Practitioners Books

The Public Relations Practitioner's Playbook is much more than your ordinary textbook on PR. This one is jam-packed with information students, practitioners and publicists for organizations, corporations and civic groups can use. The proven ideas, tips and techniques can easily be adapted simply by following suggestions or instructions. This is real-world "stuff."

The Playbook incorporates practitioners' experiences that should prepare students for careers in public relations. All of the major media needed to achieve synergy are covered - print, broadcast, Internet, face-to-face and special events. The four step public relations process - purpose, research, planning, implementation and evaluation - is also thoroughly explored. The author adds a preliminary step - purpose - creating the public relations acronym - PR-pie.

Practitioners should enjoy reading about the MAC Triad - Plus (P and T = Purpose and Timing), and other popular two-way communication models. Litwin thoroughly explains them through theory and practice. He demonstrates how mastering the models increases the practitioner's chances of reaching a plan's goal through objectives, strategies, tactics and tools.

I've already made good use of the CD Rom, which demonstrates how to write and produce audio and video public services announcements and video news releases. It also contains some terrific PowerPoints. I find the hints invaluable.

I view The Playbook as an investment in my future. I keep it in my laptop bag. They go where I go.

I keep one copy of "The Public Relations Practitioner's Playbook" on my desk between the AP Stylebook and my dictionary. Another copy is in my laptop bag. My laptop goes where I go - which means "The PR Practitioner's Playbook" does, too! Like that popular credit card, I don't leave home without it.

"The Public Relations Practitioner's Playbook" - Second Edition - is a must have for every practitioner, counselor,special events coordinator and any student taking public relations courses.

Practitioners, publicists for organizations, corporations and civic groups, and students will find it invaluable book in their professional library. The proven ideas, tips and techniques can easily be adapted simply by following suggestions or instructions.

"The Playbook" incorporates practitioners' experiences that should prepare students for careers in public relations. All five of the major media needed to achieve synergy are covered - print, broadcast, Internet, face-to-face and special events. The four step public relations process is also thoroughly explored.

Practitioners should enjoy reading popular communication models. The author thoroughly explains them through theory and supports them through practice. Litwin demonstrates how mastering the models increases the practitioner's chances of reaching a plan's goal through objectives, strategies, tactics and tools.

The CD Rom, which demonstrates how to write and produce audio and video public services announcements, and video news releases, is also helpful. With eveything on the CD, that in itself, is worth the price of the new 535 page book.

If you are new to the PR world, you can rely on this book to answer questions and clarify approaches to tasks you perform on a daily basis. This book is a must have and would benefit anyone in the public relations field.

Go for "The Playbook" and its companion "The ABCs of Strategic Communication." The are amazing and incredible.

Reading this book is like listening to Larry Litwin tell me the story of public relations. It's straight and to the point, in a conversational way!

Kim Glovas
Reporter
KYW Newsradio
Philadelphia, PA

The Public Relations Practitioner's Playbook (A Synergized Approached to Effective Two-Way Communication) is neither just an ordinary textbook nor a handbook. It's a hands-on, step-by-step manual designed to provide both the seasoned professional and novice with a valuable resource containing information, knowledge and skills that can be applied to the day-to-day world.

The author has achieved the difficult task of targeting and reaching all three audiences: students, practitioners, and even the layperson - publicists for civic and other non-profit organizations. Through a creative, compelling, engaging and thought-provoking approach, The Playbook illustrates hundreds of proven techniques, tips, tactics, tools, strategies and terms every practitioner and would be practitioner needs to be successful - presented in a straightforward, down to earth manner. The book's dozens of "plays" summarize sections of the book's 15 chapters and are also included on a companion CD Rom, which contains examples of both audio and video Public Service Announcements.

One successful Philadelphia-area public relations specialist describes The Public Relations Practitioner's Playbook as a "must have." And we do, too! Professor Larry Litwin has hit a home run with a book we don't know how any PR person could live without it. Our opinion echoes that of the Philadelphia practitioner who says, "It should share the desk right next to the AP Stylebook and a dictionary."

