As a stundent of Tai Chi for many years I am constantly in search of knowledge to perfect my art. This book relays the special meaning and purpose of the movements. I rate it in a class with those of the great Chen Man-Ching, and my teacher, Marshall Ho'o. It is "the essence of Tai Chi Chi Kung".

I have read both of Dr. and Emily Lee's books, and in my opinion they are the best teachers of the art of tai chi and how it relates to healing the body and also the mind. Relax, breathe, feel the earth. Do nothing extra. This is Doctor Lees philosophy and approach to tai-chi. I wish I could give it six stars. Doctor Lee and his family are a pure gift to those who will follow there teachings.
Peace.

"Self-defense starts with self-care." And so, with one small step, the realization that caring is at the heart of defending, it begins...

A daily book covering a 368 day period, "Self-Defense for Every Day" is a unique approach to learning how to build a foundation of empowerment and safety for all women. Mary Eastland draws on her own life experiences to offer the reader a meditation, exercise or self-defense technique for each of the book's 368 days. Her writing is to the point and from the heart. The exercises and techniques are easy to learn and able to be practiced with or without a partner. The book is illustrated with many photographs.

An exerpt from Day 161 - "Today I will honor my discipline. Picking a path and staying on it is a sacred journey.Today I will honor myself and my commitment to myself. I have not been perfect in this commitment. I have done the best I can. As I continue to do the best I can, my best gets better... Today I focus on what I have done well in my training. I am almost halfway through a year of changed behavior. What a thing to celebrate!"

This book is a celebration, an acknowledgement that no woman need live in fear, that life is too short and precious to be lived in the shadows.

This book was a very thoughtful piece of writing. The author was very sensitive to the reader's needs, providing a concise discussion of Martial Arts and Nature. For those familiar with the Far Eastern cultures, they will recognize many aspects of a very delicate, ordered society as revealed in the nature discussions. The book was very thought provoking, relaxing, and easy to read.

Amazing philosophy book in application of the esoteric concepts of Dr.Sohns approach to Tai Chi!!

This book is an excellent tool for teachers who are looking for a new fun way to get student's excited about exercise.

I teach a philosophy of Mind and Body course and my students will use this as the text for the Tai Chi class they must take as a co-requisite for my philosophy course. The author, a Ph.D. in physics, offers clear examples of what Tai Chi looks like but wisely refraines from trying to teach a full course in Tai Chi. He offers a sustained discussion of the philosophy behind Tai Chi, what it is and what it is not. It is not exciting reading but purposeful and organized. It will prove helpful for my students and anyone wishing an introduction to Tai Chi.

This is THE book. It's absolutely fantastic. I have read many books on Tai Chi, and own quite a few, but this is the one I am always coming back to, again and again. When practicing Tai Chi, when reading other books on the subject, and sometimes even in the shower after a day's practice, Robert Chuckrow's words come back into my mind, broadening and deepening my understanding of this great art. Many books claim to present Tai Chi Chuan in a manner "accessible to Westerners", but only this one truly delivers. Dr. Chuckrow's presentation is sober, encompassing, and respectful of the philosophy of Tai Chi Chuan. He is open-minded and fair, despite the fact that some of his experience are beyond his ability to explain. A Doctor of Physics and a Tai Chi instructor, Robert Chuckrow truly finds new ways to elucidate stances, double-weighting, and alignment, and never in all the book does he cease to be a person one can relate to, just another Tai Chi player sharing his (vast) experiences for the reader's benefit. The chapter on being a student is the jewel of the book. It really gives the reader pointers and references for actual, everyday relating to a teacher. It helps the reader understand his/her own practice from a broader, more realistic perspective. I strongly recommend this book to everyone who already practices Tai Chi and to all who are wondering if Tai Chi is for them. It is a rare pleasure to find, among the many books on this subject, one which is so well-balanced, down-to-earth, and complete.

Detailed descriptions of concepts and terms and explanations of difficult concepts are what set this book apart from other T'ai Chi books. The author has researched thoroughly and writes well and clearly. Covers among other subjects, breathing, stances, eating, alignment, ch'i, warm ups, stretching, how to be a good student as well as push hands and the CMC form. This is not an all inclusive list. I would place this near the top of the list of internal martial arts books. This could easily function as a textbook for a college course on T'ai Chi. I don't agree with everything in it, but I could always be wrong. :) Buy it, you won't be sorry.

An interesting view of the underlying motivations of a persons achievement of confidence without swagger. This work reveals the perceived and actual motivations of the authors drive to be the best.

