Book Reviews
May 2008
Articles
The Power of Kindness: The Unexpected Benefits of Leading a Compassionate Life
By Piero Ferrucci
Penguin Group, 2006
“If at the beginning and end of our lives we depend upon others’ kindness,” writes the Dalai Lama in the preface of The Power of Kindness, “why then in the middle, when we have the opportunity, should we not act kindly toward others?”
In this book, Piero Ferrucci, psychotherapist and philosopher, makes a compelling argument for leading a compassionate life. The Dalai Lama refers to Ferrucci’s treatise as “a book after my own heart” and it’s easy to see why. Each of the 18 chapters, which can be read in order or randomly, examines one aspect of kindness. Chapters titled Honesty, Warmth and Forgiveness are no surprise, but those with titles such as Flexibility and Memory are as enlightening as they are unique.
“We cannot be kind if we forget those who are no longer useful to us,” warns Ferrucci in Memory. “We will never be whole and comfortable, in ourselves and with others, if we divide people into grade A and grade B. We will not understand the relationships we have with one another if we do not deeply understand how much our lives are woven together in the past, present, and future, how much they become part of one another, and how much each one of us is everyone else.”
This 288-page work, which includes a lengthy reference section, is shaped by Ferrucci’s conversational writing style. With ease, he interweaves tales from Jewish folklore to Tibetan tales to Shakespeare. One cannot help but appreciate how Ferrucci balances his knowledge and wisdom with humility and humour.
In Humility he writes, “I have no doubt that someone who tries to show how clever she is cannot be truly kind. Her kindness will be condescending. Only a humble person can be kind, because, not playing any one-upmanship game, she is able to enjoy a relationship in which no one triumphs, and therefore all win.”
Although Ferrucci lays out his kindness thesis clearly and early in the opening pages — “true kindness is a strong, genuine, warm way of being” — he never promises it is an easy practice. He warns that we are in the midst of a “global cooling” and our culture can easily sabotage our efforts to be kind. As human relations become colder, kindness and compassion are increasingly sacrificed to the cult of efficiency.
But instead of sharing examples of discourtesy and apathy to illustrate the innate goodness of warmth and connection, Ferrucci cites a literary masterpiece: “Dante’s Inferno describes the lowest, most terrible point in hell as a silent, icy place [for] Hell is the total absence of all feeling. It is the negation of warmth, a dark and frightening place where you are alone and without love.”
Ferrucci isn’t advocating a return to caves and candlelight. In the chapter Sense of Belonging, Ferrucci admits that individuality has fueled the majority of society’s progress. But he also points out that our growing egoism threatens to overrule the benefits and perhaps even the memory of community.
Despite such stark truths about the state of our inner and outer landscapes, Ferrucci is always gentle in his inquiry: “How do we find again that intact core, unpolluted by the ugliness of life, uncorrupted by compromise, not weighted down by worry, nor weakened by fear? And if we don’t know how, we can look for a way: That is one of the most glorious adventures — perhaps the most glorious adventure — of our whole life.”
The Power of Kindness examines us closely, confides in us without judgment, and asks difficult questions that require courage. With a gentle hand, Ferrucci leads us toward empowering answers that can only be cultivated through the fearlessness of being kind.
Reviewed by Shannon Leahy
Creative Meditation and Visualization
By David Fontana
Watkins Publishing; London, 2007
This highly readable book is about the power of the mind. By engaging in creative meditation and visualization, our minds can enhance us physically, psychologically, and spiritually. David Fontana, a distinguished psychological scholar, brings 25 years of research and teaching to Creative Meditation & Visualization. He believes we haven’t even begun to harness the potential of the mind (not to be confused with the “hardware” of the brain) but have merely focused on memorizing and manipulating facts. He writes, “Our mind is essentially where we live, and the link between our spiritual and physical selves.”
Meditation is about quieting the mind and enriching our powers of concentration. Visualization is a creative way of bringing about change, fostering healing, and improving our performance in daily life. Together they have transformed lives.
Fontana has provocative things to say about visualization and modern science. Science is not and cannot possibly be the measure of all things. It examines only what can be weighed and measured. Brain research (accessible to science) is a very different proposition from mind research which resides in the domain of non-physical experience.
We learn why visualization works and how it plays out in chapters addressing self-transformation, sporting success, and health and healing. On another level we are introduced to visualization and the creative mind which teaches us the discipline of accurate observation, provides training exercises, and differentiates between the left and right brain.