William Price

Editor
Newstrack Executive Information Service
140 S. Broadway
Suite 3
Pitman NJ 08071
10/1/03

Tina's "The Reiki Teachers Manual" for me is a refresher course I can use whenever I have time. She presented the reicki material in a language all can comprehend from students to teachers. The hands on techniques were outstanding. Thanks Tina for being "you" for so many of us. Lovingly, Anita K. Carter

The Reiki Teacher's Manual: A Guide for Teachers, Students and Practitioners I read Tina Zion's new book from cover to cover. The organization and the text are so clear and concise that this is an excellent manual for a Reiki teacher or student. I am a college professor so I admire an author who can present her material in such an understandable and easy flowing manner. If I were teaching a Reiki class, I would most certainly use this book for myself and my students. I learned a great deal about energy and Reiki from reading the manual and I look forward to other offerings from this author in the future.

Comprehensive in its coverage of Reiki and clear in its design, this book is a priceless step-by-step guide on how to conduct Reiki classes. All you need to know as a Reiki teacher is right here -- including handouts! It also contains more in-depth information for those of us who have already been trained in Reiki. A fun and enjoyable read, the author's writing style reflects her wisdom, reverence, and vast experience with Reiki.

This book is comprehensive and organized; a much needed reference book for all who study Reiki.

I believe that I was one of the first Reiki Masters to buy, read, and review Tina Zion's new book. I could not put it down. She has created an easy to understand, concise yet comprehensive method to consolidate the three teaching levels of Reiki into one book for both the teacher and student. I am planning to use this book in my classes. Thank you Tina!

This highly professional yet clearly articulated book covers the history, concepts, and techniques of Schema Therapy. While this therapeutic approach originated in cognitive therapy, it has evolved into a systematic ecclecticism that includes cognitive, behavioral, experiential, and other useful techniques for identifying and healing schemas, modes, coping patterns, etc. Highly recommended for the professional with an interest in helping clients alter personality disorders and other disturbances that are resistant to other therapeutic approaches. Fred P. Gallo, PhD, author of "Energy Psychology" and co-author of "The Neurophysics of Human Behavior"

This book is a must for Psychiatrist ,Psychologists and Family Practitioners doing therapy- It synthesizes Brain action thru Schemas or scripts of childhood and how they project in your adult life. Well written with many practical points- Excellent book= Hector A. Feliciano MD- Proffesor of Family Medicine University of P.R. Medical School

As a psychodynamically trained therapist, I have sensed for many years that a 'pure' approach to therapy has severe limitations. This led me to get further training in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and to use this with my clients - to some good effect. However, I felt uncomfortable using this 'either, or' approach to therapy (either psychodynamic OR CBT) and have been trying for a long time to work out a way of integrating these two approaches in my practice.

So reading Jeffrey Young's book is like reading something that I should have written myself! I keep thinking, 'Oh yes, that's just what I find too!', and 'Hey, that's MY idea!'. In other words, I find this an eminently practical and useful outline of a model of therapy that more or less perfectly describes my own approach to working with clients. What is useful to me in particular are the 18 maladaptive schemas, and the corresponding system of coping with them. THe questionnaires (available from www.schematherapy.com) which can help clients to identify their own particular combination of problem schemas and coping styles forms an excellent basis for rich, rewarding, collaborative therapy.

I am full of admiration for the three authors who produced this volume. I look forward to attending some of the workshops when they come my way in the UK. A thouroughly recommended read.

As a psychologist who has utilized Schema Therapy for several years I found that this work far surpassed my expectations.

Schema Therapy, which originally evolved from cognitive therapy, integrates theory and technques from various fields, including behavior therapy, cognitive therapy, gestalt therapy and object relations. This theoretical synthesis is presented in a remarkably straightforward manner that even the beginning therapist will find easy to follow and utilize.

The book is highly readable and loaded with specific clinical interventions. The last two chapters, on treating borderlines and narcissists, are worth the price of the book alone.

I'd recommend this book to any therapist from any orientation. Cognitive and behavior therapists will find the focus on early childhood experience and deeper emotions to be be a useful extension of knowledge presented in a logical down to earth manner. Therapists from more traditional backgrounds will benefit from this exposure to an effective treatment which has systematic recommendations for treating long term problems.

This book is fantastic! It really explains why some people end up with personality disorders and how to go about having a person see their dysfunctional patterns. The book is well structured with good outlines of the various schemata. However, after about page 70, it gets a bit repetitive. The case illustrations are helpful, though I couldn't help noticing how neatly well packaged they were. Schema therapy definitely provides an excellent framework within which to conceptualize personality disorders. Apparently it is more helpful to borderline personality disorder than psychodynamic therapy. So,in summary, while I really appreciated how personality disorders were conceptualized, I found the book a bit repetitive... For a more 'academic' approach, you might want to try the Handbook of Personality Disorders.