Each chapter stands on its own but is also an interesting view of the components of the warrior mentality. They can and should be used by all others pursuing their own path to "the best".

I can't decide if this is a self-help book, or philosophical. Either way, it had many areas that touched my life and helped me with a clearer vision of truth. Truth versus fact. Concepts that make one think and endeavor to apply them to ones life. I have grown in many areas because this book contained information that changed me. Once I understood certain concepts about life and how these beliefs could be and were applied to my life, my life changed...for the better. No more chips on my shoulder, no more pitty pot. I have a new place for my energy and it feels GREAT! Thumbs Up!!!!

Mr. Malmstrom has had the courage to make statements regarding his beliefs and philosophies, whether or not they would fit into the mainstream of thinking or not. He provides thought provoking beliefs that move one into questioning the "WHY" in what we believe. Not what but WHY DO WE BELIEVE WHAT WE BELIEVE? It is easy reading and full of truths and wisdom that make you think. Changes have been made by me since reading this book that have literally changed my life, how I feel about things and how I handle certain situations. Enjoy!

I was challenged in reading Mr. Bishop's book not because of his academic ability, but because I had to respect his objectivity yet respect for the subject and the phenonenon of Bruce Lee. i do know what a pak sao and straight blast are. And I still found the book essential in understanding those concepts and activities as well as the activities of people in the JKD world. Perhaps this is why Mr. Lee dissolved his organizations before he died. Still, i was troubled by Mr. Bishop's compartimentalization and fragmentation, if you will, of martial arts from martial arts philosophy. They are inextricable and essential to understanding the whole. Until one experinces the martial art he left to many of his students, it will be difficult to understand how martial arts is not pugilism.

Since this book takes Lee as an intellectual very seriously, it is a good resource for students in philosophy and theology, such as myself, who draw on his thought in their writings. I've been trying to find a book that would list the books in Lee's personal library, and I've found one.

It's inspiring to know that there are academics like Bishop who are interested in giving space to Lee's thought in academic discussions in Philosophy or Theology.

With regards to Lee's relationship with the non-martial art world (i.e., those who don't know or have no interest in the significance of the "straight blast" in JKD), I agree with John Little who, in this book, says that there are more people who can learn from Lee's "motivational philosophy" than from efficient self-defense techniques.

Student of Pacific School of Religion
(Graduate Theological Union) in Berkeley, CA.

This is a good book for academic discussions on the philosophy of Bruce Lee, both in philosophy and theology. At last, there's a book that takes Lee seriously as a thinker.

John Little's comment in this book is important: Lee's thoughts might have more impact to the world (especially those who don't know what a straight blast or a pak sao is), more than his ideas on efficient self-defense.

A student of Theology
at Graduate Theological Union
Berkeley, CA

I bought this book about the famous inquiry of Major Reno who was accused of cowardice at the battle of Little Bighorn. It was fine. However, anybody who would be interested in this book might as well go all the way and get Ron Nichols' version of the Inquiry. That's why I gave the Graham abstract a 4. Nichols has taken the unpublished manuscript (from the National Archives?) and copied it down word-for-word so you get the whole enchilada, not Graham's edited version. I couldn't find Nichols book on Amazon.com but it's out there somewhere. I got my copy from the Custer Battlefield Historical and Museum Association. Perhaps someone at Amazon.com will read this review and make Mr. Nichols' heftier compilation available.

This book belongs on the shelf of all students of the LBH battle. The trouble is that the testimony is such a tease. The tough questions were not asked, or not allowed to be asked. Larry Sklenar in "To Hell with Honor" in essence called the whole inquiry a sham, that Lieutenant George Wallace committed perjury to cover for Reno, and the other survivors who testified were just interested in putting it all behind them, or protecting the Army from a military-phobic Congress. I agree that it is an interesting read, but reading it is like a hungry man looking at a chocolate cake but not being allowed a bite.

A surprisingly good read. W. A. Graham's well edited book of testimony is fascinating. The inquiry report was supressed for many years until Graham came along. The Reno and Benteen passages are quite revealing of the men themselves. Reno reveals what he really thinks of Custer and Benteen's sarcasm concerning Custer's order for him on that day is so apparent one wishes he was challenged more on the stand. Benteen's reasons for his delay are quite astonishing. Those well familiar with the LBH will appreciate some of the between the lines testimony of the officers. Varnum (chief of scouts) and civilians describe the retreat from the valley as a rout and but the other officers are reluctant to critizise. Graham's editing and Pohanka's introduction enrich the book by providing more background information.