- Paperback: 336 pages
- Publisher: Simon & Schuster Ltd (3 Aug 1998)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0684821257
- ISBN-13: 978-0684821252
- Product Dimensions: 23 x 15.2 x 2.8 cm
- Average Customer Review: 2.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (1 customer review)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 601,891 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Product Description
Product Description
An overview of this ancient system of Chinese medicine, together with a practical guide to personal practice and basic technique. It includes an historical account of the evolution of chi-gung, an analysis of its major styles, exercises for beginners and the more experienced, and information on diet and lifestyle.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
2 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Bought this one hoping to get a comprehensive book on Chi-Gong, instead first half of the book, author goes on and on that 'research have proven chi-gong does that' or 'in China scientists proved that' or 'it has been proven that 20 min of practice every day would cure ANY disease' and so on without really giving any reference to the sourse. He likes to use lots of scientific terms, as if it is supposed to persuade the sceptic reader that Chi-Gong is not based on myth but on science.
Having sufficient interest in Chi-Gong to actually buy a book about it, I really dont need him to go on and on and on and on and on and on repeating himself, making wonderous claims etc.
What I wanted is an account how it is seen in the China, how it originated, what meaning is put in it there. Instead I get half a book lecture to a 'stupid' Westerner who needs all those wordy and pseudo-scientific proofs.
If you happen to buy this book on sale, or at a charity shop, skip directly to practical part because rest is total waste of time.
There are better books on the subject out there!!! (I only give it 2 stars instead of one for the practical part.)
Having sufficient interest in Chi-Gong to actually buy a book about it, I really dont need him to go on and on and on and on and on and on repeating himself, making wonderous claims etc.
What I wanted is an account how it is seen in the China, how it originated, what meaning is put in it there. Instead I get half a book lecture to a 'stupid' Westerner who needs all those wordy and pseudo-scientific proofs.
If you happen to buy this book on sale, or at a charity shop, skip directly to practical part because rest is total waste of time.
There are better books on the subject out there!!! (I only give it 2 stars instead of one for the practical part.)
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
2 reviews
Great Start For Chi Gung Beginers
8 Oct 2009
Amazon Verified Purchase
*Warning, This is the same book as A COMPLETE GUIDE TO CHI GUNG, just re-covered by a different publisher*
I read this book about 9 yrs ago when I got serious with my martial arts training, I wished to learn The Dragon Tiger Double Sword Style (a 630yr old method) but 'Before I could lift a blade I must become proficient in Chi Gung Training' I had no idea what this "Chee goong" was, so I looked for a source to study.
This is the book I purchased.
The first half of the book is a summary of Chinese history, the origins of Chi Gung & a bunch of stories &"scientific" studies verifying the results of high level practice's in healing. I liked the one about the Monk who healed the cancer patient in hospital from the temple some distance away, the patient could smell the incense the monk was burning while in his healing meditative trance. Interesting stuff, but depending on the reader this can become long winded & it feels like he's trying to convince a sceptic "it really works". I take everything I read with a grain of salt, but its doubtful many who purchase this book will need convincing.
The results speak for them self as anyone who has done at least a few months Chi Gung training will know.
I usually read books cover to cover, but I was forced to jump to the practical sections in the second half of the book & begin training. I ended up reading the book twice through then lent it out to several interested friends & it eventually disappeared, its defiantly one for the collection so I got it again on here.
After reading this book I went on to find a Sifu to train with & now I can call the Chi with a slap of the palms & a deep breath, it is a beautiful thing. I recommend this book & any other Chi Gung book as long as it leads you to practice.
Cheers.
Nik.
I read this book about 9 yrs ago when I got serious with my martial arts training, I wished to learn The Dragon Tiger Double Sword Style (a 630yr old method) but 'Before I could lift a blade I must become proficient in Chi Gung Training' I had no idea what this "Chee goong" was, so I looked for a source to study.
This is the book I purchased.
The first half of the book is a summary of Chinese history, the origins of Chi Gung & a bunch of stories &"scientific" studies verifying the results of high level practice's in healing. I liked the one about the Monk who healed the cancer patient in hospital from the temple some distance away, the patient could smell the incense the monk was burning while in his healing meditative trance. Interesting stuff, but depending on the reader this can become long winded & it feels like he's trying to convince a sceptic "it really works". I take everything I read with a grain of salt, but its doubtful many who purchase this book will need convincing.
The results speak for them self as anyone who has done at least a few months Chi Gung training will know.
I usually read books cover to cover, but I was forced to jump to the practical sections in the second half of the book & begin training. I ended up reading the book twice through then lent it out to several interested friends & it eventually disappeared, its defiantly one for the collection so I got it again on here.
After reading this book I went on to find a Sifu to train with & now I can call the Chi with a slap of the palms & a deep breath, it is a beautiful thing. I recommend this book & any other Chi Gung book as long as it leads you to practice.
Cheers.
Nik.
1 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Good on practice, poor on theory
26 Sep 2004
Although the author says that practice is more important than theory, he spends roughly half the book (all the first 40% and about 10% of the remainder) on theory. And I'm afraid I can't follow his advice not to question or doubt the teaching, because some of it is hoary old myths that I know are untrue. For example:
1. Christianity used to teach reincarnation, but this teaching was suppressed by church authorities (in the ninth century, he says - which given the number of extant manuscripts we have from earlier centuries is just absurd).
2. We only use 10% of our brain. Would anyone seriously claim "We only use 10% of our liver"?
3. Semen contains cerebrospinal fluid. This is an ancient Roman belief based on a superficial resemblance between the two.
Not questioning the teaching (of Hippocrates, Galen and Aristotle) was what held back Western medicine and science for 2000 years.
So I'm inclined to suspect that anything I see in this book that sounds like it's nonsense (like "Wearing green will help with stomach troubles") actually is nonsense.
Also, while he makes a large number of assertions about chi gung, quotes other writers, and mentions a number of "studies" which show the medical effectiveness of chi gung practice, he has no references or bibliography, so it's impossible to check the sources. I'd like to know who did the studies, when, where, and where the results were published so that I could look at the raw data and see if Reid's view of the conclusions is supported by the study; but he doesn't enable me to do so.
I gave it three stars, though, because the practical bit is good. The exercises are well explained both in text and diagrams. And since this is what I was reading the book for, it was worth reading; I just had to wade through a lot of dubious theory first.
1. Christianity used to teach reincarnation, but this teaching was suppressed by church authorities (in the ninth century, he says - which given the number of extant manuscripts we have from earlier centuries is just absurd).
2. We only use 10% of our brain. Would anyone seriously claim "We only use 10% of our liver"?
3. Semen contains cerebrospinal fluid. This is an ancient Roman belief based on a superficial resemblance between the two.
Not questioning the teaching (of Hippocrates, Galen and Aristotle) was what held back Western medicine and science for 2000 years.
So I'm inclined to suspect that anything I see in this book that sounds like it's nonsense (like "Wearing green will help with stomach troubles") actually is nonsense.
Also, while he makes a large number of assertions about chi gung, quotes other writers, and mentions a number of "studies" which show the medical effectiveness of chi gung practice, he has no references or bibliography, so it's impossible to check the sources. I'd like to know who did the studies, when, where, and where the results were published so that I could look at the raw data and see if Reid's view of the conclusions is supported by the study; but he doesn't enable me to do so.
I gave it three stars, though, because the practical bit is good. The exercises are well explained both in text and diagrams. And since this is what I was reading the book for, it was worth reading; I just had to wade through a lot of dubious theory first.
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