AI

Let's face it, you'll never learn the true form of Tai Ji from a book. The only way to learn it, and Qi Gong, is from a qualified teacher, in person. I tried to learn from this book but could never get the forms right. The book itself is highly readable and easy to follow, but sometimes you can get lost. Taking a class totally improved my Tai Ji. Then afterwards I re-read this book, and it was much easier to follow the right way.

As both a student and teacher of the Martial Arts, I understand how difficult and baffling some of these concepts can be. I understand how intimidating it can be for the beginner to seek out safe and credible instruction, especially women. And, to be honest, I know how difficult it is to find a "sense of humor" in such a traditionally austere atmosphere. As a Registered Nurse in an urban emergency department, I also know how timely and practical these practices are for our health and well being in today's heath care crisis. For these reasons and quite a few more The Idiot's Guide to Tai Chi and QI Gong is an incredible book and an important one. Mr. Douglas has achieved what I believe to be the desire of every good teacher: to simplify and convey extremely difficult information accurately. He gives the reader an excellent sense of what Tai Chi/Qi Gong is and how it works. He gives solid advice on evaluating a teacher and how to get started in a class. Many of the questions commonly asked by students are very clearly addressed and answered. And because of his methodical approach (and tons of pictures) this book is also perfect for people who have limited time or opportunity but might want to explore these practices on their own. The fact that he accomplished this with a good sense of humor is only icing on the cake. After years of reading the "traditional" texts, this book was a delightful breath of fresh air. He has achieved for Qi Gong what Apple did for the computer. He's brought it to the people. Anyone interested can now "get it" and have a good laugh too. Mr. Douglas' book is a great place to start for the beginner as well as an excellent place for "seasoned vets" to check in on simplicity. In fact, teachers may find this an excellent manual "on how to explain these concepts to the general public", and may also find that by referring students to the book as a primer, the students may be more likely to stick with their T'ai Chi classes, and be more relaxed and easier to teach. It is perfect for people who might have health problems and believe Martial Arts are only for the strong or the fit. Most importantly, it is an excellent way to help anyone develop a "Tai Chi" relationship with themselves and their world. R Poccia,Beyond Anonymous

I bought this book out of curiousity initially, but the more I read it the more I realized "Hey, this might actually be good for me". Now, I am pretty deep into learning Tai Chi and I frequently just pick up this book and begin reading. It is easy to read and I seem to learn something new each time I read it. Yes, you can actually learn Tai Chi by using this book but most of all you get an appreciation of what Tai Chi is, what it can do for you, and why all those Chinese people do it every day. I went on to order the Video and I am really glad I did. It helps to see the speed (very slow) of the movements and it is easier to copy the author's movements on video rather than constantly refering to the book to see what to do next. I don't have the luxury of fixed hours in my job and this allows me to learn Tai Chi with out having to try to attend classes and it is really cheaper than going to classes also. Think of this book as TAI CHI instruction written in an informative and relaxed American style. Not a "dry" book at all and includes info on QiGong and other aspects of Tai Chi. Two thumbs up!

The problem here is that while Cleary is probably the best-ever translator of Buddhist literature, he is no Zen master. His translation of the actual text of the Mumonkan is supurb. Unfortunately, he gives lengthy commentaries on the cases. He's clearly not a Zen Master, nor a koan student, nor even a Zen Buddhist. He's a well-read translator who hasn't engaged in koan study.

As someone who is personally struggling with Joshu's Mu, Case 1 of the Mumonkan, I can tell you that Cleary is even farther away from it than I am. He's clearly wrong about it. Why buy a book on koans from someone who has never done koan study?

This translation of and commentary on the well-known Wumenguan/Mumonkan is one of Thomas Cleary's finest works. (I also think well of his _Dhammapada_.) As reviewer David Johnston has noted in his excellent and accurate review, it will clear up plenty of the misconceptions about Zen encouraged by people who (deliberately or otherwise) profit from obfuscation. And Cleary's commentary -- based on some thirty years of experience with the koans themselves -- will provide valuable guidance that those professional obfuscators would probably prefer that you not have.

