Chop Wood, Carry Water: A Guide to Finding Spiritual Fulfillment in Everyday Life [Paperback]

Rick Fields (Author), Peggy Taylor (Contributor), Rex Weyler (Contributor), Rick Ingrasci (Contributor)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 1, 1984

Over 140,000 copies sold. An authoritative resource tool and essential companion on any spiritual journey. Practical and inspirational. A must for anyone who wants to integrate the wisdom of spiritual tradition into daily living.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Rick Fields is a leading expert on contemporary spirituality, and author of the classic How the Swans Came to the Lake: A Narrative History of Buddhism in America. Peggy Taylor is co-founder of the New Age Journal, and past president of the Association of Humanistic Psychology. Rex Weyler is active in the ecological movement and is a founder of Greenpeace. Rick Ingrasci, M.D., Ph.D., is a physician/healer, and a founding trustee of the American Holistic Medical Association.

One of America's most highly-gifted, versatile and respected actors, Richard Thomas is a veteran of 30 years in entertainment. In addition to his Emmy Award-winning portrayal of John-Boy on "The Waltons," he has also appeared in dozens of television movies, feature films and theatrical productions.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: Jeremy P. Tarcher, Inc.; 1st edition (December 1, 1984)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0874772095
• ISBN-13: 978-0874772098
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 7.6 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #84,963 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

59 of 61 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Awesome as ever !, April 5, 2001

By 

MotherLodeBeth "MotherLodeBeth" (Sierras of California) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Chop Wood, Carry Water: A Guide to Finding Spiritual Fulfillment in Everyday Life (Paperback)

Just under 290 pages this is a classic that has just as much meaning in 2001 as it did the first time I read it 20 years ago. A book I cannot help buying, over and over when copies get lent out and the message keeps getting passed on.

15 Chapters. Beginnings; Learning; Intimate Realtionships; Sex; family; Work; Money; Play; Tuning the Body; Healing; Technology; The Earth; Social Action; Inner Guidance; Perils of the Path. Etc.

The subtitle actually explains better than anything what the book is all about. "A Guide to Finding Spiritual Fulfillment in Everyday Life". The Chop Wood Carry Water comes from a thousand year old Chinese Zen Master who spoke of the spiritual aspect of everyday things.

This reminded me (I am not a Christian) of reading where the wife of Billy Graham, Ruth Graham has a small plaque in her kitchen that says "Godly service done here daily" or something to that effect. This is what this book is all about. AAppreciating the simple joy of things like sex, gathering with community to make the earth healthier and fight injustice etc etc.

The Chop Wood Carry Water book has been helpful so often in reminding me that their is joy and honour in doing the laundry, cleaning, paying bills, bathing, cooking, and doing what many people sadly think is boring everyday needs.

In this day and age where people rush here and there and express a sense of loss, because they feel they need to always be doing something noticable, I think this book would be a great healing tool, in teaching people that doing the "chores" of life, can in fact be a relaxing and growth enhancing activity.

34 of 36 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A wonderful guide to spiritual enlightenment, December 22, 1998

By 

Eric Smith ([e-mail]) (Boston, MA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Chop Wood, Carry Water: A Guide to Finding Spiritual Fulfillment in Everyday Life (Paperback)

I found this book to be a wonderful bridge from a seemingly unspiritual world to the path toward enlightenment.

I have been carrying my copy with me for seven years and refer to it quite often. In the last seven years I have embarked upon a relationship that I care deeply about and have also become a father twice. I have also grown within myself to understand better what it truly means to work with people not necessarily for or against them.

This book has been my steadfast companion through all of this and I have recommended it often.

I hope that you will find it as helpful a stanchion as I have.

23 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A starter manual, September 18, 2002

By 

R. Gahan (Clemson, SC) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

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This review is from: Chop Wood, Carry Water: A Guide to Finding Spiritual Fulfillment in Everyday Life (Paperback)

I thought that this book was written by one person. This book is a compilation of essays, quotes, and articles by various authorities in religion (Buddhist in particular), psychology, and other how to thrive in the modern world experts. I'm not dismissing the book. I think it's a good collection. I was expecting a sharper focus. This is a good primer for someone just beginning to live as a mindful person today.