Economic-Life Books

Too many folks think they'll just go on state aid and let society take care of them. I agree with author Shoff that this industry is headed the same place as our Emergency Rooms in urban hospitals. And she explains the steps we can take to secure our senior years. If you are anywhere close to 50, read this book. If you're over 50, have them send it FedEx!

Mrs. Shoff has written a clear, convincing, heart-felt, elegantly organized treatise on how to age responsibly. It has rearranged and brightened up a very confused and bleak picture of what it means to age, derived from countless visits to nursing homes over the years. Instead of a sense of victimhood, I have caught a (liberating) glimpse of what it might mean - for me and my dear friends - to have a hand in determining our own destinies!

Where will you spend your old age? Will you live in a nursing home? Will they take you for walks when you want to go out? Will they help you reposition yourself in bed every couple of hours to help you avoid getting bedsores? Will they be able to get to you on time when you need assistance using the facilities? Will you miss you home?

What if you could stay in the comfort of your own home, with round the clock care if need be, with your choice of caregivers? What if this option was not only for the fabulously wealthy, but was in fact available to anyone and everyone at a fraction of the price of a nursing home? It is not as farfetched as it seems. It just takes some careful planning.

Our society has acknowledged that surviving old age takes preparation. Retirement funds, social security, and well-stocked shelves of volumes upon volumes of do-it-yourself guides are evidence of these sentiments. It is a wonder that amidst all the excitement, most people fail to prepare for illness and incapacitation.

But Karen Shoff of Santa Monica California has vowed to make this ignorance a thing of the past. In her compelling and essential new book, There's No Place Like A Nursing Home, she details in a surprisingly fascinating manner the problems inherent in institutional life, and offers a step-by-step solution. The fast paced text is only enhance by the stories she masterfully tells. As a former Social Worker and Gerontologist, she was witness to the horrors of institutional life. Her experiences in institutional life fueled her passionate commitment to protecting her family, friends and clients from those very facilities.

Her goal is to help ensure each and every American a life of dignity, security, and comfort. She details steps that if taken, will free one from worry, and doubt. She tells her reader how he can stay in the comfort and dignity of his own home, while at the same time receiving care far superior to that offered in any institution for significantly less. Her solution is a combination of Long Term Care Insurance, careful planning, and a slew of incisive, original suggestions. As one of the foremost experts in her field, her book is invaluable. Our society owes Karen Shoff a debt of gratitude for opening up her vast expertise and experience for our benefit.

Don't wait any longer. There's No Place Like A Nursing Home will change your life.

Karen Shoff produced a guide that did not exist before. This should be required reading as a part of everyman's life education: like how to swim, how to be a decent parent, how to do CPR and how to prepare for end of life infirmity. Let's face it: Modern medicine, safer cars, non-smoking and weight watchers are all conspiring to help us live longer. Great! So when we all succeed, then what? Read this book. It answers the question.

Karen Shoff produced a guide that did not exist before. This should be required reading as a part of everyman's life education: like how to swim, how to be a decent parent, how to do CPR and how to prepare for end of life infirmity. Let's face it: Modern medicine, safer cars, non-smoking and weight watchers are all conspiring to help us live longer. Great! So when we all succeed, then what? Read this book. It answers the question.

I read a lot of business books, but this one made me sit up and take notice. Mr. Kahaner writes on a challenging subject with remarkable clarity and insight. He really brings the ancient wisdom to life!

Kahaner's book helped me realize the kind of employer I aspired to be. Many of the contemporary situations Kahaner writes about show the intelligence of the ancient Rabbis. Kahaner's writing style is straightforward, and this book should be required reading for all business owners. But this book isn't just about being an ethical business person, it is about living an ethical life.

Kahaner has written a number of excellent business books and has always come up with a fresh theme or outlook to add to what is often a very predictable genre. By winnowing the Talmud for business advice he has found plenty of original material with a number of surprises that will be useful to businessmen at any level of experience. In a world full of troubling news about the leaders of America's companies this book couldn't have come at a more opportune time. I hereby sentence all CEOs in America to read, and heed, these valuable words and lessons.

