This Month's Staff Favorite

IYENGAR: The Yoga Master, edited by Kofi Busia

“This is the most inspiring book I’ve read in years. A collection of beautifully crafted essays written by Iyengar’s students and community, this book gave me tremendous insight into B. K. S. Iyengar’s life and teachings and the devotion he has inspired throughout the world. Iyengar is one of the great yoga masters still living, and this book is a precious glimpse into the man behind the teachings: how he shines with clear vision, how he laughs during practice, how he transforms his students, and how he has ignited the fire in thousands of students. For yoga students of all traditions, this book will inspire you to practice and to see yoga in a whole new light. Enjoy!”—Carin Allen, Sales & Inventory Data Manager

Previous Staff Favorites

February 2008

ANIMALS MATTER: A Biologist Explains Why We Should Treat Animals with Compassion and Respect, by Marc Bekoff, foreword by Jane Goodall

“People who are compassionate about animals are often accused of being too emotional and unscientific in their arguments. In Animals Matter, Marc Bekoff explains why treating animals with compassion is essential to living in peace and harmony with the world that surrounds us. Instead of pushing his views on issues as varied as vegetarianism, zoos, dissection, and wildlife reintroduction programs, Bekoff presents all sides of the issues and relies on facts and common sense to lead his readers to formulating their own opinions. Through ‘thought experiments,’ he pushes his readers to defend their ideas and decisions. Most of all, he teaches that compassion and science are not mutually exclusive. Here’s hoping more people read this book and open their minds—and their hearts—to the animals with whom we share our world.”—Karissa Kloss, Production Manager

January 2008

MOMMA ZEN: Walking the Crooked Path of Motherhood, by Karen Maezen Miller

“There are a number of books out there that offer ‘Buddhist teachings for mothers,’ but very few that are written by an author with this depth of training and practice experience. This makes all the difference—as does Karen’s unusual talent as a writer. Buy it for yourself or for any mother of young children. It’s moving, humorous, and supremely wise.”—Eden Steinberg, Editor

November 2007

PIRATE’S PASSAGE, by William Gilkerson

“I brought Pirate’s Passage along with me while on vacation, and the whole time I was away, I couldn’t put it down. So, when I got home, I passed it on to my father, who read it, and passed it on to my niece, and so on, until my whole family had read the book. This is a true adventure that will captivate readers of all ages. Gilkerson weaves together the story of Jim, a boy living in Nova Scotia, with the lively narrative of an old sea captain who mysteriously shows up at Jim’s family’s inn. If you’re at all intrigued by pirates but want more than the traditional pirate fantasy, then you will be thoroughly satisfied by this read. Pirate’s Passage goes beyond conventional pirate lore to tell the real, enthralling history of pirates that we don’t normally hear about. On top of that, Gilkerson’s characters are unique and engagingly human. I fell in love with this novel from the beginning, and by the end, I was ready to jump aboard and join the brotherhood.”—Laura Deily, Marketing Assistant

October 2007

A CASCADING WATERFALL OF NECTAR, by Thinley Norbu

“There are so many books on Buddhism, so how is one to choose? If one wants to delve deeply into the Buddhist view, Buddhist faith, and Buddhist practice, A Cascading Waterfall is a guide that will never fail one. Penned by one of the great modern masters of the Nyingma school of Tibetan Buddhism, it presents the ultimate view of Dzogchen or the Great Perfection under the guise of being a commentary on the Dudjom Tersar Ngondro (preliminary practices). Everything one needs to know about Buddhism from its most basic teachings up to and including the special ultimate teachings of Mahamudra and Dzogchen is presented so eloquently. This is undoubtedly one of the most profound Buddhist texts I’ve ever read (especially since it is written in such wonderful and subtle English) and is equal in importance to Patrul Rinpoche’s Words of My Perfect Teacher.—Sam Bercholz, Chairman and Editor-in-Chief

September 2007

THE NATIVE FOODS RESTAURANT COOKBOOK, by Tanya Petrovna, foreword by Deborah Madison

“The first thing I do when I make my annual visit to Southern California is go to eat at the Native Foods Restaurant. The rest of the year I rely on The Native Foods Restaurant Cookbook to bring that wholesome, delicious, California taste to my kitchen. This is one of those indispensable cookbooks—incredibly easy to follow, failproof, informative, and suitable for vegans, carnivores, omnivores, you name it. My favorite dinner: “Totally Stacked Enchiladas” followed by “Sam’s Vegan Cheesecake,” created and named especially for my father.”—Sara Bercholz, Vice President, Strategic Development

August 2007

TAO TE CHING: A New Translation, translated by Sam Hamill, calligraphy by Kazuaki Tanahashi

“The Tao Te Ching is one of those books to be read and reread, and Sam Hamill’s new translation cements that idea. Lovely, poetic, and strong, it offers new inspiration and requires new thinking upon each reading. In addition, his commentary, which appears beneath each of Kazuaki Tanahashi’s beautiful calligraphies, adds another dimension to the text and the idea of the translation. This is the one book that, every time I finish it, I start again.”—Karissa Kloss, Production Manager

