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East West Book Reviews & Bestsellers
 Eaarth Making a Life on a Tough New PlanetBill McKibben Bill McKibben, bestselling author of The End of Nature, has written a book that could be mistaken for a fictional disaster story if it weren't entirely factual. From the impact of carbon burning to the melting of the Arctic ice cap, with rising temperatures, storms, floods, drought and food crises, Eaarth presents the sobering reality of our new world, a planet that is still earth-like, but is now " ...less the oasis and more the desert." McKibbens explains why these events, which may have happened ordinarily, have now spiraled out of control, and how much worse it will get if we don't take steps now to live "lightly, carefully, gracefully." He wraps it up by pointing out the positive changes in effect now, ending with a hopeful vision of societies that focus on the essentials, and communities that band together in order to survive. St. Martin's Griffin, $14.99. 
Inner Light JournalSome eighty years ago, occultist Dion Fortune founded The Society of the Inner Light, a Mystery School within the Western Esoteric Tradition. Throughout this time The Society published the Inner Light Journal, a quarterly publication devoted to the occult, mysticism and esoteric Christianity available only to their members and a list of subscribers. They are now offering it to a wider audience, and for the first time we are stocking the journal in our magazine section. The Autumn Equinox issue features articles on finding a gateway to Faery, experiencing the atmospheric magic of the Green Ray at sunset, and reconstructing the possibility that Sir Francis Drake manipulated a leyline to thwart the Spanish Armada's invasion of England. $6.00  Planetary Healing Spirit Medicine for Global Transformation Nicki Scully and Mark Hallert An extension of Scully's book Alchemical Healing, which focused on healing the self and others, Planetary Healing tackles transformation on a global scale. Shamanic healer Nicki Scully and visionary Mark Hallert offer a series of processes to empower the reader in becoming a spiritual activist, from clearing away fear, to working with the electromagnetic field, fighting environmental toxins, and collectively transforming cancer cells. An accompanying CD includes a guided journey for "Making Spirit Medicine," a fundamental step in the journey. Bear and Company, $18.00  A Lamp in the Darkness
Illuminating the Path Through Difficult Times
Jack Kornfield There's no escaping it: as long as you live, you will encounter hardship. But you are not alone in your suffering. In A Lamp in the Darkness, spiritual teacher Jack Kornfield offers mindful practices and guided meditations to reconnect you to the calm, wise part of yourself, "the one who knows," who is always there and aware, who doesn't take things personally, who accepts all that is—the unshakeable spirit within who has the strength, insight and love to get you through any difficulty. The lamp represents the wisdom, humanity, courage and compassion of those who have passed before, those who have survived their difficulties and grown stronger as a result. Kornfield, whose books include The Wise Heart and After the Ecstasy, the Laundry, warns the reader that the practices in these pages and on the accompanying CD are not quick-fixes, they are the tools for "doing the work of the soul." Sprinkled with inspirational messages and stories, the lessons herein will lighten your load. Sounds True, $19.95 Ori and Rom Brafman C  LICK Crown Business, $14.00 Now in paperback, this New York Times bestseller is a powerful, story-driven narrative that weaves together cutting-edge research in psychology and sociology to uncover the reasons we find ourselves "in the zone" in some situations and with some people, but not with others. The authors explore the common factors present when our brains and senses are fully engaged, and they identify the five "accelerators" that increase the likelihood of these kind of magic connections occurring in our work and relationships.  $9.99 as an immediate download from eastwest.com Massimo Citro, MDTHE BASIC CODE OF THE UNIVERSE The Science of the Invisible in Physics, Medicine, and Spirituality Park Street Press, $24.95 A universal data field underlies all of nature. Known as the Akashic field, its coding is deeply mystical, yet it affects the behavior, development and communication of all beings. Citro has developed a revolutionary system of vibrational medicine known as TFF (Transfer Pharmacological Frequency), which utilizes the Akashic information for healing on all levels. Citro draws on the work of Ervin Laszlo, Rupert Sheldrake, Masaru Emoto, and Richard Gerber in this unique exploration of quantum physics, the power of intention, the effects of thoughts and feelings on water, morphogenetic fields, vibrational medicine, and Kirlian photography.  