As a business editor, I've pretty much seen it all when it comes to advice for company managers and leaders. But this book offers something truly different: new ways to apply values that have been in practice, honed and refined, for 1,500 years. And while you'll obviously get the most from this book if you're a practicing Jew, there's a huge bonus here for gentiles like me. The stories and lessons are far more specific than anything we can discern from the vague background hum of Judeo-Christian values in business today. If you want solid spiritual guidance that you can take to work every day, this book is for you. Besides the rabbis, you'll learn a little bit from everybody, from Mark Twain to Deutsche Bank to diamond dealers. So, go for it. You'll like it.

The Jewish people have survived for over 4,000 years, in large part because they have stuck to a core set of values embodied in the Talmud. These teachings are as relevant today as they were times past, and as Larry Kahaner so ably shows, can be applied to our modern business dealings to great results. If you are seeking a way to enrich your business life and your spiritual life at the same time, this book is for you.

In this exceptional collection of essays we are given morsels, pearls of wisdom to help us achieve a better life. Sharing their secrets are some of the world's well-known teachers, public speakers and entrepreneurs. They openly discuss how they view happiness, freedom, opportunity, destiny and many other subjects. They share ways to overcome fears, doubts, past hurts allowing us to forge forward to a happier tomorrow.
This is a very uplifting book, brimming full of positive advice in a frank and honest way which you definitely can and will apply to your life. Recommended.

Collaboratively compiled and arranged by Steven E. and Lee Beard, Wake Up... Live The Life You Love: Inspirational "How To" Stories To Bring More Joy, Love And Prosperity Into Your Life is an impressive anthology of inspirational and motivational anecdotes and true-life stories presented by a wide variety of authors and about individuals and groups who had earned their success in purpose, finance, relationships, or other aspects of the human experience. These brief yet emotionally charged tales include "From a Small Foreign Village to the Top of Amazon.com"; "How One Book Changed My Life"; "Hard Work And Learning Are My Friends", and more. An excellent, upbeat treasure trove of great achievements, Wake Up...Live The Life You Love is enthusiastically recommended reading.

Steven E has done it again! He has managed to find yet another group a successful people to relate their stories of success to others. It is a truly inspirational book.

Richard M. Krawczyk, Ph.D.
Financial Aerobics: How to Get Your Finances into Shape
#1 Best Selling Author/Speaker/Consultant
(...)

Wake up! This book is about people who said YES to themselves. Too often I see people who are fantasizing about getting their dream job, starting their own business, writing their own book, etc etc

If something is holding you back, get this book. Reading about how other people similar to you overcome their fears and went on to live the life they love is MOTIVATING!

Zev Saftlas, Author of Motivation That Works: How to Get Motivated and Stay Motivated &
Founder of www.CoachingWithResults.com

This book is full of amazing stories. Successful people telling about important turning points in their lives, and other inspirational moments. Each chapter is complete... reading one is like a whole seperate experience. A great way to spend a few minutes each day.

I just started working in a large multi-national and have found this book invaluable in its advice about how to deal with people from other cultures. I particularly liked the Q&A format of much of the book when people wrote to Gwyneth Olofsson with questions about how to deal with tricky cross-cultural situations - the sort that can lead to "culture clash" if you're not careful. A big plus is that it's funny too!

Book arrived in excellent condition and quickly. The book is very informative and in a nice conversational, easy to grasp format.

This book is a complete winner! All the the other intercultural books I`ve read have been BORING. This is a book for everybody working internationally...and it`s wise and amusing

Written by the owner of an international training and consulting company, When In Rome Or Rio Or Riyadh: Cultural Q & As For Successful Business Behavior Around The World is a comprehensive guide especially for international businesspeople, covering common cultural misunderstandings and gaffes that can plague one in nations ranging from Australia to Venezuela. From general information on how to make small talk safely and avoid common communication problems, to body language recommendations and warnings against inappropriate gestures in different nations (for example, a raised thumb is considered offensive in Australia and the Middle East), to countless case studies of problems and communication issues brought about by different cultural norms and expectations, When In Rome Or Rio Or Riyadh is not only a "must-have" resource for globetrotters but also an engrossing to lay readers curious about the sharp differences in how folks from different nations relate. Extremely accessible and down-to-earth, When In Rome Or Rio Or Riyadh explores the fascinating variety of cultural differences from an emphatically practical perspective.

There were places in this book where I laughed out loud, usually at the real-life examples of "culture clashes." The letters also made me think about how my own behavior at work could be misunderstood by foreigners. I learned a lot!

The authors have done an outstanding job by communicating to readers how to acheive fufilling, balanced life-styles. The stories are great lessons for women who are questioning the meaning of success. Is it how much money you make or how much time you have to relax and enjoy your family and friends?