You may find the articles in this book one by one from the net, but it's always good to have a all-in-one product.

For anybody involved in teaching classes on Project Management, this book is an excellent reference. Broad focus, enjoyable and informative reading...

This book is a collection of numerous classic articles on software project management. It is well organized and it is clear that a great deal of effort was put into identifying the best articles to include in this collection. The reason I give it 4 stars instead of 5 is for what it doesn't have -- an index! Without an index you will have a difficult time finding specific information without scanning many pages of text.

This book provides a broad but detailed look at the functions and activities necessary for the proper management of a software development project. It is what you would expect from IEEE, an academic perspective on the process---both from a quantitative development and quality management orientation. Some of the contributors are, of course, priceless (particularly Alan M. Davis' "Trial By Firing: Saga of a Rookie Manager") in relating their own experiences as project managers in this strange business we're in.

This collection was so good that I went back and ordered the other two collections (Software Engineering and Software Requirements Engineering). For anybody who teaches Software Engineering or Project Management classes (or anybody wanting a broad knowledge of the subjects), these books are invaluable.

This book is the best book on software project management available for three reasons: (1) it talks to the basics of what makes a successful project and manager, (2) it describes what does not work in a software project, and (3) it walks through practical steps that can be used on real software projects to solve real process problems through the complete life cycle. The book is well written, concise and does not subscribe to any fad methodology or proscribe any silver bullet solutions (smart work and attention to detail are the only effective methods). In fact, the author spends much time debunking industrial myths. There is a good section on cookbook solutions and an example project included as a learning tool. I use this book on the job and highly recommend it.

Unlike most text books, it is a very easy to read book allowing one to read it from cover to cover. The book is an excellent source for novice project managers who need a guide to the many aspects that come with the job. Personally I refer to it often for suggestions on which documents I should produce or what actions to take while managing a project.

This book covers Software Project Management broadly with a lot of good information for both the new project manager as well as the old hand. The material is presented as a comprehensive overview rather than a detailed instruction. By itself the book does not go deeply enough into any of the areas to provide a novice with enough useful information so it's a good book to use in conjunction with books providing more detail.

Despite its lack of detail, the book presents many important points - the importance of the human equation, analysis/organization tools such as Tony Buzan's MindMap, having a Management Information Center, and using standards without having a programmer's revolt. There is only passing mention of key issues such as scope creep, the tendency of management to try to throw more personnel at a project in trouble, needing to build testing into the initial design process, and the pro's and con's of the various development methods (waterfall, spiral, etc.). A number of references are quoted, including many IEEE documents (IEEE is the publisher) plus books by Gerald Weinberg, Capers Jones, Tom Demarco, and other recognized gurus - which make good adjuncts to this handbook.

Phillips perpetuates one of my pet peeves, the issue of including the top ten risks in the risk assessment document. What if there are only 7 risks which seem to be significant? What if there are 12? Granted, it would be unwieldy to track & evaluate dozens of risks routinely, but it doesn't make sense to suggest that exactly 10 be tracked.

The discussions of Configuration Management are quite lengthy and in a bit more detail than other topics covered.

Although the book is fairly short at 500 pages and is easy reading, there is a substantial amount of information covered. The 5 star rating is for the breadth of information covered, with the caveat that other references would be needed by those unfamiliar with the concepts presented.

Don't confuse the ease of reading this excellent book with the depth and power of the information within it. Being involved in software project management myself, I related to the ideas the author expressed and feel I have learned much from reading the book. Other project managers in my company are now reading this book and share similar opinions.

The book contains good explanations of various techniques for formalising projects. It also contains a number of case study experiences which are very apt.

I recommend this book to project managers of all levels and to managers of software companies.

This is a well written book for the people interested in succeeding with software project management. The author spells out the key pit falls to software development and offers realistic solutions. There are many up to date helpful graphics and tables throughout the book. This is easy reading and keeps the reader interseted.

I really like this book. It is filled with insights and lessons that one can learn from. The way the book was written is also very interesting. It tells of some cases that a nurse practitioner come across and at the end of each chapter/story, it also covers some medical background informations, e.g. smoking, depression, etc.

Definitely a must read, highly recommended.

I LOVED this book, and just wished it had been longer! I also wish there were more personal narratives just like this. I think the book gives readers a true picture of what a nurse practitioner is and does, and hopefully, opened peoples' eyes to what a vital asset nurse practitioners are to the medical team. Great job!

