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Booklist Review

Reid's third book on Chinese medicine, martial arts, meditation, and related subjects is thorough, clear, and informative. It opens with an account of the three treasures of Taoism: essence, energy, and spirit. Then, Reid weaves ancient and modern Chinese healing and Taoism together in order to paint a good picture of the background and current practice of his subjects. The portrayal involves contrasting Chinese and Western theory and practice--contrasts that sometimes identify major problems in the Occident. It also involves defining medicine broadly so that material appears on low-energy electrical waves as well as on the dangers of the standard American diet. While the book contains much practical material on Chinese remedies and techniques, it also underlines the Chinese emphasis upon prevention; indeed, "traditional physicians regard disease as a failure of preventive health care," Reid writes, "not as an opportunity to test new drugs on patients." ~--William Beatty