Stephen Fry in America by Stephen Fry

RATING D

I found the title exciting, the fact he was going to cover all of the states exciting, and the fact he was supposedly going to meet 'real life' style Americans rather than celebs exciting - but the book itself was dull.

I quite often had to skip a paragraph or two that covered fishing or hunting style items and found the book lacking in both scope of coverage and interest. I probably learned one or two minor facts from reading it, but not a lot - and I did not appreciate the guy's attitude much. I found him rather 'cough behind the hand' for my liking and do not think he brought out the real American lifestyle at all - not if my real life American friends are anything to go by.

Awakening the mind - HHDL & Nagarjuna

RATING:A
This is the prayer booklet I got when attending HHDL’s teachings last December - I recently re-read it.  Each time I read the text, I find new matters to explore. It is also a useful source for prayers, as well as giving Nagarjuna’s text itself. I would recommend reading the free material given when attending HHDL’s teachings, as they not only remind you of a special event but the text you need to focus on and review.

Hidden Spring - Sandy Boucher

RATING: C-
A very different approach to cancer than I would take if it came into my body! Firstly, there is nothing and noone on this planet that could persuade me to agree to chemotherapy & I would only accept natural cures. Secondly, I would make greater use of the time-out from life and not worry at all in regard to trying to hold a career. Finally, with my personal view, I would be more concentrative on preparing for my next life than retaining this one. However, as this is the ‘normal’ way of dealing with cancer, and my way is not, I would recommend it as reading material to someone suffering.

Whatta lotta Sandys! (No Sandes or Sand-dees though!)

OPENING THE SPIRITUAL HEART ~ MICHAEL KEWLEY

RATING: C+

This book would have been much more helpful at the start of my Buddhism practice - 4 years ago. Currently, I have found short cuts and easy routes for a number of the ‘you must do it this way’ structured formats, so would not follow it correctly.

I object to being told that ‘everyone’ and ‘all minds’ work/think in a certain way - mine doesn’t work/think the way they ‘all‘ do…! However, for a starter or a ‘regular’ western-minded person, this would be a very good 5-week course to follow.

The Wise Heart - Jack Kornfield

RATING: B+
One of two Western Buddhist writers I remain unsure of - I read one book that meant very little to me, but here comes a second that I can understand very well. With me, I prefer Buddhist books that can expand my understanding somewhat, whilst clarifying matters I have already half-learned - and this book does just that!

I especially noted page 37-8, these writings are something I can relate to. In fact, as a whole, Buddhist psychology is far more comprehensible than western world psychology - it actually makes sense! (Maybe I was born with Buddhist brains!)

I found the words of page 68 especially wise, and starting at page 103 reads good. Page 119 was also helpful to me. As I progressed -slowly - through the book, I found a lot of helpful matter - either to consider or reconsider. I found a new practice to follow described in the elemental analysis, and I found pages 301-2 to contain a useful practice. Another useful item is the jnana listing on page 320.

Some beautiful words on the last few pages stand out for me to focus on over the next few days -
“May I/you learn to see  the arising and passing of all things  with equanimity and balance
May I/you be open and balanced and peaceful

TIBETAN MEDITATION by TARTHANG TULKU

RATING B-
Free to pop into the town library, this is one of the half dozen books that I carried home with me.  If I had no time limit, I would have benefitted more from reading it - however I have only three weeks in which to read 6 books - so 'rushed' through. I could get them out on repeat loan, but I have just had 2 new books arrive and bought two from the library book sale in person and another two from the online book sale....

This book is a great coverage of Tibetan meditation. Although I have followed several Buddhist styles, Tibetan Buddhism is my main focus and if I had read this book 1-2 years ago, I would have benefitted even more than reading it now - at a time when some of this is already practiced in person and ingrained. It is a very good book if you are starting out with an interest in meditation, especially if you lean towards Buddhism or Tibetan matters. I would definitely reccomend it.

THE DEEPER WOUND ~ DEEPAK CHOPRA

RATING C-

I wasn't sure what this book was about til I read it - but I thought it might be helpful to me with ideas on how to fix my father's downer, considering it is supposed to deal with fear and suffering...

There was not much of use to my purpose, but I could relate to days 16, 31, 53, and 67 for myself. (I did not find much use in the latter days suggestions, as these went against my Buddhist principles.)