U. Faces was a book that once I opened it up I could not put it down. Sometimes the stories read like fiction, but then I would remember these were real people, with real problems, being taken care of by a real nurse practitioner and I would cry. I learned information I didn't know about problems facing those needing health care by reading this book;and used this information in the classes I teach and my clinical practice.I have told students about this book so they could have their own copy; as I will not let mine leave my sight as I'm afraid I would not get it back. The way Elizabeth wrote using a case scenario approach and being honest about results then giving us up-to-date information about the subject at hand was unique and well done. I have offered this book as a resource to my students as well as given it as a gift to preceptors too. She gave us resources not only in places we could go for more information, but also how we too could approach the same problem in our practice. For me, I am deeply indebted to Elizabeth for writing this book and I am sure there are enough stories that she could write another one and I would buy that too. Lay readers as well as health professionals would find the reading easy with the stories well written and the information presented in such a way that they would be enthralled while gaining invaluable information.

Once I started this book I could not put it down. It's not only a book for nurse practitioner, but also for every day people like myself. I cried, I laughed, and I was touched by the actions of one nurse practitioners. I would highly recommend this to anyone who values the human spirit.

I am a Family Nurse Practitioner student at Columbia University and I just wanted to let others know that I really enjoyed reading this book. I'm not quite done with it yet but it travels with me on my commute into NY on the train and I read it every chance I get. After reading the section on 'Confessions of a Smoker', especially about Mr. Svelton, I try to encourage smoking cessation to all the patients that I see during my clinical, who smoke. As a student I appreciate the style of questioning and I try to use that during my history intake. This book was recommended reading for my FNP program and I've been telling my colleagues about how great it is and I know that they will benefit from reading Unforgettable Faces also. Wishing this book great success. Let me know when the FNP author comes to NYC so that I could get her to sign my book.Thanks for sharing and writing such a wonderful book. :-)

Just like the skilled behavior researchers try to study, being able to conduct a good Cognitive Task Analysis (CTA) is a critical skill in itself. Up until now, it was also one that had to be developed by trial and error. This text breaks it all down and provides a wealth of details on the techniques used and challenges faced in conducting a CTA. It also provides some historical context on the study of cognition and the role of CTA in research and system design.

Highly recommended for anyone in the field - I only wish it had come out sooner.

This is an important book for the engineering of complex systems and information technology systems. Cognitive systems engineering methods described in this book can go a long way toward helping engineers overcome the pervasive problem of inadequate requirements in the development of these systems, unite human and technology concerns in system design, and produce systems that are usable and helpful.

The book makes cognitive systems engineering and its methods much more accessible and comprehensible than any resource I've previously encountered. The book makes the methods described accessible to the novice who has never used them, while also providing details of interest to people who have experience using the methods. For example, it includes a very practical, descriptive, and well-organized walk-through of the cognitive task analysis process that extends from preparation all the way through to its contributions to system design and evaluation.

The book also includes a primer on cognition geared toward the systems developer and which is arguably an important foundation for anyone involved in developing technology that interacts with people performing cognitive work (e.g., information processing, decision making, anomaly detection, troubleshooting,...). The book addresses cost factors associated with cognitive task analysis and other cognitive systems engineering methods (and describes what cognitive systems engineering is and is not - thank you!) throughout, and is full of examples used to demonstrate how cognitive systems engineering methods have been successfully used in the past.

Every systems, human factors, and software engineering student and practitioner needs to read this book!!

This is a really helpful book. I've read quite a bit about Naturalistic Decision Making and CTA's so I was already familiar with most of the concepts. As with any relatively complex subject there is often a large gap between what's in the textbooks and how things actually happen in the field. This book is much more of a "how-to-do-it" guide than any others I've read. It is a very easy read and an excellent introduction to the subject.

Gary Klein and his colleagues have been studying for many years what kinds of mind-sets different jobs need, and this book reports on how that field of study is shaping up. A methodology has been developed, wherein investigators study knowledgeable workers (experts) to get the skills baseline, then write up a (series of) template(s) on their findings, whereupon these templates become teaching guides for new recruits.

