Book Review: The Book of Five Rings

The Strategy of the Samurai By Miyamoto Musashi Summary This book contains Japanese sword saint Miyamoto Musashi’s reflections on strategy, as well as an introduction that provides some background on his life and the period he lived in. Review At only 159 pages of large text and a lot of large pictures, this book canContinue reading “Book Review: The Book of Five Rings”

Book Review: Be Here Now

by Ram Dass Summary: Former Harvard psychiatry professor Richard Alpert describes his spiritual transformation into Baba Ram Dass.  This includes an autobiographical account of his early psychedelic years and his time spent with his Guru in India, pages of random enlightened sayings and artwork, and a guidebook for implementing spiritual practices in your life. Review:Continue reading “Book Review: Be Here Now”

Book Review: Tao: The Watercourse Way

By Alan Watts Summary: Alan Watts gives readers who may have no background on the subject a sense of some of the key concepts of Taoism. Concepts like the Tao, ying and yang, Wu-wei, and te are explained through Taoist literature and metaphors. Review: At 128 pages, this is perhaps the best introduction to theContinue reading “Book Review: Tao: The Watercourse Way”

Book Review: The Egyptian Book of the Dead

The Book of Going Forth By Day: The Complete Papyrus of Ani Summary The Egyptian Book of the Dead is an Egyptian book of spells that provide insight into the trials one will face in the afterlife and how to overcome them.  This particular book includes incredibly clear photos of the Papyrus of Ani, theContinue reading “Book Review: The Egyptian Book of the Dead”

Book Review: Mother Earth Spirituality

Native American Paths to Healing Ourselves and Our World By Ed McGaa, Eagle Man Summary This book provides a detailed account of the history and performance of various Lakota religious ceremonies and beliefs.  Written by an Oglala Sioux named Eagle Man, it is part history and philosophy with a narrative of personal experience mixed in.Continue reading “Book Review: Mother Earth Spirituality”

Book Review: Confessions

by Saint Augustine of Hippo Summary Confessions of Saint Augustine is the autobiography of Saint Augustine of Hippo.  In it he covers everything from his childhood, passing through different religious sects and seeking answers from the religious thinkers of the day, and even takes a chapter off to go completely left field and discuss theContinue reading “Book Review: Confessions”

Book Review: Tibet’s Great Yogi Milarepa

by W.Y. Evans-Wentz Summary This book recounts the life story and lessons of Tibetan Yogi Milarepa.  Milarepa is renowned for having attained Enlightenment in one lifetime, and in this book he relays his life story to one of his disciples Rechung, the original “author” of the text.  It is a story of a spiritual seeker,Continue reading “Book Review: Tibet’s Great Yogi Milarepa”