There are plenty of books out there that purport to be about Zen, but as far as I can tell, only a handful of them are genuinely helpful over the long haul -- Reps's _Zen Flesh, Zen Bones_, Kapleau's _Three Pillars_, Suzuki's _Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind_, the other Suzuki's _Introduction to Zen Buddhism_, maybe Alan Watts's _The Way of Zen_ and Stephen Mitchell's _Dropping Ashes on the Buddha_. Cleary's Wumenguan belongs on the shelf next to these.

Cleary insists (correctly) that Zen is not anti-intellectual or anti-reason ("not blind to causality"), and it doesn't encourage the practitioner to dissolve one's mind (or the world) into undifferentiated mush. On that basis alone, quite a few of the trendy "Zen" books currently in print can be tossed directly into the trash.

One fact of which the reader/buyer should be aware: this is the very same book that was previously published as _No Barrier_ (which the back cover of this volume incorrectly calls _No Boundary_). I've had the earlier book since it was first published and I'm glad I didn't buy this one.

A wonderful book on Zen koans. There are a few other books on Zen koans but this is the only one with such commentaries written in simple language. Cleary is a great translator and excellent at explaining what these koans and koans in general are all about. Any body interested in Zen MUST own this book. It is perhaps my favorite book period. I have read so much hog-wash about Zen by people who don't understand it. I wish they would read this book before they speak. Zen is not

gibberish, Zen is not anti-thinking, Zen is not nihilistic. Cleary explains this perfectly through his commetaries on these koans. By the way, the koans themseleves are masterpieces but this book is especially good because of what Cleary has done. I do like to read others translations of the Wumenguan and so I recommend other books like Zen Flesh Zen Bone as well.

If you like spies and espionage, this would be a book for you. Ai! Pedrito! starts out a little slow and has a loose plot but, in the whole time there is something happening. This book provides a good mental image of what is happening almost like a movie. This book was a joy to read along with a funny twist. What do you think would happen if a South American revolutionary terrorist leader would switch places with an elegant, proper, and an identical twin of him that was a high ranked Naval Intelligance Officer? To find out you need to read this book. It will keep you guessing the whole way through.

I have always suspected the intelligence community was an oxymoron, now I'm sure. This book is probably more true to life than we would want to believe. This is the first book I have read cover to cover, in one sitting, in a long time. It takes place in South America replete with all the political and sociological upheavals that we have come to expect. But now you will know what it is all about and espionage will never be the same. Ai! Pedrito is very entertaining and when you finish you will say, "what a ride!" I recommend it without reservation.

Looking for a book that will be a real thrill ride for the reader? I found the tale was fast moving and always full of excitement around each and every corner. It's a very funny, adventure, spy story of what happens when a Lt. in US Naval Intelligence and a South American revolutionary leader (who look identical) get switched.

The parody on the CIA underworld was hilarious and so where some of the situations Smith and Pedrito found themselves in. This book leaves the reader with the thought 'What if a case of mistaken identity really happened to me?' and 'Do I have a double on this planet?' The plot is what keeps you reading, making it a great 'What If' novel.

Well, Ive read about 4 chapters so far, and it is definitely a keeper. If you have no prior knowledge of AI or want to clarify and be able to implement in code the concepts of genetic algorithms and neural networks, this is definitely the book for you. Just be sure to know some C++...

Some extra stuff: The two first chapters explains windows programming. Wow!! In about 70 easily degistable pages you get the hang of windows programming!

What is great about the other two sections (genetic algÂ's and neural nets) is that they are explained in a very down-to-earth manner, with workable code-examples in every chapter.

What is preventing me from giving it five stars is that it initially makes a point of being written so easily that an idiot can understand it, and that a witty author and a casual style of writing will more readily impregnent the information in the readers mind. Well, the author TRIES to write in a casual way that will appeal to the average targeted reader (I assume male, 18 to 30 years of age), but unfortunately that effort only manifests itself in very occasional jokes trying to punch a hole through the otherwise stiff and professional language. Still, the material is very easily presented (even for a swedish reader), and much more casually written than virtually any book on AI so far; its just that the general tone and vocabulary is a bit more dull than it had to be.

Well, regardless of this criticism, this is the best book for anybody who wants to get a clear grasp of AI, and be able to implement it in code. BUY IT!!