This book gives a number of case studies of all phases of CTA projects. Even before interviews begin, there is a Preparation phase, wherein the CTA practitioners learn enough about the job, profession, and field of work so that they can ask intelligent questions and recognize relevant answers. Then Knowledge Elicitation follows, through interviews, questionnaires, brain-storming sessions, etc., usually involving two analysts, one to lead the enquiry, the other to record the results.

In the Analysis phase the results are collated, correlated, and represented in some graphical or tabular form so that the pattern of cognitive capabilities and their inter-relations can be depicted and understood. The patterns that may emerge include Hierarchical Task Analysis (the task logic of entailment and subsumption), and Procedural Task Analysis (the linear and concurrent sequence of activities), and these may be represented with Skills Lists, Mind Maps, Dimensional Distributions, etc.

The motivation to engage in this type of analysis is often the need to train new recruits more proficiently or replace retirees more efficaciously. So Cognitive Training is a very important part of the exercise, and the findings must be interpreted in such a way as to facilitate this process. Instructional Analysis is therefore based on the previous findings, and both the content and the process of training are improved as a result. In the Knowledge Society this is by far the most sensible approach to training. How many of the Knowledge Working Skills are analyzed, formalized, and instructed in this way? Not nearly enough so far - not even in Learning Facilities or Knowledge Factories - but it is a waste of time, money, and effort to train in any other way, so we can hope that CTA is the wave of the future!

The authors described the What, Why, When, Where and How of Cognitive Task Analysis from multiple aspects. One aspect concerns analyzing the cognitive tasks of incumbents in a situated setting. Another aspect concerns analyzing the cognitive task content of an envisioned role in a foreseen situation. Another aspect concerns analyzing the cognitive tasks of those who research cognitive task analysis methods, aids and tools. Another is analyzing the cognitive tasks involved in reflecting on and improving oneself as a practitioner of cognitive task analysis. Yet another is the challenges that must be mastered by educators of cognitive task analysis practitioners. The versatility and value of Cognitive Task Analysis was thusly demonstrated without causing the reader undue confusion. A significant, complex task well done.

Working Minds brings the `intuitive' aspect of decision into focus with the `rational' aspect. This is one, very large contribution. A small disappointment was the absence of teleonomics and its relationship with cognitive task analysis. Also, perhaps a sequel will say more about principles and rules for selecting human vs. automatons during a system design activity.

As computers in general and process formalization in particular encroach further into our lives and as litigation looms larger over those who cannot show that they exercised due process in their work, cognitive task analysis becomes basic, foundational, in business, government and academia. Working Minds helps discover how to lay such foundation.

Deaths, accidents and collisions and sinkings at sea are not viewed by U.S. Courts with laws that confine the everyday civil, criminal, commercial, or real estate business of this country. Like the sea itself, U.S. Maritime Law is a collection of interconnected forces that one must navigate to pass.

Thomas J. Schonenbaum helped my family understand and navigate the legal proceedings after my son's death at sea.

Schoenbaum's Hornbook on Admiralty is indispensable from the point of view of this maritime practitioner. It is much better than the other Hornbook available - and so far beyond other guides that it's not even worth looking at anything else. If you need a sound reference on such an esoteric subject, this is the one to get.

Customers should be aware that the Pocket Part used to bring this volume current is not included in the sale. You would be better off ordering this book directly from the publisher, West Group, if you want a law book that is current, at no additional cost, at the time of sale.

Have a maritime matter come across your desk? Where to begin research into a pesky and ancient area of rather arcane law? Schoenbaum is IT. Cites cases, statutes, and explains basic admiralty law very well, so that the admiralty virgin will have no problem figuring out why there is no jury, how a ship can be arrested, and what the heck general average is all about.

After spending a few frustrating years trying to understand the various schools of Buddhist logic and their arguments about the nature of reality, it was a pleasure to read Andy Karr's book, "Contemplating Reality." Karr takes the reader step by step through the Buddhist logics in everyday language that makes the journey a simple pleasure.

Although the book is written in a way that encourages reading short sections and stopping frequently to think about what has been presented, it is so readable that one can just slow down, smile, and continue on. The progression of the book follows the progression of the Buddhist schools, but somehow Karr has managed to eliminate the tedium that so often accompanies the classic presentations of these arguments.

In fact, I think Karr did a lot of the work for us by clearing up the confusions for himself before presenting the points to us. His understanding make the exercises accessible and enjoyable. And his choice of quotes and poetry from historic Buddhist masters brings a profundity to the material that often transcends logic altogether.