This book provides inspiration for women who desire something more than a title and a six-figure salary. Success is defined many different ways by the women featured in this book. The numerous examples of redefined success are refreshing and thought provoking.

Authors Connie Brown Glaser and Barbara Steinberg Smalley deftly combine solid reporting of facts, figures and poll results with insightful stories about women who have abandoned the corporate rat race. This concise look at a pivotal trend is not limited to women only, though they are its emphasis. The authors introduce high-powered executive women who seek more purpose, balance and fulfillment, and find it by taking less stressful positions, starting their own businesses or switching careers. Much of the story is told through the personal case histories of corporate strivers who decide to chuck it all and go home. Many of these pioneers asked, "What good is all this money when I have no time to enjoy it?" They got tired of being "corporate machines," sick of jeopardizing their health and their important relationships. While many employers now understand that satisfaction, purposefulness and appreciation can trump money, some ground still need to get broken here. We highly recommend this book to people at all levels in the work force because it will help you consider your destiny - even if you love the electricity of corporate life and would be bored to tears making gift baskets in your garage.

I am a professional personnel who dove head first into being a stay at home mom - who misses the professional world, but knows she is in the right place w/kids right now, home - it can be a shocker. Even with all of the stay at home mom stress, it's worth it to me to make $0 and stay home with our kids. The biggest lesson I've learned these past 4 years is to take care of your mind, body and spirit (self-esteem). This book shows others (even non-moms) how they can regain balance in their lives by determining what they love to do and shifting their professional gears to a more fulfilling position. Excellent read!

Connie Glaser is right on target. All who have not read her book, When Money Isn't Enough, get it. She shares with us reality today. It is tough. The time pressures and family pressures are a reality. Nobody outlines the current environment and the choices better than Connie Glaser in this very special book. It is command reading for everyone, woman and man alike. Give it to your colleagues and discuss the challenges. Glaser makes us stop and reflect on choices we all have. Congratulations to Connie Glaser and all of us will be helped with the right balance we choose. Her work advances our own thinking.

Glaser and Smalley are among the most influential of current business scholars because they think so clearly and write so well while discussing the most important issues. Perhaps you have already read their Swim with the Dolphins. If not, you are urged to do so. In this book, they focus on an especially timely subject: The importance of "soul" in the equation for "success." In recent years, I have examined the results of more than 30 "employee satisfaction" surveys and was surprised, frankly, by what were rated the highest attributes: feeling appreciated, being treated with respect, believing in the value of the work to be done, enjoying the work to be done, and trusting the organization by which one is employed. What about compensation? Depending upon the individual survey, it was ranked anywhere from ninth to thirteen in importance. For those who participated in the surveys and probably for most other workers, money is never enough and seldom most important. The authors ask all of the right questions but, to their credit, resist the temptation to advocate any ":right answers." That responsibility they entrust to each reader. Although this is another of recently published books which have a gender-specific frame-of-reference, almost everything the authors share can also be of substantial value to men...not only to understand much better their mothers, sisters, wives, daughters, business associates, etc. but, more to the point, to understand themselves much better.

The uniqueness of Todd Gate's book, "Why Do We Have To Work", lies in the fact that it addresses a question on the mind of every student: What can I do to bring meaning to my life? Students who may be bombarded with messages from family and and friends about the need to make as much money as possible, will enjoy Gate's presentation of another view- a need to strive for a balance in life. Todd Gate's book should attract a wide range of readers who are in need of thinking things through and coming to their own determination about Why We Have to Work.

While this is a practical treatise, there is an underlying current of organization that carries with it an attitude of profound respect for and committment to child development. In this book Gates presents a balance in living, advancing a value of self and sensitivity to the needs of his children, providing them with the necessary tools to be able to cope with the realities they are having and will have to face in order to thrive in the adult world. It is by no means an easy task to be satisfied with one's self as an adult. Gates gives some important hints about loving one's self, accepting reality, dealing with it, and making use of that achievement in accepting the responsibility for teaching his children how to get a jump-start on their own development. It looks like he intends to have his children thinking independently by their teens. So this book is helpful in its practical scope but beyond that has a coherent inner structure that contains its own subliminal guide.

Like a good parent, Mr.Gates is both firm and understanding in introducing the young reader to the realities of the workplace. From a history of labor, to the meaning of modern employment, the author provides fresh answers to old questions, without ever becoming pedantic.