Health is a natural condition of the body. Visualization enlists the support of the unconscious to keep it that way. Ultimately all healing is self-healing. It is thought that at least one third of all physical ills have been generated by the mind, so it is to the mind that we must turn – in meditation and visualization – to bring about healing.
Imagination can have effects on the body similar to those produced by direct experience. The more vivid the imagination, the more effective the signals sent to the unconscious. Cultivating imagination enriches our vocabulary of symbols and expands our inner horizons. A look at old mystery practices carries us through history, art and ancient spiritual traditions. The author encourages us to study pictures and objects to make them more effective triggers for visualization. Choosing archetypal symbols enables us to explore ever deeper into our own inner world.
Fontana mentions that it is easy to misinterpret symbols because our personal unconscious is no more omniscient that our conscious mind. Therefore study with a qualified teacher is recommended in order to avoid encountering difficulties through inexperience. With time one will be better able to evaluate and act on emerging material.
A lengthy chapter on the magical world of dreams takes us into the realm of lucid dreams, plus out of body and near death experiences. Fontana consults the findings of Freud and Jung and contrasts their perceptions with those of physiologists who explain all mental activity as physical brain processes rather than output of the mind.
Fontana warns that some practices he describes need a degree of mental stability and that it is unwise to undertake some of them without supervision. Meditation and visualization deal with powerful living energies, so he urges readers to bring sessions to a deliberate end rather than leaving them unfinished.
The final chapter on visualization and spiritual development presents various spiritual paths and helps us link with the Divine or Ultimate Reality. The author encourages us to express the Divine in a personalized form; his account of his guru yoga meditation is an excellent example of meditation insights.
The important message amongst all the options is for readers to identify and follow the particular stream they can relate to and live with.
Reviewed by Gerry Shepherd
Life Beyond the Carpal Tunnel
By Dr. Heather Tick, MD
Healing World Productions, 2007
When I hear the term carpal tunnel, I think of sore hands and wrists associated with computer, or cash register usage. However, from the intriguingly titled self-help guide, Life Beyond the Carpal Tunnel by Dr. Heather Tick, I discovered that there is much more to the catch-all label of carpal tunnel, or what is referred to in this book as Repetitive Stress Injuries (RSI).
Injuries associated with repetitive usage of muscles go back long before computers came into being. In fact, Dr. Tick points to medical literature from the 17th century that discusses “hand pain, numbness and upper limb disability developed by scribes, due to repeated movement of their hands in the same direction.” Fast forwarding to today, with the widespread use of personal computers and other electronic devices, we learn that the problem has now reached epic proportions. Tick cites some facts and figures that will astound readers. In the United States, costs due to RSI are estimated at $15 to $20 billion, affecting almost two million workers. Not to be outdone here in Canada, the Canadian Industrial Accident Prevention Association reported that between 1996 and 2004 “RSIs accounted for 42% of all lost time claims, 47% of all lost time claim costs, and 55% of all lost time days among member companies.”
Life Beyond the Carpal Tunnel sorts out much of the confusion that still exists regarding repetitive stress injuries. Tick begins by defining RSI as “musculoskeletal symptoms affecting work activities caused by physical and/or psychological stressors on the body, beyond its ability to adapt.” She goes on to explain that RSI injuries refer to the soft tissue, with disorders afflicting workers doing jobs which involve static postures of the big muscles, and repetitive motion of the smaller muscle groups. These injuries often involve a more extensive area than presenting symptoms may suggest. A handy profile of symptoms is provided to help you find out whether your neck pain, for instance, is actually a repetitive stress related injury.
Other areas covered in the book include causes and prevention of RSI. Dr. Tick believes that knowledge is the key to prevention, or correctly diagnosing and treating people who already have RSI conditions. Despite the varying symptom presentations, her work on RSI suggests that muscle tightness is the root cause of this condition. Humans are meant to move, and the body must be trained to be able to handle the load of a variety of movements. If this means repetitions of similar movements all day, every day, then the key is to develop “proper posture and healthy habits.”
Tick’s approach to RSI is an integrative one. Unlike many allopathic medical practitioners, Tick and her team focus on prevention, listening to what those affected by RSI have to say about their condition, and paying attention not just to the body, but the mind and spirit as well.