So if you are open to investigating the nature of things as they are, "Contemplating Reality" is a way to understand emptiness and its inherent friendliness that will add freedom and humor to your path in life.

I was looking for a book that could explain in a more comprehensible manner some of the arcane concepts of Buddhism. Andy Karr makes a valiant effort to do so in this book. He has a good sense of humor and relatively down-to-earth approach to subjects that are extremely difficult to grasp. He also explains the different schools of tenets and describes their somewhat differing approaches to the subject. I recommend it!

Contemplating Reality is a wonderful contribution to the body of teachings on analytical meditation. Analytical meditation is a very important practice of the Indo-Tibetan Buddhist traditions, which emphasize bringing intellectual study and experiential praxis together. It is a key to ensuring that the knowledge we gain from our studies will not be left on our book shelves, but will permeate our day to day experience.

In this delightful book, Andy uses fresh and modern examples, even delving into discussions of modern science, to help readers find a ground-level approach to unlocking the life lessons of Indo-Tibetan Buddhism's four main philosophical systems: the Vaibhashika, the Sautrantika, the Chittamatra, and the Madhyamaka. Praised by Publisher's Weekly and many Kagyu and Nyingma lineage teachers, this short book will whet the reader's appetite for contemplation and its prerequisite, study. What's more, it will offer a senior Western Buddhist student's seasoned perspective on a heretofore relatively unexplored topic in the West.

"As of this writing, George W. Bush is perceived to be a good leader by many people. Many others perceive him to be a dangerous idiot and a tool of corporate interests. On the other hand, his daughters perceive him as a father. His parents perceive him as a son. Osama bin Laden sees George W. Bush as an enemy and a demon. To a mosquito George W. Bush is a meal. The microorganisms that inhabit his intestines perceive him as home. Whose version is right?" (CR, p. 88)

With a wry, sometimes wink-of-the-eye sense of humor, and a spontaneous honesty hard to achieve in print (for all his study, the author cops to once not having had a daily meditation practice), Contemplating Reality untangles the complexity of the schools and subschools of Indo-Tibetan Buddhist thought in the clearest terms I have ever seen--supported by a series of analytical and contemplative meditation exercises derived from 2,500 years of Buddhist practice. Andy Karr's book is personal, practical, plain and profound.

There is so much in this book that is wonderful and unique in the literature of yoga that I want to comment on, but for this review I want to concentrate on just one of the essays, the brilliant and penetrating, "The Meaning of Brahmacharya" by Adrian S. Piper.

This essay by Wellesley Professor of Philosophy Adrian Piper centers on two yogic practices, both much misunderstood, and worse, much misrepresented. The first is celibacy (brahmacharya). A lot of cant about how brahmacharya really means moderation or monogamy, sex within marriage only, or a non-lustful state of mind, etc., is given the ghost by Piper, who is a long practicing brahmacarin and expert on jnana yoga. Piper's first point is that brahmacharya means quite simply what it is purported to mean, that is, celibacy. Period. Of course this is hard to accept, and for young people well-nigh impossible, and so most "authorities" have cheapened the message, have compromised the intent, and have said, what is meant is "moderation," etc. Some cultist gurus have even exploited this "interpretation" by assuming this mentality as their mantra: "I make love to you and only you (at this time) because you are special. In this way I practice brahmacharya, I practice moderation and restraint."

Very appealing, but one might also slip through that eye of the needle and enter into the kingdom of heaven wearing a money belt. Piper has no such delusions. She's got it right. Celibacy is celibacy. That is why in the Hindu social philosophy one is first a student, and then a householder, then a mendicant and finally a renunciant. Householders are not celibate. In is only in the latter stages that one can be truly celibate. (There are exceptions of course, just as there are exceptional people.)