As a psychotherapist, I appreciate the psychologically sound principles Gates put in this primer for adolescents on the nature and necessity of"work." For example, Maslow's hierarchy of needs and Erikson's stages of identity formation are evident in his elegantly simple and logical communications to his sons about the fundamentals of money, career and balance in one's life. The cost and format are not ideal; it would be great to see this packaged as an affordable paperback for teenagers.

I liked Chapter 6 ("Measuring Success") the best. It helped remind me that what you happen to DO for a living is not necessarily what you ARE. And that while it MAY be time-efficient to combine your deepest interests with your paycheck, sometimes it's better to keep the two separate!

I liked a lot of the points brought up in Chapter 1 ("Hunting, Gathering, & Video Games"), like the origin of the double meaning of the word "trade" - how your job, or your `trade', is really just about what you use to `trade' with food, clothes, and shelter specialists. And I never thought about why we have to use money before, but after reading Chapter 2 ("Surgery & Dental Floss"), it suddenly made so much sense. Could a surgeon and floss-maker reliably make much use out of each other's specialties if they had to rely on straight barter?

This is a wonderful book for us little business owners. I have a garden and landscape design business and I love dogs, especially my German shepherds. I went to graduate school for jewelry and metalsmithing but fell in love with plant propagation and landscape design. Like many artists, I have no business training. I built my business around my passion and do most, but not all, parts of my job very well.

Each of us is a leader, if only of ourselves, and I thought this book would give me insight into myself to help me run my business more effectively and, in all honesty, more joyfully. My husband has an MBA and I had hoped that by sleeping next to him all these years, some of his business and leadership savvy would come to me by sleep transference, but so far, no luck. Fortunately, Ms. McArdle and Mr. Ramerman saw fit to write the refreshing, fun and highly useful WDWTT.

The authors are personable and direct. Their descriptions of client issues and ultimate resolution (or not) are easily understood and indicated to me a real understanding of the human issues that impede not only business success but prevent us from finding joy and richness in our lives. I loved the story about Kenny, the brilliant inventor with ADD. The high gain insights ("fall in love with change") are really useful as they further clarify the ideas of each chapter. And the examples of dog behavior were very endearing. I would have loved to see pictures of the dogs.

Business trends, buzz words come and go, but this book has substance. I recommend it wholeheartedly. Sherri McArdle and Jim Ramerman are the real deal!

I love dogs. I consult for businesses on improving their leadership performance. What a delightful idea to combine the two!

This book is FUN! It is also full of sound business and relationship advice. I often tell my clients that customers are not nearly so loyal as dogs. They are not as forgiving as dogs. And yet, people respond to the way they are treated in ways that are parallel to how dogs respond. This book illustrates that point through a couple of dozen stories: you can learn about human relationships at work and leadership through the observations of how dogs respond to you.

I love dogs. It is easy to "read" a dog's expression: is he wagging his tail? If so, he is happy and excited. If you learn to look for telltale signs from your employees (or spouse), you can recognize the same types of signs in those relationships as well.

No one drives in to work in the morning thinking: how will I have a bad day today? Workers and bosses want to have a good day, just like the dog who awakens and cannot wait for his morning walk. Through this book, you can learn how to build on that anticipation of a good day and make it real.

As the co-author of Pain Killer Marketing (with Henry DeVries, available for pre-sale on Amazon.com), I heartily recommend this book for anyone who wants to have their employees enjoy a good day and for anyone who loves dog stories. You will be wagging your tail as you read this book.

I am a partner in a large regional CPA Firm in New York State. I have read this book and would recommend it to everyone in a leadership capacity as well as those who are continuing to develop their leadership skills. The book combines leadership stories with practical examples. Regardless of one's leadership level the book offers insights for all. I was so pleased with the book; I invited the authors, Jim Ramerman and Sherri McArdle to speak to a group of our Firm's future leaders about their book and leadership development.

Before you scratch your ear and start barking that Why Dogs Wag Their Tails is just another puppy love story, keep reading. Yes, the book is tinged with metaphorical pet therapy, but the canine-human comparisons are worth examining in this dog-eat-dog world.

Why Dogs Wag Their Tails is a light read for leaders at all all levels who are searching for ways to become more effective--and joyous--in all aspects of life. Twenty dog stories help illustrate how readers can make behavioral changes to enhance clarity, achieve goals, manage emotions, earn credibility and become an encouraging presence that leads to openness, celebration and responsiveness. Some of the techniques are simple and achievable now; others may take time to incorporate into your life--much like training a new pet.