Adventure in Everything How the Five Elements of Adventure Create a Life of Authenticity, Purpose and Inspiration Matthew Walker What if your life was an adventure every day? Short of scaling mountains or trekking through the wilderness, you can still experience a sense of adventure in your job, relationships, play, and day-to-day activities by thinking big, seeing the world through the lens of possibility, and embracing the unknown. Mountaineer Matthew Walker helps others reconnect to their potential through outdoor experiences, and in Adventure in Everything he shares the five elements that are integral to his work: seeking a high endeavor, embracing uncertain outcomes, committing to a chosen endeavor, tolerating adverse situations, and the value of great companionship. Equipped with the tools, tips and adventuresome stories he offers, you'll learn to apply Walker's principles to enliven a dull relationship, venture into a new career, or dust off an old dream. Hay House, $13.95  Best You Ever 365 Ways to be Richer, Happier, Thinner, Smarter, Younger, Sexier, and More Relaxed Each and Every Day Rebecca Swanner; Eve Adamson; Carolyn Dean, MD; Rachel Laferriere, MS, RD; and Meera Lester Here's a book chock-full of actions you can take on a daily basis to improve yourself and transform your life. The authors lay out the days of the week like a how-to smorgasbord filled with tips, tricks, and inspirational quotes, each day focusing on a different aspect of self-improvement. For example: • Monday—boost your prosperity by cutting back on lattes • Tuesday—start a happiness blog • Wednesday—reach for water to start losing weight • Thursday—start using B12 to increase your brain power • Friday—add super-foods to your diet to look younger • Saturday—accept your sexual self • Sunday—retreat within and relax. The actions can be as simple as using the ten-second rule to decide if you really need to buy an item, or as complex as building a budget. But don't get overwhelmed! The authors encourage readers to add new tips gradually, starting with your favorites. With a daily dose of improvement, you'll be well on your way to bringing out your best self. Adams Media, $14.95 $14.95 as an instant ebook download from eastwest.com  The Soul SolutionEnlightening Meditations for Resolving Life's Problems Jonathan Parker While meditating at Mt. Shasta, author, counselor and spiritual teacher Jonathan Parker experienced a vision of light that he knew was the light of his soul, a transformational encounter that led him to develop a series of practices and meditations to enable access to this connection on a daily basis. In The Soul Solution, the author guides the reader step-by-step to a deeper relationship with the soul, tapping into the divine qualities of love, peace, kindness, compassion, joy, bliss, and healing. We learn to move beyond fear and the ego to experience the deeper spiritual truths and guidance the soul offers. Call it an epiphany, enlightenment or euphoria, the soul's awakening is available to everyone—regardless of spiritual beliefs—and the results of this connection, as the author points out, range from relaxing to healing to miraculous. Included are links to free downloads of the author reading some of the meditations in the book. H J Kramer, $14.95 $9.12 as an instant eBook download from eastwest.com  Living with Your Heart Wide OpenHow Mindfulness & Compassion can Free You from Unworthiness, Inadequacy & Shame Steve Flowers, MFT and Bob Stahl, PhD "If you talked to others the way you talk to yourself, you would have few friends," state the authors in the book's introduction. We have a constant stream of commentary in our heads, much of it self-critical, which shapes our identity. Steve Flowers, founder of the mindfulness-based stress reduction program at Enloe Medical Center in Chico, and Bob Stahl, co-author of A Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Workbook, offer a path to break free from feelings and thoughts of inadequacy and open our hearts to the loving-kindness within and around us. Based on concepts from Western and Buddhist psychology, the mindful practices in this book help us uproot the cause of the fictional stories we create about ourselves, defuse judgment, be a witness to our emotions without getting hijacked by them, and cultivate compassion for ourselves and others. The authors lead us step by step from simple practices to meditations that provide deeper insight, and a more formal practice that we can continue on our own. This book is a journey, one to be experienced and savored. New Harbinger Publications, $16.95 East West presents an evening with Bob Stahl on October 17.