I really don't see why so many people freak out and pretend to be all upset because it covers use of the GDI at the beginning. I'll agree that in many cases it's not particularly helpful, but I don't see why people pretend to be incapable of going past those chapters. Anyway, I like this book a lot because it gets you making things that actually work, and it doesn't do it in a way that it's impossible to figure out what the heck the author is talking about. I only rate it 4 stars because it would be better titled as "Neural Nets and Genetic Algorithms for Stuff." It doesn't cover anything other than neural nets and genetics, and it certainly doesn't seem to be limited to games.

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, so let me tell you what I was looking for: a non-academic AI book with practical examples for implementing genetic algorithms and neural nets. I don't have a math degree (though I understand basic algebra and remember a bit of trig), and I learn best by doing hand's on project, not by theorizing.

This book fits the bill perfectly. It is well written, humorous, clear and patient. The examples are interesting enough that you can see how they would be useful for solving other problems, not necessarily game related.

One caveat: if you don't have a decent intro to basic Win32 API programming, get Charles Petzold's Programming Win32 book and get busy. Yes, the first two chapters of AI Techniques are a Win32 refresher (which was good for me because I last wrote Win32 3 years ago...I now do Java only), but I'm pretty sure if you haven't seen it before you'll be lost.

BTW, just to give you an idea how clear the concepts were presented, I've recoded Chapters 3 and 5 as properly OOPed (MVC, etc) Java applications. Just MHO, but Java is a much better platform for this stuff. ...

Sequels are supposed to be worse than the original copy, but this book must be the exception that makes the rule. Awesome book! Please-more stories with surprise endings. This book had some very predictable stories.

I think that this book was terrific, even though there were other Chicken Soup books that I thought were better. Almost all of the stories had a moral in them and the ones in the end especially made me cry. I think that the Chicken Soup books will be great just like they are now in the years to come.

A 5th Portion of Chicken Soup for the soul is an extremely excellent book because it teaches unique lessons.

What if you could be a fly on the bulkhead and watch the President of the United States as he flies on Air Force One? Most of us will never have such an opportunity, so this book is a fascinating view inside the president's official jumbo jet.

The book starts with a very swift, journalist's sweep through Franklin Roosevelt to George Walker Bush. While Teddy Roosevelt was the first president in the air, FDR was the first to use it for presidential business including internationally. But Air Force One is really a contemporary element of the Presidency, becoming an important player in US history with the stunning image of the swearing-in of Johnson aboard the plane after the assassination of Kennedy.

Walsh describes everything from the food--Barbara Walters got a Spam sandwich, George H.W.Bush banned, what else, broccoli while son George likes Asian and spicy Tex-Mex. He tells you about the lavatories, souvenir notepads, who sits where (seats are assigned, and the president has a suite in the very front, including a desk and bed.) And there is other fascinating trivia--why, for example did George W. ground his father when both were flying? You'll find the answer here.

I once saw Air Force One on the tarmac at Boston Logan, when Clinton was at the end of his second term. It was night, we were delayed to allow Air Force One to land. Then we saw it, glistening huge and frosty-white in the glare of the runway lights. Air Force One IS impressive, and a symbol of our US leadership. This is a very fun read, and a unique insight into one aspect of the US President's life.

This book could have been subtitled: "A History of Presidential Character as Revealed through Their Planes." Beginning with FDR and ending with the current main passenger of Air Force One, George W. Bush, Kenneth Walsh details the history and experiences of U.S. presidents who have taken to the air on the world's most famous jet, providing a fascinating angle by which to view them.

Walsh is careful to weave basic information about the presidents into the book. If you already know a good deal about the modern U.S. presidents, you will find much of this information either simplistic or repetitive. If you don't know very much about the modern presidents, however, but you want to know more about Air Force One, then you won't get lost here.

Walsh usually introduces each president with a brief history, and then shows convincingly that the planes they flew had a way of revealing the character of that president in a way that other places - the Oval Office, for example - did not. Reporters and staff, if they are fortunate enough to be allowed on board the jet, have access to a president that they do not have anywhere else. Presidents also seem to open up more when they fly Air Force One. Both of these circumstances allow a unique opportunity to see the usually powerful and distant man unfiltered.

While the historical moments that took place on Air Force One are all here (LBJ's swearing in as president just after the assassination of JFK; George W. Bush's long flight around the country after the terror attacks on 9-11, etc.), I personally found the trivial or less famous information more interesting. I had never heard, for example, that Nixon's Air Force One had to take evasive maneuvers during a trip to the Middle East after it appeared Syrian fighter jets might attack it (they were mistakenly sent up to welcome the Presidential jet). I also had no idea that secure communications on the president's hi-tech plane are often disrupted while it is in flight.