The authors stay true to their coaching methods by offering "high-gain insights" at the end of each chapter to sum up the learning and opportunities for high-gain results.

Sit, stay, down. No matter how you choose to use this book, It will help you experience more time for joy in your work and life--and a whole lot of tail wagging.

As someone who coaches leaders of consulting and professional services firms on how to win and woo more clients, I am always on the lookout for great books. Here is a great one for all leaders, especially those who are fond of canine companionship. Dealing with people is the toughest part of business and we can all learn a new trick or two from a dog. If you want to create a great workplace, then this witty book is for you. I have recommended it to all my clients at the New Client Marketing Institute. Henry DeVries, author of CLIENT SEDUCTION: A Step-by-Step Lead Generation System for Professional and Technology Service Firms

Implementing the concepts presented in this book does not take a lot of time and the resulting benefits make the effort very worthwhile. You will also be able to track your progress - this is a great motivator.

The principles and teachings in this book have directly affected my life. The stories that are shared by Joan Eleanor Gustafson, along with the other successful women mentioned in this book are all so diverse, yet the writing makes it very easy to relate these stories to my personal and professional life. A Woman Can Do That! Is a MUST read for anyone (including men) wanting to take charge of their future success!

This book really helped me get focused again. I was in the middle of a life change and was second guessing everything I was doing. Once I started reading Joan's book I found validation in what I was feeling and was able to turn my anxiety into progress toward my future. I am happy to say I made it with flying colors and would highly recommend this book to anyone else stuck in life or job limbo!

Ms. Gustafson book is the pep talk that women wish their Mother's would have given them! She helps us all realize the individuality of our definitions of success and outlines how to realize those goals.

It is an easy weekend read, with great exercises to get you thinking. Would recommend it for women ages 18-88 to help all of them make the most of each stage of their life. Success is yours for the making and taking!

A Woman Can Do That is worth reading over and over. I see it as my bible for success. It is equally applicable to men. To me the book offers the keys to happiness and feelings of well-being. It is unique because of the insights it offers and the way it is organized. I use it as a reference as well as keeping it close at hand to pick up and read a few pages each day and then try to put the ideas into practice. It is written in a simple straight-forward way with many examples. This book gives new meaning to the word, SUCCESS.

If you're looking for clues on how to solve your people problems at the office, Work it Out may provide just the help you need. Hirsh weaves workplace difficulties into mini mysteries to illustrate our different communication, data gathering, time management and decision-making styles. Written with humor and candor, Work it Out is sure to provide you with valuable lessons learned from easily recognizable workplace situations.

For an independent free-lance consultant like me, Work it out is a must ! It is an extremely useful book providing case studies which are clearly laid out and diagnosed in a comprehensive and enlightening way. They are great guidelines for professionals. Furthermore, Sandra Hirsh offers some useful guidelines on the team-building and coaching processes that are also extremely interesting and practical.
I highly recommend this book for anyone who is not only involved in the Human Resource field, but for those who are responsible for managing teams or for the curious among you who find the human complexities fascinating.

If you're looking for clues on how to solve your people problems at the office, Work it Out may provide just the help you need. Hirsh weaves workplace difficulties into mini mysteries to illustrate our different communication, data gathering, time management and decision-making styles. Written with humor and candor, Work it Out is sure to provide you with valuable lessons learned from easily recognizable workplace situations.

For several years I facilitated workshops using the Myers Briggs Type Indicator and found them very rewarding. When I picked up a copy of Work it Out, it greatly broadened my scope. This book gives wonderful, real-life examples of situations that we can all relate to and understand. Sandra discusses many different cases and scenarios in the text that will shed light for many of those who are stuck and wonder what is going on in a relationship with a fellow worker. There are valuable sections on team-building and coaching that have been especially useful to me and "type clues" throughout the book that are great "aha" moments for even a seasoned MBTI user. Wonderful text to understand and appreciate differences in anyone we work with! Should be on the shelf of every MBTI user.