$16.95 in trade paperback from eastwest.com  The Four Desires
Creating a Life of Purpose, Happiness, Prosperity, and Freedom Rod Stryker We all crave happiness, but do we know what it is our soul desires, how to attain it, or find satisfaction and fulfillment if we don't? This book presents a process to navigate through these challenges, drawing on ancient yogic traditions that claim we have four desires: • The desire to become who we were meant to be • The desire for the means (money, health, security) to fulfill our purpose • The desire for pleasure • The desire for spiritual realization and ultimate freedom In The Four Desires, Rod Stryker, considered one of the top yoga and meditation teachers in the country, provides techniques to help us pinpoint our specific longings and develop a life strategy to realize our full potential. Presented like a live seminar, each chapter includes specific exercises, real-life examples, a meditation practice and a yoga pose that embodies the theme of the discussion. Stryker provides the knowledge we need and invites us to apply it. Delacorte Press, $26.00$24.00 in hardcover from eastwest.com 
Dolphin DiariesMy 25 Years with Spotted Dolphins in the Bahamas Dr. Denise L. Herzing Denise Herzing, founder and director of the Wild Dolphin Project, is the Jane Goodall of the dolphin world. She began studying these wild creatures off the Bahamas in the 1980s with the idea of attempting interspecies communication, and has lived in their world "witnessing births, deaths, and everything in between" for twenty-five years. This is her account of how one of our planet's most intelligent creatures develop, learn behaviors, communicate, share responsibilities, grow families, resolve conflicts, and mate, and how the environment is impacting them and their future. Herzing takes the reader on an engaging undersea journey, beginning with her first eye contact with a spotted dolphin, describing the realities of life at sea, and sharing the stories of three generations of dolphins, their similarities to humans and their mysteries. Highlighted with beautiful color photographs, this book is a testament to the importance of ensuring that dolphins remain free to live in their world, on their terms. St. Martin's Press, $26.99 $12.99 as an immediate download from eastwest.com A Life Worth BreathingA Yoga Master's Handbook of Strength, Grace, and Healing Max Strom Max Strom teaches that a life worth breathing is one where we are connected to our spirit, living a life fulfilled. A widely-recognized yoga and spiritual teacher, Strom experienced a profound transformation through the practice of yoga at the age of thirty-five, and went on to teach a method that incorporates the postures of Hatha Yoga, breathing, and meditation, with the wisdom from the teachings of Buddhism, Sufism and Taoism. His Three Pillars of Transformation is a system designed to integrate the body, mind and emotions." Nearly all or our problems," he says, "stem from chaos in one or more of these parts of ourselves." He discusses the importance of setting a daily intention, and offers exercises to help us identify our purpose, reassess our life, and reconnect with our soul. Skyhorse Publishing, $24.95 $15.22 as an immediate download from eastwest.com The Power of PranaBreathe Your Way to Health and Vitality Master Stephen Co & Eric B. Robins, MD, with John Merryman "If you feel worn out," states Master Stephen Co, "this book will help you." In The Power of Prana, the author of Your Hands Can Heal You explains the reasons behind our low energy. He describes our energetic anatomy and offers a series of simple but potent practices designed to unblock the repressed emotions that leave us feeling run down, depressed, tense, anxious, and stressed. Based on the Pranic Healing work of Grandmaster Choa Kok Sui, these Nine Energizing Breaths, practiced ten minutes daily, combine breathing, stretching, tensing, and simple movements to increase our life force and leave us feeling full of vitality. Included are dietary tips and advanced practices to enhance purification and sustain energy. Sounds True, $15.95 $7.78 as an immediate download from eastwest.com The Bond: Connecting Through the Space Between UsLynne McTaggart In The Intention Experiment Lynne McTaggart demonstrated how our thoughts can affect changes in our life and throughout the world. In The Bond she writes about the space between individuals as the glue that holds us together, and states that by embracing this connection to others and our environment we can heal our relationships, unify our neighborhoods and live in a harmonious world. As quantum physicists now recognize, we're not "separate things jostling around in empty space," but part of an energy system that transfers information with its environment. McTaggart suggests that our biological makeup is designed to connect, not to compete, as our behavior may indicate. She provides examples of holistic thinking and behavior, offers recommendations to help us wire together to achieve common goals, and demonstrates how a group of fair-minded individuals can change a society of self-centered people i nto one of cooperation and partnership. Free Press, $26.00. $12.99 as an immediate download from eastwest.com  The Art of UncertaintyHow to Live in the Mystery of Life and Love It Dennis Merritt Jones As children we explore the world, prodded by our parents to face the unknown and led by teachers through increasing levels of learning. Then adulthood sets in, and responsibility, and a need to hang on to our sense of security as we realize that we have more to lose, so we settle for the safety of