This is a light book that can be finished in an evening of reading. My only disappointment with it was the lack of basic drawings of the interior setup of Air Force One or drawings of the insides of previous presidential jets. I don't think the information is classified (since Walsh describes it in words), so it would have been interesting to see the various layouts.

If you are expecting a hard-hitting expose about anything presidential then this is not the book for you. The author does a very good job of detailing out the Presidents from FDR that have taken flight via Air Force One or its predecessors. The book is very interesting and does a good job at what it covers. The book does not cover in any detail much about the plane except for overall basic facts. The real focus of the book is the men who road in the planes, not the planes. I find that the only issue I had with the book is that there was not enough detail of the actual plane, what the crew goes through to get it ready, the special planning for a trip and so on. Don't get me wrong, I rather enjoyed the book as it was a light easy to read book that provided some very nice stories about the Presidents who traveled in the plane.

This book is just a celebration of Lien Ying Kuo.
Asolutely too much pages for celebration with family and relatives photos.
Just something (really something...) general and elementary instruction on tai chi practice.
The form.
Do you know the kind of tai chi book where the form is described with just a big picture on each page and with only the name of the posture? That's it.
Probably this book could have a very high emotional value for the pupills of Lien Ying Kuor (as it would also be for me if I were his pupill)but, absolutely, no any "Tai-Chi Chuan in Theory and Practice" in this book neither in theory nor in practice.

Kuo's book on tai chi chaun is an interesting look at his style of the martial art. The text of the book seems to be drawn mostly from the tai chi classics, though organized through the author's own understanding of the art. The photos included are good, and illustrate the postures of his tai chi form. This book also contains a brief introduction to Chinese philosophy as it relates to tai chi, which is useful for readers new to the subject. This book is not a training manual, but more of an overview of the style of tai chi practiced by the author.

Simmone, the wife of Kuo Lien Ying, is my professor at SFSU. She teaches Elementary Tai-Chi Chuan, Advanced Tai-Chi Chuan, and Shaolin Chuan on campus. This book is an excellent supplement to what she teaches and lectures. Tai-Chi is a very relaxing exercise. It teaches patience and concentration. Pick up this book if you feel you need that in your life.

The photos in the book are very clear but that's a bad thing... The book presents bad technique and form. As a tae kwon do, wing chun, and with a months experience in tai chi, even I know that it has bad form. But, the book gives you a lot of information and teaches a lot.

This book is great. The only thing that the author miss is the flowing of all the movements at a slow, even and inpausible pace. The author concentrates on 'song', relaxation awareness, this is vital but he miss pointing out that tai chi is actually an art of constant change and not taught by the numbers. Furthermore Grand Master Cheng Man Ching's 37 step form takes about 9 and 12 minutes preferbably. All these reference is taken from Nigel Sutton's, Tai Chi Chuan: Roots and Branches.

By far the best book I have found that explains Tai Chi in terms a beginner can understand. Stewart describes each move by breaking down body movements. I am an instructor of the Yang style and recommend it to all of my students, use it daily myself. Thank You Stewart
Molly Carrington
Lowcountry tai chi .com
Bluffton SC

I love this book. As a Chi Gung practioner with over 30 years experience, a Shaman, and an Author (CHI GUNG: Chinese Healing, Energy, and Natural Magick), I would like to share that I think that this book is truly wonderful. It gently teaches a different perspective on Tai Ji, a view that encourages relaxation, spontanaity, and love. This book is about truly living in the moment and embracing life with a smile. Sure, there are a lot of purely technical books out there but I think that many of them actually miss the whole point of what Tai Ji or the healing arts are all about. What this book shows is that Tai Ji can be about having fun as you twirl in the moment with the wonders of childhood. Buy this book. It just might give you a fresh perspective on life. And with that, you can look at any challenge from a new angle and that's where creativity comes in. That is how this book has helped me to save the lives of others in crisis situations.

As a new student of Tai Chi (really new) I want to learn more than just the moves. I bought this book because of previous reviewers' comments and I am eternally greatful to them and to my wisdom in paying attention. If I never took that first step, I would still know the essence of Tai Chi. It is in the words of Al Huang. Surely a man who speaks like this will be immortal through his gifts to the rest of us.