If you take nothing more from this book than the recommendations for seated posture at the work station (Chapter 7, Office Ergonomics), you will have taken a giant step toward dealing with existing, or potential repetitive stress injuries. And although I found the book somewhat repetitive (no pun intended), it will give readers a lot to think about the next time they sit at a computer, pick up an instrument, or handle a tool.
Reviewed by Susannah Kent
NEW RELEASE
HEALTHY CHILD HEALTHY WORLD: Creating a Cleaner, Greener, Safer Home
April 2008
With special contributions from some of the most acclaimed experts and notable parents in the USA today, Healthy Child Healthy World: Creating a Cleaner, Greener, Safer Home (Dutton) is set to become the eco-friendly lifestyle guide for parents and caregivers.
Written by Christopher Gavigan, CEO/Executive Director of the national non-profit Healthy Child Healthy World, this book features practical solutions for all stages of parenting. From non-toxic cleaning and organic foods to gardening and safer pet care, this easy-to-use resource guide is filled with tips for everyday safety, inexpensive strategies, product guides and personal stories from both celebrity and everyday parents.
Healthy Child Healthy World is the indispensable green playbook for busy parents and caregivers, addressing a range of topics, including the organizations’ popular, “The 5 Easy Steps”, which include:
Step 1: Manage Pests Safely – HCHW encourages children to play, but common gardening products and pesticides can potentially cause a range of health problems according to the EPA. HCHW provides tips on which products to avoid as well as alternative solutions to pest management. (http://healthychild.org/5steps/5_steps_1/#what_to_do)
Step 2: Use non-toxic products - Cleaners, body care, and home furnishings are three types of products filled with potentially harmful toxicants. Luckily there are several safe and healthy alternatives in your marketplace that seriously reduce the amount of chemicals in your home. (http://healthychild.org/5steps/5_steps_2/#what_to_do)
The book is a natural development for Healthy Child Healthy World, a leading non-profit in the area of protecting children from harmful environmental exposures. HCHW was founded by Jim and Nancy Chuda in 1992 after their daughter Colette died from a rare form of non-hereditary cancer called Wilm’s Tumor.
Educational resources, up-to-dates news and articles, and convenient advice can be found at the award-winning website, www.healthychild.org.
The Power of Kindness: The Unexpected Benefits of Leading a Compassionate Life By Piero Ferrucci
Penguin Group, 2006
“If at the beginning and end of our lives we depend upon others’ kindness,” writes the Dalai Lama in the preface of The Power of Kindness, “why then in the middle, when we have the opportunity, should we not act kindly toward others?”
In this book, Piero Ferrucci, psychotherapist and philosopher, makes a compelling argument for leading a compassionate life. The Dalai Lama refers to Ferrucci’s treatise as “a book after my own heart” and it’s easy to see why. Each of the 18 chapters, which can be read in order or randomly, examines one aspect of kindness. Chapters titled Honesty, Warmth and Forgiveness are no surprise, but those with titles such as Flexibility and Memory are as enlightening as they are unique.
“We cannot be kind if we forget those who are no longer useful to us,” warns Ferrucci in Memory. “We will never be whole and comfortable, in ourselves and with others, if we divide people into grade A and grade B. We will not understand the relationships we have with one another if we do not deeply understand how much our lives are woven together in the past, present, and future, how much they become part of one another, and how much each one of us is everyone else.”
This 288-page work, which includes a lengthy reference section, is shaped by Ferrucci’s conversational writing style. With ease, he interweaves tales from Jewish folklore to Tibetan tales to Shakespeare. One cannot help but appreciate how Ferrucci balances his knowledge and wisdom with humility and humour.
In Humility he writes, “I have no doubt that someone who tries to show how clever she is cannot be truly kind. Her kindness will be condescending. Only a humble person can be kind, because, not playing any one-upmanship game, she is able to enjoy a relationship in which no one triumphs, and therefore all win.”
Although Ferrucci lays out his kindness thesis clearly and early in the opening pages — “true kindness is a strong, genuine, warm way of being” — he never promises it is an easy practice. He warns that we are in the midst of a “global cooling” and our culture can easily sabotage our efforts to be kind. As human relations become colder, kindness and compassion are increasingly sacrificed to the cult of efficiency.