the known world... until something comes along to shake us out of our box. Dennis Merritt Jones invites us to consciously and intentionally enter the mystery of life each and every day. In The Art of Uncertainty he offers tools to help us face fear, let go, change our perspective on failure, learn to trust, and much more. Through his mindful practices and ideas to ponder we are guided to relish the unknown once again and blossom into our full potential. Jeremy P. Tarcher, $14.95 Just $9.99 as an instant eBook download. Link from here. S  eeking the SacredTransforming Our View of Ourselves and One Another Stephanie Dowrick Religions teach love, unity and compassion, yet throughout the world we see mistrust, prejudice and violence as a result of differing beliefs between people. In Seeking the Sacred, Stephanie Dowrick, the author of Choosing Happiness, offers an inspiring look at how we can transform ourselves and the world by viewing the sacredness in everything. It's more than discovering our relationship with the divine; seeking the sacred is also about recognizing and nurturing the sublime in the world, each other and ourselves. In doing so, we experience reverence, respect, courage, forgiveness, compassion, wonder and awe. Whether we're already following a spiritual path, exploring for the first time or yearning to discover a connection, this book offers hope and encouragement through the personal stories of others and the words of humankind's greatest spiritual teachers. Jeremy P. Tarcher, $26.95 Just $12.99 as an instant eBook download. Link from here.  The Council of DadsA Story of Family, Friendship & Learning How to Live Bruce Feiler When Bruce Feiler, author of Walking the Bible, learns that he has a rare cancerous tumor in his leg, he worries about a fatherless future for his daughters. So he assembles a council of dads--six men from various stages of his life--to stand in for him in the event of his death. This book chronicles the "lost year" of his illness, the support he and his family receive from the "dads," and their advice, including: "Approach the Cow," "Don't See the Wall," "Tend your Tadpoles," and "Hug the Monster". Now available in paperback, Feiler's inspiring story has motivated readers to gather their own councils of peeps to lend support during times of difficulty. Harper Perennial   The Seven Spiritual Laws of SuperheroesHarnessing Our Power to Change the World Deepak Chopra, with Gotham Chopra Wouldn't it be awesome to have supernatural powers that transcend time and space, empowering us to resolve current conflicts and save our world from extinction? Deepak Chopra claims that we do, and that these latent powers can be nurtured to create a new kind of superhero that will have far-reaching individual and global potential. Deepak, along with his son Gotham (who co-founded Liquid Comics), describes the seven spiritual laws that govern the realms of these mythical creatures. From Buddha to Batman we see how these heroes battled their dark side and overcame their fears and struggles through the qualities of balance, power, love, intention, creativity, transcendence and transformation. We learn how to apply these skills to our own lives and uncover our own inner powers. HarperOne  Financial RecoveryDeveloping a Healthy Relationship with Money Karen McCall Karen McCall, co-founder of the Financial Recovery Institute, writes a guide that goes beyond the typical financial planning how-to book, a program that has us examine our behavior around money, uproot and change self-defeating habits, and explore the belief systems that prevent us from having the life we envision. She offers tools to track our spending, earning and saving habits, and a chapter on creating an individual financial plan that meets our needs--starting from where we are. Whether we're on a fixed income, entangled in a family inheritance, over our heads in debt or just starting out on our own, here are the tools to help us manifest our financial well-being. New World Library  Saved by an AngelTrue Accounts of People Who Have Had Extraordinary Experiences with Angels—and How YOU Can, Too! Doreen Virtue Lifelong clairvoyant Doreen Virtue is an expert in the realm of angels, and her prayer is that we all discover the peace that comes from connecting to our divine guardians. Saved by an Angel is a compilation of encounters by ordinary people who have had extraordinary experiences with these "messengers of God," and includes the best stories from her previous Angel Visions and Angel Visions II, plus brand-new material designed to heighten our awareness to the divine experiences in our lives. In this book we meet people who have seen, heard and felt angels through meditation, dreams, via a stranger, an intuitive feeling, or with their physical eyes, and we learn step-by-step instructions on how to have our own encounter with angels.  Buddha and the QuantumHearing the Voice of Every Cell Samuel Avery Samuel Avery, a long-time meditator, is neither a Buddhist nor a physicist; yet he blends sciencewith Buddhism to explain consciousness in a way that is mind-bending. In scientific and spiritual terms he illustrates the connection between meditation and physics. A quantum of energy, he explains, is a piece of time, space and mass squeezed together to form a particle of consciousness. This particle exists deep inside our brains and is "seen" in meditation. It also exists in the universe outside of our selves. Avery shares his personal understanding of Quantum meditation, of seeing in space the way that Buddhists see inside the body, using language that is at times poetic: "Self is thought that curves thought." This slim volume packs a lot of thought-provoking ideas between its pages. Sentient Publications, $12.95.  