principles outlined in the book. Finally, the text contains many useful examples. I like that Dr. Murphy straddles the hobbyist-collegiate border by allowing for earlier examples to be constructed from LEGO Mindstorms.

Robin Murphy's book is a one-stop shopping source for AI and Motion planning in mobile robotics. She provides a breadth of topics and puts them in an organized historical context. I plan on using this book as a supplement for my undergraduate course on robotics, as well as my graduate course on motion planning. This book has also inspired me to write a conference on the relationships between architectures and behavior-based methods. The book also contains examples of many up-to-date robots. Barring popular media-style books, this book contains the most vast collection of robots and relates them to the academic principles outlined in the book. Finally, the text contains many useful examples. I like that Dr. Murphy straddles the hobbyist-collegiate border by allowing for earlier examples to be constructed from LEGO Mindstorms.

As a beginning Taiji student, I've found this book to be a great tool for further developing/practicing at home. It is a great guide to those studying the short Yang 37 form style. I've found it supplements training by helping you remember the essential footwork, handposition, and weight transfers from class. The pictures can be a little challenging as they are 'mirror' images of what you are actually doing. However, they are all there in a complete pull-out form as well, including footwork. The writing is to the point and descriptive. The book does NOT provide the transitions between each form very well though and thus I recommend it a supplemental tool to going to your taiji class. It will be a well-worn book though!

This book is really comprehensive. It has many pictures and descriptions of them to help you along with the forms. I'm taking a Tai Chi class at my college, and this book is the perfect companion. It is very well layed out and can be easily followed. Of course it is always necessary to have an actual master, but this book is probably the best on the market. Many Tai Chi books are confusing and poorly made, but this is one of the few that is not. Learning Tai Chi straight from a book is a little silly, at least look for classes or a video. But this is the perfect companion piece to perfecting your Tai Chi. If you want to buy the best, this is the one - no question about it.

The photos on the cover have varied over the thirty years this book has been printed. My preference is the original one with Chen Man Ching vice the leotard clad dancers, old people, etc. that had evolved from marketing. This book is a classic. The highest point are the photographs of Chen Man Ching. What an example of elegant and correct Tai-chi.

Here's the letter I wrote to the author, Bill Douglas:
Thanks! I can't tell you what a difference the book and DVD have made in my life. I am sleeping better, my career is looking up (stress was a major problem for me; I write and was dealing with life-changing stress-induced writer's block) based on lessons I'm learning from T'ai Chi and QiGong meditation. This is feeling life-long. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

I found this book an excellent book to learn about the art of T'ai chi and Qi Gong. This new version with the drawings help to learn the moves much easier. The book and the videos are excellent tools to learn a good technique to learn how to relax and improve my health.

I think this book is an excellent supplement to formal instruction in T'ai Chi or for anyone interested in taking up Tai Chi in their studies. Bill Douglas' makes learning and appreciating this internal martial art fun. The book gives good information on the different styles and background. The photographs and explanations are as clear as can be expected from a book. Could use more pictures but I found that his video on Tai Chi (Anthology of T'ai Chi & Qigong) is excellent and the two together are a great reference to have.

The instructions are written and shown with drawings of the figures. I found this book valueable in helping me remember the sequence of positions, and in remembering the details of movements. However, since the drawings are in mirror image, they were somewhat difficult to transform into movement.

In all honesty I am tempted to purchase another copy of this book in case something bad happens to the copy I currently own. Yes I liked it that much, and yes I think it has that much value. As far as the deeper aspects of Tai Chi you should look elsewhere but, I have yet to see a book that is better than this when it comes to describing the Tai Chi movement. The only thing better than this book is watching someone demonstrate the form. If you want a book to help you memorize all the moves to supplement what your master teaches you, I highly recomend this. It is important to cultivate Qi energy I know, but it is just as important to learn the basics moves first. If you want to move in water you have to relax and let yourself float, while using smooth and correct motions to get to the other end of the pool. So it is with Tai Chi; you use graceful movement, to let your spirit float in the vast ocean that is Qi energy. In the same way that relaxing and yielding in the water allows the body to move better in a swiming pool or ocean, so to does yielding and relaxing allow the spirit to move in far vaster ocean of energy. This means then, that this yielding nature, like in swiming, must be acompanied by graceful and skilled movement to yield the maximum benefit. With careful practice with an instructor, this book, and a lot of patience and determination its possible to master this art. Oh, one last thing. Please keep in mind that martial arts, any martial art, are not sports. Martial arts were designed for the purpose of defense through physical harm, i.e. maiming or killing. To reduce the martial arts to something like a sport competition is to take it as lightly as one takes a children's game like baseball. Martial arts should never be taken lightly, least of all something as potentially dangerous as Tai Chi. The martial arts are just that; arts. Treat this like an art form, and you will find many rewards.

This book is the best overall Yang Tai Chi book I have read for a variety of reasons. One: It contains a plethora of drawings to go with each portion of the forms. Even though photos normally look better, a good drawing can more easily show exactly how the movement should be carried out. These drawing are very good, they include movement arrows so that you can see the intended direction of movement to get to the position of the next drawing. In addition, at the end of each complete form is a diagram showing the relative positions of the feet through out the form. Second: It contains alot of information. This book covers the Yang simplified and standard forms, as well as basic push hands techniques. The only thing that it lacks on is information on theory, so if you are looking for a book on Tai Chi theory, this isn't the book you are looking for. Third: The editor left no wasted space and organized the information very well. The book is crammed with information and is nice and compact. It is still large enough to get the job done and takes up less space on your shelf, or wherever else you keep it. Fourth: The price is very reasonable for a martial arts book. Especially given the quality of the book. So if you are looking for a great reference book on yang Style Tai Chi, this is the book I would suggest to you.