But instead of sharing examples of discourtesy and apathy to illustrate the innate goodness of warmth and connection, Ferrucci cites a literary masterpiece: “Dante’s Inferno describes the lowest, most terrible point in hell as a silent, icy place [for] Hell is the total absence of all feeling. It is the negation of warmth, a dark and frightening place where you are alone and without love.”
Ferrucci isn’t advocating a return to caves and candlelight. In the chapter Sense of Belonging, Ferrucci admits that individuality has fueled the majority of society’s progress. But he also points out that our growing egoism threatens to overrule the benefits and perhaps even the memory of community.
Despite such stark truths about the state of our inner and outer landscapes, Ferrucci is always gentle in his inquiry: “How do we find again that intact core, unpolluted by the ugliness of life, uncorrupted by compromise, not weighted down by worry, nor weakened by fear? And if we don’t know how, we can look for a way: That is one of the most glorious adventures — perhaps the most glorious adventure — of our whole life.”
The Power of Kindness examines us closely, confides in us without judgment, and asks difficult questions that require courage. With a gentle hand, Ferrucci leads us toward empowering answers that can only be cultivated through the fearlessness of being kind.
Reviewed by Shannon Leahy
Creative Meditation and VisualizationBy David Fontana
Watkins Publishing; London, 2007
This highly readable book is about the power of the mind. By engaging in creative meditation and visualization, our minds can enhance us physically, psychologically, and spiritually. David Fontana, a distinguished psychological scholar, brings 25 years of research and teaching to Creative Meditation & Visualization. He believes we haven’t even begun to harness the potential of the mind (not to be confused with the “hardware” of the brain) but have merely focused on memorizing and manipulating facts. He writes, “Our mind is essentially where we live, and the link between our spiritual and physical selves.”
Meditation is about quieting the mind and enriching our powers of concentration. Visualization is a creative way of bringing about change, fostering healing, and improving our performance in daily life. Together they have transformed lives.
Fontana has provocative things to say about visualization and modern science. Science is not and cannot possibly be the measure of all things. It examines only what can be weighed and measured. Brain research (accessible to science) is a very different proposition from mind research which resides in the domain of non-physical experience.
We learn why visualization works and how it plays out in chapters addressing self-transformation, sporting success, and health and healing. On another level we are introduced to visualization and the creative mind which teaches us the discipline of accurate observation, provides training exercises, and differentiates between the left and right brain.
Health is a natural condition of the body. Visualization enlists the support of the unconscious to keep it that way. Ultimately all healing is self-healing. It is thought that at least one third of all physical ills have been generated by the mind, so it is to the mind that we must turn – in meditation and visualization – to bring about healing.
Imagination can have effects on the body similar to those produced by direct experience. The more vivid the imagination, the more effective the signals sent to the unconscious. Cultivating imagination enriches our vocabulary of symbols and expands our inner horizons. A look at old mystery practices carries us through history, art and ancient spiritual traditions. The author encourages us to study pictures and objects to make them more effective triggers for visualization. Choosing archetypal symbols enables us to explore ever deeper into our own inner world.
Fontana mentions that it is easy to misinterpret symbols because our personal unconscious is no more omniscient that our conscious mind. Therefore study with a qualified teacher is recommended in order to avoid encountering difficulties through inexperience. With time one will be better able to evaluate and act on emerging material.
A lengthy chapter on the magical world of dreams takes us into the realm of lucid dreams, plus out of body and near death experiences. Fontana consults the findings of Freud and Jung and contrasts their perceptions with those of physiologists who explain all mental activity as physical brain processes rather than output of the mind.
Fontana warns that some practices he describes need a degree of mental stability and that it is unwise to undertake some of them without supervision. Meditation and visualization deal with powerful living energies, so he urges readers to bring sessions to a deliberate end rather than leaving them unfinished.
The final chapter on visualization and spiritual development presents various spiritual paths and helps us link with the Divine or Ultimate Reality. The author encourages us to express the Divine in a personalized form; his account of his guru yoga meditation is an excellent example of meditation insights.
The important message amongst all the options is for readers to identify and follow the particular stream they can relate to and live with.
Reviewed by Gerry Shepherd
Life Beyond the Carpal TunnelBy Dr. Heather Tick, MD
Healing World Productions, 2007
When I hear the term carpal tunnel, I think of sore hands and wrists associated with computer, or cash register usage. However, from the intriguingly titled self-help guide, Life Beyond the Carpal Tunnel by Dr. Heather Tick, I discovered that there is much more to the catch-all label of carpal tunnel, or what is referred to in this book as Repetitive Stress Injuries (RSI).
