The Tao of Womanhood: Ten Lessons for Power and Peace
Although Dreher often combines obvious statements with sappy prose, e.g., "As you trace the patterns in these pages, you'll find yourself in some of them," her soothing book will give the reader many good ideas and helpful hints about balancing her life. What sets this book apart from other self-help efforts is the combination of Eastern and Western ideas. An instructor in literature and creative writing at Santa Clara University and author of The Tao of Inner Peace (HarperCollins, 1991), Dreher uses terms from the Tao such as misogi ("rituals of order"), ahisma ("compassion"), yohaku ("contemplation"), and musubi ("honoring your own energies with those around you") to clarify her ideas. She follows each chapter with practical pointers for greater power and peace, ways to take action using the ideas presented. For instance, to develop courage, Dreher suggests that the reader study the life of a woman she admires by reading a biography about her and answering a list of questions. Both informative and encouraging, these pointers are probably the most useful aspect of this book. With a helpful glossary of terms; recommended for public libraries.ABarbara O'Hara, Free Lib. of PhiladelphiaCopyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.