Having said this I must confess that I disagree with Professor Piper on one particular. She writes (p. 39): "...the policy governing self-stimulation for brahmacharins is: Hands above the sheets!" What this means, I imagine, is that one must, in so far as it is possible, not practice onanism. Instead one should realize that celibacy means, as Piper phrases it, "to walk with God." This reminds me of the Catholic tradition that has the nuns "married" to Jesus--although, of course the God that Piper is referring to, the God of the Vedas, is Ineffable, being beyond anything we can say or not say. I would differ with Piper by insisting that a complete understanding of celibacy includes this most important distinction of how one should practice sex, that is, quite simply, not with others. Instead one should make love to oneself. Indeed, this is part of self-study. To say that one should not practice sexuality at all is to remain ignorant. There are many reasons that the path of yoga includes brahmacharya, but the most important one is that the practice of celibacy is the best answer to the problem of sex. Sex leads to copious karmas created. It leads to distraction and worldly responsibility. Ultimately, it leads to birth and death, to the perpetuation of the wheel of karma, which is exactly what the yogi wants to get away from, what the yogi is working to transcend. One also acts through nonaction, the Gita teaches. A kind of non-touching of oneself only prolongs and exacerbates the excitement, the tension and leads further along the path to sensuality. That is why in tantra it is taught that the man should withhold...himself for as long as possible. This is not done to conserve his strength, as some strictures have it, but to prolong his and her enjoyment. Putting this minor disagreement aside, I have to say that Piper's delineation of brahmacharya demonstrates a profound understanding of the intent and practice of yoga.

Her essay is also about the somewhat infamous tantra of the left-handed path, which she calls "California Tantra," a felicitous phrase that captures the essence of the practice. Again, Piper's insight and expression reveals her deep understanding of the subject. As she writes (p. 56), "Variants on the general rule of thumb [for tantric yoga] might be: Party until you've gotten your yayas out; or until you've had enough partying for three lifetimes; or until you've learned the lessons from it you need to learn." This is tantric yoga in a nutshell: one finds liberation by giving into one's desires, it being believed that finally when the fires of youth are exhausted one will find samadhi (as Siddhartha does in Herman Hesse's celebrated novel). Piper acknowledges on page 55 that this liberation is "nothing to sneeze at." What she doesn't say in her essay is that tantra of the left-handed path is a torturous and very painful way of finding God, to be employed only when all else fails. It is the path of the junkie and the libertine; it is the roller coaster ride of exhaustive highs and lows; it is the path that will burn the aspirant out at an early age. It is dangerous.

Piper's final note is magnificent: "The point of practices is not what one gives up but rather what one gets." She adds, "One does not give up the good life, but rather maximizes its goodness."

This book has been a godsend. It is a collection of essays by various yogis, some of them teachers, some of them just folks trying to understand their lives. Over the past six months I have tried to start a yoga practice in order to gain some insight and bring some clarity into my life. In trying to deal with a lifetime of chronic depression and obesity I have found the holistic and non-striving philosophy of yoga very appealing. And yet I must admit that I am at times intimidated by the placid and flexible gurus who tend to write most of the books, appear in most of the videos, and teach most of the classes. How wonderful it is to encounter the doubts, insights, fears, and questions of the writers in this book. Personally the essays that I prefered were not the ones writen by yoga teachers, but rather the ones writen by people, like me, who have been touched by yoga, and who are just trying to find a "way." This book has opened a door and allowed me into the world of yoga, and I am very grateful.

This collection of short essays by yoga instructors, authors, and others details the many varied impacts of yoga. Some of the stories are fun and lighthearted, such as the email exchanges between cousins Janet Bowdan/Roz Peters and Judith Lasater's reflections on yoga and parenting. Others, like Adrian Piper's "The Meaning of Brahmacharya," are more academic in nature and more geared for those interested in yogic philosophy.

For myself, the stories which I found most compelling were those which were born from tragedy. In "Brick by Brick," Samantha Dunn shares her discovery of kundalini yoga after a devastating horse accident left her badly injured. Robert Perkins' "Journey in Yama-Yama Land" describes the depression he experienced after the death of his wife and the role of yoga in providing him with a way out. Both Elizabeth Kadetsky's "Coming Apart in Pune" and Lois Nesbitt's "An Insomniac Awakens" relate tales of lives unraveling in the midst of a yoga practice (the former became part of the book First There is a Mountain, a memoir of Kadetsky's studies with BKS Iyengar in India). And in "The Art of Breathing," the suicide of Reetika Vazirani's father plays a central role in her own yoga practice.

Although not all of these stories spoke to me personally, each contains an element of the personal, providing a window of insight into just a few of the infinite ways in which yoga is lived by those who practice it. Anyone with a regular yoga practice is bound to find at least one connection here, but this book is likely to be of little interest to non-yogis.

This book takes a refreshingly candid look at the way yoga fits into the world of a variety of different people. By allowing the reader to see that even experienced teachers struggle with their practice at different points in their lives, Jeremijenko de-mystifies some of our commonly held beliefs. This book is a very enjoyable read with something for everyone, no matter where they are in their practice or their lives.