The Way of Qigong: The Art and Science of Chinese Energy Healing by Ken Cohen Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of The Way of Qigong: The Art and Science of Chinese Energy Healing
Book Review: hard to believe
Summary: 1 Stars
hard to believe so many people seem to like this book. I read it thoroughly and it gave me a headache. Cohen goes on "blah blah blah" about every little detail in his mind. He extends himself beyond the scope of the subject way too often. I could sum it up this way: If you like BS and enjoy being pulverized with non-useable information that you have to sift and sift through to get to the pertinent crux, then buy this book. But, if you like comprehensive, informative material that is a pleasure to read, then this book will torture you. It is filled with alot of useful stuff but, WAY too much ridiculous non-sense for my taste. In fact, I would rate this book 2nd to worst of all the martial arts, qigong, meditation books I have ever read, ahead of only 1 book, "Complete Iron Palm" by super-weasel mental-case Brian Grey.Book Review: The Way of Qigong
Summary: 5 Stars
As a licensed practitioner of acupuncture and Oriental medicine, I often recommend qigong to my patients as a healing therapy. Ken Cohen's "The Way of Qigong" is by far the best introductory work on the subject I have read thus far. In fact, it is in many ways much more than merely an introduction to qigong, since Cohen delves wonderfully into much of the philosophy underlying qigong in a fashion which is more literary and in some ways more comprehensive than even more advanced texts. He is able to articulate the nature of qigong to those unfamiliar with the art. The book provides good background information on many topics, such as research, from which even advanced practitioners would benefit. I highly recommend this book to my patients.Book Review: Enjoyable reading
Summary: 4 Stars
This is a good introductory book. It shall serve you well in getting framed into the topic of Qi Gong. Dietary principles of Tao are very well explained and the chapters about tea are a true gem. The theory of the elements is clearly presented. It is a good starting point. A few paragraphs lure the reader into the use of body energy in different cultures. This topic is dropped too fast (bibliography is quoted should the reader be interested). Cleansing Chi Gung is presented very clearly.
However ChiGung standing practices (which are the very foundation of the whole businesss) are presented in a rather bland manner. In my opinion "Opening the Energy Gates of your Body" by B.K. Frantzis is infinitely better in this respect. Buy the "Gates" first.
Book Review: Take Care When Driving
Summary: 5 Stars
I haven't read this book but I have heard the cassette tape numerous times on my way up and down to Tel Aviv for work and back home to the Galilee. I rate this work as excellent but mainly as an adjunct to live instruction in Qi Gong. There are many insights in Kenneth Cohen's presentation that have helped me deepen my understanding of Qi accumulation and healing. The cassette presentation is so good that I feel myself releasing muscular and nervous tension while driving and arrive at work relaxed and back home after a long day, fresh and energized. Highly recommended - my thanks to the author -I shall now get around to reading the book.Book Review: Good introduction
Summary: 3 Stars
Note: I've had this book for about 4 years now and just now getting around to write a review of it. This a good book if you are new to qigong. Cohen steps the beginner through theory and then the various qigong exercises. This includes color and organ meditation, healing sounds, Big Dipper, External practices, diet, etc. He also includues some moving meditation such as the Eight brocades and Five Animals frolics.
Pluses:
* Covers a lot of material.
* Well footnoted and indexed.
* Has suggested routines for a student to practice.
* Gives adviced on the dangers of wrong qi practice. Which is quite important but neglected in some texts.
Minuses:
* No illustrations for meridians or acpuncture points. These would help explain and guide a student. Especially with the excerises like Microcosmic orbit. I found it odd that a Qigong expert like Cohen would neglect to include this.
* The moving meditations are done by drawings - I found them impossible to follow. Photos would have been much better.
* Some of the qigong exercises listed are watered down and much simplified for instance the color light meditation. It's still somewhat useful but only about a third of the exercise is
there and you don't get the full effect. I don't know why Cohen
does not tell the reader why he watered some qigong methods down.
Overall a decent introduction, as most of the material is very basic. This makes it good for the beginner but be prepared to buy other books if you want to do other methods like Microcosmic
orbit or learn about meridians and acupuncture points. This also goes for trying to learn the moving meditations from this book - a beginner with no experience with this material will be lost. It will keep a dedicated beginner busy for two years or so. Once beyond that the reader is advised to seek out formal instruction or check out other texts that do include more intermediate methods.
If you want to do moving qigong work look elsewhere, this is not a stong point of this text. Books like Wen Mei Yu's WIld Goose Qigong or Meridian Qigong.
Other books that would complement this one include:
Qigong Empowerment by Liang Shou-yu
Meridian Qigong by Li Ding - hard to get but some online stores specializing in Qigong carry it.
Wild Goose Qigong by Wen Mei Yu