FlourishA Visionary New Understanding of Happiness and Well-being Martin E.P. Seligman Dr. Seligman begins by promising that this book will help us flourish in life. He backs up this statement with science and the stories of those who have benefitted from his approach to building a life worth living. Happiness is only a part of the equation. We also need meaning, love, engagement, self-esteem, resilience, optimism, accomplishment, and positive relationships. Drugs may provide relief from symptoms, but Dr. Seligman's well-being theory offers a cure, and he suggests that educators and parents should teach these skills to the world. He gives examples of using resilience training with the military, and well-being training with children and corporations. The exercises in the book are designed to help readers create their own fulfilling life. The author of Authentic Happiness and Learned Optimism, Dr. Seligman is the leader of the Positive Psychology movement. Free Press, $26.00  Claire DedererPOSER My Life in Twenty-Three Yoga Poses Farrar, Straus and Giroux, $26.00 "I thought yoga was done by self-indulgent middle-aged ladies with a lot of time on their hands," says Claire Dedere. But despite her preconceptions, she sensed that yoga would help to allay her fears, calm her anxiety about being a new mother, and ground her nervous energy. When she throws her back out nursing her baby, yoga becomes her means to heal physically& and more. Poser is the memoir of a daughter navigating through an eccentric family, a wife struggling to be the perfect parent with a distant husband, and the ten-year transformational journey of a woman who finds salvation through the postures and philosophy of yoga.  Peter RodgerTHE OMG CHRONICLES One Man's Quest to Discover What God Means to People All Over the World Hay House, $17.95 Fed up with the "my God is greater than your God" mentality that divides so many religious people into separate camps, filmmaker Peter Rodger spent three years on a documentary that seeks to discover what God means to people all over the world. This non-theological book is a behind-the-scenes look at the making of Oh My God, a movie shot in 23 countries, filled with hilarious events and widely diverse individuals, from pop culture icons to spiritual leaders. From Louisiana to India, Rodger's adventures are poignant and laugh-out-loud funny. (The DVD is also available at East West.)  Barbara Abercrombie (editor)CHERISHED 21 Writers on Animals They Have Loved & Lost New World Library, $14.95 Anne Lamott, Jane Smiley, Mark Doty and other notable authors contribute heartwarming essays about beloved pets that graced their lives and have passed on. The cat who gets into bed with strangers, the coyote who befriends a family--each story demonstrates the unconditional love, intelligence and insight these cherished companions offer and the pain of letting them go. Beautifully crafted, each essay is a treasure to read, and offers comfort to those grieving a loss.  Daniel G. Amen, M.D.THE AMEN SOLUTION The Brain Healthy Way to Lose Weight and Keep It Off Crown, $25.99 Dr. Amen provides convincing evidence that the secret to weight loss begins in the brain. His program, offered at the world renowned Amen Clinics, is based on tailoring a weight-loss plan to individual brain types. This book shows how to determine your type, overcome emotional overeating, curb cravings, boost willpower, conquer negative thinking patterns, improve mood and memory, and prepare delicious brain-healthy meals. If thinner, smarter and happier is how you want to be, what have you got to lose?  Joseph Selbie and David SteinmetzTHE YUGAS Crystal Clarity, $16.95 (due in May) With December, 2012, less than two years away, millions are wondering what to expect: world-changing events? a rebirth of spirituality from the ashes of disaster? This book, based on the insights of avatars Sri Yukteswar and Paramhansa Yogananda, projects a new Age of Energy as we advance into the ascending period of Dwapara Yuga, one of eight cosmological cycles of time that govern human consciousness. The Yugas demonstrates how the predictability of certain galactic forces shapes the rise and fall of civilization, and why we are moving toward an age of enlightenment.  Kathy FrestonVEGANIST Lose Weight, Get Healthy, Change the World Weinstein Books, $25.00 Quantum Wellness author Kathy Freston describes a Veganist as one who looks at diet from all perspectives: waistline, health and planet. She offers clear, compelling evidence here to support her "10 promises" that a plant-based diet will accomplish: a lower risk (or potential reversal) of cancer, heart disease and diabetes, longer life-expectancy, stronger memory, avoidance of food-poisoning, and increased spiritual awareness.  Lynn ReardonBEYOND THE HOMESTRETCH What Saving Racehorses Taught Me about Starting Over, Facing Fear & Finding My Inner Cowgirl New World Library, $14.95 In 2003 Lynn Reardon quit her cubicle life as an accountant and moved to Texas to help ex-racehorses find new careers. This is the story of how she founded a nonprofit horse adoption organization with little experience, and how the animals she saved ultimately saved her from a life of boredom and routine. Populated with eccentric horse-racing people and a cast of thoroughbreds with special needs, indomitable spirits and quirky personalities, this book is a must for equine lovers, and an inspiring read for all of us who seek to live their dreams. |
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