If you think there is anything to the reviews that rate this book less than 4 stars - then think again - the caption of the book says "Essence of Taiji" and not "Forms of Taiji Chuan" nor even "Essence of Taiji Chuan". This book does NOT give details of forms, motifs etc, but it gives you tremendous insight into the principles of Taiji. In fact it is one of the very few books available that teach you Taiji instead of Taiji Chuan or Taiji Qigong. Most of us use our Taiji form practice as a drug, i.e., we just do the practice everyday and forget all about it. But this book will teach you how to imbibe the subtle yet profound principles behind Taiji into your life. In short, this book teaches you a secret! So pick it up quietly before you miss the Chance! I have read many many books on Taiji, believe me, this is one book that doesn't cover the health or psychological or philosophical aspects of Taiji, instead it dwelves into the EXISTENTIAL, SPIRITUAL and INSPIRATIONAL aspects of this great art.

I had to read this book for a core class in college and I thought that I would have hated it. Actually, I really liked it. It told of a Chinese working woman's life. It even gives the reader an insight into her lifestyle and her struggles during this tumuluous time in history. The story even touches on the japanese invasion. I didn't think this biography would be interesting but it was. I would recommended this book to anyone. It is a light read and it is very interesting.

Ida Pruitt's biography of Ning Lao T'ai-t'ai (literally "old lady Ning"), a peasant woman of northeast China born in 1867, is a fascinating anecdotal retelling of Ning's personal history as she related it to the author over the course of their two year long friendship. The storyline of Ning's life: childhood, marriage, work, and children, is laid out in a chronological history, broken into separate sections at particular turning points; and yet a cohesive theme of hardship, oppression and poverty, of strong-willed women and weak men is carried throughout not only Ning's tales but also through the stories she relates of her ancestors and neighbors.

Pruitt writes in the voice of Ning as if she is translating, but what she is really doing is recalling Ning's stories of her life in the first half of the 20th century. Ning was born into an educated middle class family which had fallen on harder times. Her father wants a better situation for her marriage, but the older husband he choses for her becomes addicted to opium driving the family into poverty. To survive and feed her children Ning must become first a beggar, then a servant to various households: military, Muslim, bureaucrat, and finally to Christian missionaries. And Ning's voice does come across clearly; speaking against concubinage and prostitution, about the penury of employers, the need to support and keep family together.

By using a first person retelling of the stories Pruitt gives the impresssion of accuracy, yet there were 7 years between the conversations with Ning and the writing of the book. Also the apparent bias against Japanese in prologue and last chapter together with the pub. date of the book indicate a hidden agenda on the part of the author. Still, although limited to the view of this one woman's experience, Ning's story is reflective of the hardships of life for Chinese women before the Communist era.

Ning Lao Ta'i-ta'i. _The Autobiography of a Chinese Working Woman. Translated and Transcribed by Ida Pruitt. Stanford: Stanford University Press, 1967.

Every now and then I read an entire book in one for one or two reasons a) I have to read a book that I have put off for the time period in which I had to read it b) I become completely engrossed in it. I must say that, in the case of this book, it started off as the former and it ended up being the latter, although I still have to write a paper on it by tuesday.

This memoir was was orally transcribed by Ida Pruitt over a two year period in which Mrs. Ning visited her from 1936-38. Pruitt was forced to leave Beijing in 1938 when the Japanese invaded the series. In the brief introduction of the book, Pruitt informs the reader that she does not know what happened to Mrs. Ning after she returned to America. The brutallity of the Japanese army was not as great in Beijing as in such areas as Nanjing and Shanghai,but one can not help wondering about Mrs.Ning who the reader, or at least I, becomes quite attached to.

Mrs. Ning begins her tale by detailing how her family became established in the town of P'englai her family history is both entrenched in history and folklore and makes for a fascinting read. The book continues following her life from her childhood, marriage, hard times, working both for government officials and missionaries, and finally living in Beijing. The greatest thing about this book is the extraordinary detail Mrs. Ning goes into describing her everyday life. One can almost see oneself removing the fourth wall of the past and being able to see late Ching China. One gets to see a good picture of opium addiction and the dealings inside yamen, political offices, that are no longer controlled by skilled officials. A great book.