Review: HOLD ME TIGHT: SEVEN CONVERSATIONS FOR A LIFETIME OF LOVE by Dr. Sue Johnson

Hold Me Tight: Seven Conversations for a Lifetime of Love
Dr. Sue Johnson

In my opinion, reading's true rewards come when you see yourself reflected in the pages of a book: when that book enables you to unravel the many layers of your own psyche. Hold Me Tight is just that sort of book. It is based on Dr. Sue Johnson's APA-endorsed Emotionally Focused Couple Therapy, or EFT.

EFT is based on the premise that romantic relationships are sought to fulfill the human need for attachment. Johnson likens this attachment to that of a parent and child. Essentially, our need for security never dies, and as we transition from adolescence to adulthood, we project that need onto our partners and spouses rather than our parents.

Johnson does an excellent job illustrating the basic need for attachment using case studies. The examples feature dialogues between couples as they are being treated, and it's hard not to relate to one of the participants in each scenario. Even the personality types who tend to retreat when faced with marital conflict are actually acting out their need to preserve this idea of security.

The world of psychology and couples' therapy is constantly evolving and there are as many different schools of thought as there are self-help books. Johnson's methods seem to be the most realistic. She breaks conflict down to the self-defeating patterns into which couples fall while guiding them into more productive ways of relating.

The problem with Hold Me Tight is EFT requires the participation of both partners. Most often, only one partner is actively seeking a solution and it can be difficult to persuade a significant other to read the book and participate in the exercises, just as it would be to convince that person to attend couples' therapy. Johnson does not offer any solutions for dealing with unresponsive partners.

However, just to be able to shed some light on our own subconscious motivations and how they affect our relationships is worth the time it takes to read the book. There are lots of prompts for reflection, and perhaps a relationship can be improved when at least one partner can delve into a deeper level of understanding. Hold Me Tight has the potential to serve as a tool to achieving this realization.

Review: RALPHINA, THE ROLY-POLY by Claudia Chandler

Ralphina, The Roly-Poly
By Claudia Chandler

As a fan of Janet Halfmann, I have great appreciation for children's books that tell a story and teach science at the same time. Children love learning about the world around them, and books that highlight the creatures they encounter every day help them build an understanding of the world.

With this in mind, I was very excited when Claudia Chandler's Ralphina, the Roly-Poly arrived. I could tell right away from the cover illustration this was going to be a treasure of a book. I knew my boys would be just as excited to learn about the strange little bugs they had become so accustomed to uncovering in their outdoor exploration.

Ralphina is both written and illustrated by Chandler. The story begins with Ralphina devising a plan to get the attention of the little boy who lives in the home on her lot. She's looking for a playmate, but her mother explains that she's probably just too small for the boy to notice. Her idea is to make the tulips in the yard bloom so beautifully that the boy will have to come outside and pick one of the flowers for his mother. Through Ralphina's efforts, we learn how roly-polies aid the growth and development of plant life. We also learn about their protective instincts, anatomy, habitat, and genus. The positive storyline about friendship and problem-solving is followed by two pages of facts about the little insects.

Putting the educational value aside, my favorite part of the book is definitely the gorgeous illustrations. The colors are vivid and the pictures pop from the page. These are the types of drawings that one could imagine gracing nursery walls or children's museums. The font is a little flowery, however, which might make it difficult for early readers to decipher. As long as an adult is doing the reading, this doesn't pose an obstacle.

Ralphina, the Roly-Poly is a book that will remain on bookshelves for years, as children will still find the scientific value after they've outgrown the storyline. Claudia Chandler has created a well-rounded book parents and children alike will enjoy.

Review: SHADOW YOGA, CHAYA YOGA by Shandor Remete

Shadow Yoga, Chaya Yoga: The Principles of Hatha Yoga
By Shandor Remete

Shadow Yoga, Chaya Yoga is an introduction to Hatha Yoga. Unfortunately, to claim this book as an introduction to any yoga principle is misleading. Remete describes the facets considered imperative to becoming enlightened through Hatha Yoga, but he does it in such a convoluted jargon-laden way, the reader becomes lost and confused trying to piece each principle together.

I feel terrible that I haven't even been able to finish this book. I've tried several times, but each time I start reading I become so overloaded with terms that my mind becomes distracted and I lose interest. The parts that I was able to understand easily were based on my prior knowledge of yoga gleaned from other readings and a Religions course. He speaks of various positions and methods, but never elaborates or provides tutorials on performing them. The author focuses on theory, but not implementation.

What I was able to absorb is that Hatha Yoga is made up of many layers of accomplishment, and none can be achieved until its precursor is mastered. Remete tries to emphasize the need to take the practice in segments and master each segment before moving on.

Shadow Yoga is Remete's own personal derivation of Hatha Yoga, to which his father introduced him at age six. I played around a bit on his website, ShadowYoga.com, and following the videos allows the practitioner to put some of Remete's instruction into practice. However, piecing everything together in the order and depth the author encourages is still quite elusive based solely on the text. From what I can tell, the objective is to provide enough information that the reader signs up for some courses, but can never fully grasp the practice on their own.

I'll keep trying to unlock the potential this book has. I'm sure there is some beneficial information contained within its pages that will guide me in mastering Yoga techniques. However, for a novice or beginner, there are better books available.

This book review is part of the Eco-Libris 2010 Green Books Campaign. View other reviews of eco-friendly books at Eco-Libris.net.