Injuries associated with repetitive usage of muscles go back long before computers came into being. In fact, Dr. Tick points to medical literature from the 17th century that discusses “hand pain, numbness and upper limb disability developed by scribes, due to repeated movement of their hands in the same direction.” Fast forwarding to today, with the widespread use of personal computers and other electronic devices, we learn that the problem has now reached epic proportions. Tick cites some facts and figures that will astound readers. In the United States, costs due to RSI are estimated at $15 to $20 billion, affecting almost two million workers. Not to be outdone here in Canada, the Canadian Industrial Accident Prevention Association reported that between 1996 and 2004 “RSIs accounted for 42% of all lost time claims, 47% of all lost time claim costs, and 55% of all lost time days among member companies.”
Life Beyond the Carpal Tunnel sorts out much of the confusion that still exists regarding repetitive stress injuries. Tick begins by defining RSI as “musculoskeletal symptoms affecting work activities caused by physical and/or psychological stressors on the body, beyond its ability to adapt.” She goes on to explain that RSI injuries refer to the soft tissue, with disorders afflicting workers doing jobs which involve static postures of the big muscles, and repetitive motion of the smaller muscle groups. These injuries often involve a more extensive area than presenting symptoms may suggest. A handy profile of symptoms is provided to help you find out whether your neck pain, for instance, is actually a repetitive stress related injury.
Other areas covered in the book include causes and prevention of RSI. Dr. Tick believes that knowledge is the key to prevention, or correctly diagnosing and treating people who already have RSI conditions. Despite the varying symptom presentations, her work on RSI suggests that muscle tightness is the root cause of this condition. Humans are meant to move, and the body must be trained to be able to handle the load of a variety of movements. If this means repetitions of similar movements all day, every day, then the key is to develop “proper posture and healthy habits.”
Tick’s approach to RSI is an integrative one. Unlike many allopathic medical practitioners, Tick and her team focus on prevention, listening to what those affected by RSI have to say about their condition, and paying attention not just to the body, but the mind and spirit as well.
If you take nothing more from this book than the recommendations for seated posture at the work station (Chapter 7, Office Ergonomics), you will have taken a giant step toward dealing with existing, or potential repetitive stress injuries. And although I found the book somewhat repetitive (no pun intended), it will give readers a lot to think about the next time they sit at a computer, pick up an instrument, or handle a tool.
Reviewed by Susannah Kent
NEW RELEASE
HEALTHY CHILD HEALTHY WORLD: Creating a Cleaner, Greener, Safer HomeApril 2008
With special contributions from some of the most acclaimed experts and notable parents in the USA today, Healthy Child Healthy World: Creating a Cleaner, Greener, Safer Home (Dutton) is set to become the eco-friendly lifestyle guide for parents and caregivers.
Written by Christopher Gavigan, CEO/Executive Director of the national non-profit Healthy Child Healthy World, this book features practical solutions for all stages of parenting. From non-toxic cleaning and organic foods to gardening and safer pet care, this easy-to-use resource guide is filled with tips for everyday safety, inexpensive strategies, product guides and personal stories from both celebrity and everyday parents.
Healthy Child Healthy World is the indispensable green playbook for busy parents and caregivers, addressing a range of topics, including the organizations’ popular, “The 5 Easy Steps”, which include:
Step 1: Manage Pests Safely – HCHW encourages children to play, but common gardening products and pesticides can potentially cause a range of health problems according to the EPA. HCHW provides tips on which products to avoid as well as alternative solutions to pest management. (http://healthychild.org/5steps/5_steps_1/#what_to_do)
Step 2: Use non-toxic products - Cleaners, body care, and home furnishings are three types of products filled with potentially harmful toxicants. Luckily there are several safe and healthy alternatives in your marketplace that seriously reduce the amount of chemicals in your home. (http://healthychild.org/5steps/5_steps_2/#what_to_do)
The book is a natural development for Healthy Child Healthy World, a leading non-profit in the area of protecting children from harmful environmental exposures. HCHW was founded by Jim and Nancy Chuda in 1992 after their daughter Colette died from a rare form of non-hereditary cancer called Wilm’s Tumor.
Educational resources, up-to-dates news and articles, and convenient advice can be found at the award-winning website, www.healthychild.org.