July 2007

DANGEROUS WORDS: Talking about God in an Age of Fundamentalism, by Gary Eberle

“This is an essential read for anyone disheartened by mainstream religious dialogue. Never cynical or condescending—like many writers who challenge religious conventions—Eberle explains that the rise of fundamentalism in the United States is not inevitable or predestined, but rather the result of a variety of historical circumstances. He argues that the Christian faith should not be ashamed to admit that many stories in the Bible are mythical, because myths—like a good piece of literature—can teach us how to have kindness toward each other, how to cope with grief and loss, and how to have faith when we are in doubt. It is this inflexibility, he argues, that isolates so many people seeking a spiritual path, and he urges those who are skeptical believers not to be bullied by those who politicize and dogmatize religion, and that we should all learn to be a little more comfortable with the ambiguity of faith.”—Chloe Foster, Editorial Assistant

June 2007

MAKING PEACE WITH AUTISM: One Family’s Story of Struggle, Discovery, and Unexpected Gifts, by Susan Senator

“This book has educated me on something we don’t speak of or notice in our daily lives. Learning that 1 out of 166 children is born with autism made me want to spread awareness and pray that there will one day be a cure. I admire Susan Senator for her bravery and for the love that she has for her children, and I thank her for sharing her struggles with us. I hope that her story will touch your hearts as it did mine.”—Eman Lee, Accounting Associate

May 2007

ENSO: Zen Circles of Enlightenment, by Audrey Yoshiko Seo

“Audrey Seo, a scholar specializing in Zen brushwork, pays tribute to those goofy Zen cirles in Enso: Zen Circles of Enlightenment. Are they symbols of the vastness of the universe or just rice cakes and dumplings? Take your pick, it’s all here. I love this book for its cozy trim size, gorgeous reproductions, and dynamite ink colors. And for an art book, the price is right. This is art for the people!”—Kendra Crossen Burroughs, Editor

April 2007

THANK YOU AND OK!: An American Zen Failure in Japan, by David Chadwick

“I carried David Chadwick’s Thank You and OK! in my backpack to and from work for a month. I looked forward to the moments I would be able to sit on the train and read a chapter or two. This book was perfect train reading except for when the momentary forgetfulness that accompanies a good book overtook me and I laughed out loud to the chagrin of my fellow passengers or when I nearly forgot to disembark at my stop.

“Anyone who has pursued a serious meditative practice for a length of time has probably witnessed the unchallenged methods that can plague spiritual institutions of long standing. In Chadwick’s book he reveals these tendencies without judgment but with detail, humor, and kindness. Chadwick’s description of the monks and their rapport is extremely engaging because it is without glamour or rapture. It reads like a very authentic slice of monastic life. Equally compelling are the anecdotes from his English language students and the diverse perspectives from every walk of Japanese life.

“Most American travelers have a unique view regarding personal space and individuation. Whether we travel to China, India, or Japan, we notice that we are not so good at blending in because we are taught to stand out and be individuals. Thank You and OK! shows us a thoughtful American who gracefully enters a Japanese community with respectful warmth and with results that are anything but predictable. It is an adventure I highly recommend.”—Elizabeth Doshi, Foreign Rights and Permissions Coordinator

February 2007

EROTIC LOVE POEMS FROM INDIA, translated with an introduction by Andrew Schelling

“I first encountered Andrew Schelling’s poems and translations when I was studying at Naropa University, where Schelling teaches Sanskrit as well as classes in writing and poetics. I immediately became a fan of his work. So years later, after I began working at Shambhala, I was thrilled when I heard we were publishing this enchanting translation of Indian love poems. The verses in this collection are bold and immediate, passionate, and at times playful and mischievous. It’s a perfect gift for someone you love!”—Liz Shaw, Managing Editor

December 2006

CHAKRA YOGA: Balancing Energy for Physical, Spiritual, and Mental Well-Being, by Alan Finger

“Yoga proponents often work off the principle that yoga brings about a mental stability and calm that individuals can harness to free themselves from destructive habits and emotional stagnancy. Alan Finger’s Chakra Yoga takes a different stance: that feelings of calm are simply an effect of a release in blocked energy of the chakras. He enlightens the reader to the notion that it is the blocked energy contained in our seven chakras that generates the behaviors or restrictive patterns we spend so much time trying to reason our way out of. Finger believes chakra yoga is a medium for opening these energy blocks. Just as there are poses for curing headaches and congestion, the physical act of yoga can work to directly change feelings of insecurity or selfishness by engaging poses respective to each chakra. Issues like smoking or eating addictions can also be helped through physical movement. This empowering work dares to offer hope to many for whom hours of couch therapy or twelve-step programs have done little to reverse deep-seated patterns. With well-laid-out routines and concise instruction on form and posture, Finger presents us with a tangible, hands-on medium for balance and longevity.”—Kimiko Nakamura, Production Intern

October 2006

THE WAVE IN THE MIND: Talks and Essays on the Writer, the Reader, and the Imagination, by Ursula K.
Le Guin

“Ursula K. Le Guin came up with the idea for a ‘wizard school’ long before J. K. Rowling did. But that’s not why you should read The Wave in the Mind. You should read it because Le Guin is not afraid of Virginia Woolf—but rather she channels her. Like Woolf, she has strong opinions about literature, feminism, politics, and writing, and she’s more than happy to voice them. Le Guin’s essays should be required reading, whether you’re a young man afraid to waste time reading Tolkien, or a young woman afraid to waste time reading Woolf, or a writer afraid to put pen to paper for lack of ‘legitimate’ ideas. For newcomers, The Wave in the Mind is a great introduction to Le Guin’s essays. And for Le Guin devotees, it will be a welcome addition to their collections.”—Ben Gleason, Assistant Editor