I employ 10 folks in a computer development "geek" shop. A long-time student and user of Temperament or Type -- I was pleased with this book in that it presents the premise of Type in an easy to read style that represents realistic work environments; situations that I believed my staff would understand. I bought a copy for each staff member -- and as a team, we are working our way through the book chapter-by-chapter; one chapter each week. 30 to 45 minutes of each Monday morning Staff meeting are devoted to discussion of the issues in the "current" chapter; what each person's "type" value is, and how those values contribute and frustrate the values of others. We are six weeks into this project. Conflicts issues between staff that used to cause friction and frustration are simply melting away as the chapters drop away. Staff openly discuss disagreements as conflicts in Type; and allow each other to have different views. Staff that would never read anything ... are reading this book in advance, usually over the weekend on their own time, to be prepared for Monday staff meetings. Team members that were often late to staff meetings in the past ... are "on-time". Whether the excitement will sustain itself after the book is completed is clearly a "management" issue -- but this book has captured the interest of a diverse group of computer "geeks", administrators, and managers. And while the company's profits are determined over sustained selling and development cycles ... the productivity output of the staff is up and we've not missed even an internal delivery commitment in the past three weeks; a virtual impossibility in years past. The book is proving to be a very powerful tool for my company.

\\ Richard Eastman
The Eastman Group, Inc.
www.eastmangroup.com

I love this book. It's different and easy to use. Sometimes when I'm having a problem....I just pick this up and see if my problem is in here and I do what the book says.....This is a really good book to have.

This wonderful little book demonstrates how to integrate the spiritual principles of yoga into the challenges of the business world. Exercises featuring mudras (hand positions) and mantras or chants designed to address specific challenges including anger, self-esteem, stress and prosperity are presented with photographs and detailed instructions. The exercises do not require tremendous flexibility or athletic prowess--you do not have to become a human pretzel to master them. They are effective and fun and not terribly time-consuming unless one wishes to make a discipline. I appreciated the beautiful photographs that are featured throughout the book. They are both calming and exhilerating.

My quibbles are few. First is the size of the book. Although it is compact and therefore easy to slip into a briefcase or handbag, it is difficult to prop open without damaging the binding--something that is necessary when learning some of the exercises. At times it is dificult to see the mudra being demonstrated by the model in the photograph with the actual exercise and it becomes necessary to consult the mudra section in the back. And finally, this is one of those books that would benefit by including a CD of the mantas. This would assist in correct pronunciation and mastering the melody.

I strongly recommend this book both for its efficacy and for making yoga easily accessible in a stress filled forum.

This book is not only clearly and concisely written with powerful, fast acting information, but also stunning to look at. The quality of the paper and beauty of the images make reading Yoga Secrets for Business Success a meditation in itself. It's like owning many yoga manuals and an art book all in one.

I'm a certified yoga teacher, and I particularly appreciate the excellent organization of material, precise times given for each exercise, and the highlighted benefits. The photographs are easy to follow, and the results profound.

I highly recommend Yoga Secrets to both beginners and advanced students alike. Well done Darshan Singh Khalsa! When is the next one coming out?

I am in sales and frequently travel for work. I always make sure to pack Yoga Secrets for Business Success when I plan for a trip. The stress of traveling can wear on my body, but this book offers secret tips and exercises to keep me healthy and energized while I am away from home.

I recomend this book to anyone who wants to stay positive and free from stress. You can do the exercises at home or in your hotel room when you are away!

There are very clear directions and pictures showing how to do each exercise.

Even if you have never done any yoga, you will find you can do any exercise in this book.

I am happy I found it.

Andre Coveney- Divisional Sale Manager/Square D Company

This excellent book is unlike any other yoga book I've seen (and I've read dozens and looked at probably hundreds). The focus is on simple hand postures (mudras) combined with breath and chanting to create fast results. The hand gestures are said to open and or balance the body's energy channels to enhance particular personal qualities, such as awareness, relaxation, happiness, cooperation, etc. One drawback is that the chants are in Sanskrit and feel awkward to this westerner's mouth. They don't sound or feel natural and only a few of them seem accessible enough to actually use. Nevertheless, there's obvious value in them -- when I chant the syllable "Ma," it vibrates and opens my heart, just as the author says it does. I find myself using the book nightly for 20 to 30 minutes, doing several of the postures and meditations, but only a few of the chants. With practice I'm increasing the time I spend with individual postures, but even doing them for a few minutes each makes me feel better. The posture for happiness definitely works. After holding the position for only a few minutes I can feel my mood becoming light and full of joy and humor. I borrowed this book from the library and liked it so much I bought a copy because I want to spend a lot more time with it.