The Complete Idiot's Guide to T'ai Chi & QiGong (2nd Edition) [Paperback]

Bill Douglas (Author)

Book Description

Series: The Complete Idiot's Guide | Publication Date: February 11, 2002

The ancient martial art that’s swept the nation.

The most popular form of exercise in the world, T’ai Chi can slow the aging process, increase balance and flexibility, lower stress levels, and enhance the body’s natural healing powers. Now, with over 300 illustrations, this updated #1-selling guide has been expanded so that readers can create a practice for themselves. Based on the latest research, this new edition includes:
-A DVD that demonstrates 64 groups of movements that are difficult to learn from print alone
-A new illustrated format
-An expanded and updated T’ai Chi yellow pages resource
-Expanded health/medical benefits

--This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 368 pages
• Publisher: Alpha; 2 edition (February 11, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0028642643
• ISBN-13: 978-0028642642
• Product Dimensions: 10.8 x 8.5 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.9 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (58 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,437,251 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Bill Douglas is the winner of "Best Fiction of the Year" awarded by Spiritual Enlightenment Magazine, and was called "one of the most remarkable writers of our generation ... on a par with Charles Dickens" by Pulitzer nominee, David W. Menefee. Deepak Chopra wrote of Bill's work, "What a gift it is to see fictional entertainment tackling the large issues of humanity!"

Bill also has written a very unique sometimes hilarious and always moving non-fiction inspirational look at life, entitled "The Amateur Parent - a Book on Life, Death, War & Peace, and Everything Else in the Universe."

He is the author of the best selling non-fiction tai chi book, "The Complete Idiot's Guide to T'ai Chi & Qigong," and presenter in the acclaimed DVD "Anthology of T'ai Chi & Qigong: The Prescription for the Future," and CD "Anthology of Qigong."

Bill has been a Tai Chi source for "Prevention Magazine," "The Wall Street Journal," "The New York Times," "Reader's Digest," "Parade Magazine," "USA Weekend," and over 100 media worldwide.

He is the Founder of World Healing Day, and World Tai Chi & Qigong Day.

His novels include: the acclaimed technological-spiritual thriller "2012 The Awakening," which hit the top ten in visionary or metaphysical lists in the US, UK, Canada, and France just weeks after its release.

NY Times best selling novelist, Steve Alten, wrote of Bill's first award winning novel, "Should be required reading for everyone on Wall Street and Capitol Hill."

While famed actor Holmes Osborne (The Box, The Quiet American, ER, Boston Legal, The X Files) wrote of Bill's novel, "With the suspense of a Da Vinci Code, the spiritual awareness of The Secret, and the fearsome aspect of Orwell's 1984, '2012 The Awakening' will keep you thinking about it long after you've put it down. What a terrific film this book will make!"

Bill Douglas's 2nd novel, an environmental-political thriller, is entitled "A Conspiracy of Spirits - Wall Street vs. The 99%." Pulitzer nominated author, David W. Menefee, gave it an enthusiastic 5 out of 5 stars, commenting:




"With books and films, people often say, 'They don't make them like they used to.' They are wrong ... Bill Douglas is one of the most remarkable writers of our generation. His craftsmanship ranks with the best of the old masters, and when I say in the review that the climax reaches "sublime proportions," I meant that sincerely.

Bill writes on a par with Charles Dickens.

I greatly enjoyed this book, and I tremendously admire the writing skill. Someone in Hollywood should option this book now.

I hope Bill will continue to muse about the great themes of life. Those issues, when mixed within a broth of good, evil, and melodrama, strike a primordial core within people.

Bill, many of us look forward to your next work!

-- David W. Menefee; Pulitzer nominated author




Bill Douglas's autobiography, "A Call to Duty - Miracles DO Happen!" is due out on September 11, 2012. Comments on it include:


"History books will, likely, never record what Bill Douglas did for America. The most I can say about him is that he was a good citizen. The least I can say about bill - is that he rocked my world. You'll find out why in this book!"
- Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney (1993-2003, 2005-2007)
House Armed Services Committee


"Bill Douglas is a genuine American hero."
- Carol Brouillet, Host of San Francisco Bay Area's Community Currency Radio

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

47 of 49 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Self-advertisement, February 18, 2008

By 

Teirisius (Washington, DC USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Complete Idiot's Guide to T'ai Chi and QiGong (Book & DVD) (Paperback)

When purchasing this book/dvd combination, I was hoping to get an introduction to Tai Chi that I could practically evaluate and practice. Instead, what I received was a poorly veiled advertisement for the author's 4 DVD set of instructional videos.

While the book does contain certain valuable facts about Tai Chi (history, etc), this is not something that you can pick up and begin doing Tai Chi exercises within an hour. The DVD on the other hand is almost completely useless and while advertising the full length 4 DVD set - looks as if it were filmed in the author's living room with long curtains hiding his sofa.

I would not recommend this product. Two stars b/c the book isn't all that bad - but is not a practical application of Tai Chi - and that may have been my mistake.

45 of 48 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The BEST!!!!!!, August 10, 2002

By 

Seeking Health "baker95" (CALIFORNIA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Complete Idiot's Guide to T'ai Chi & QiGong (2nd Edition) (Paperback)

I have been interested in Tai Chi and QiGong for many years. I found all of the books interesting but just could not get myself to follow through. This book is fun to read, very motivating and you REALLY do feel a difference. I have found the Sitting QiGong a wonder after work. I wish I could give it more stars!!!!! Hope he writes more books.

49 of 53 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good book for beginners, November 17, 2002

By 

Douglas Henry (Hayward, Ca) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Complete Idiot's Guide to T'ai Chi & QiGong (2nd Edition) (Paperback)

I picked up this book in hopes of improving my teaching abilities. While it didn't really contribute to this, it's a good book for beginners, despite some misstatements (A. The people you see in other tai chi books aren't models, they're usually model students, B. David Carradine didn't do Tai Chi in the 'Kung fu' TV series, he did Tai Chi Praying Mantis, which is a hybrid art, and C. the cover claims 'Highly Illustrated instuction on the major Tai Chi styles', whereupon the only illustrated instruction is in the Kuang Ping and Mulan styles). Otherwise, Mr. Douglas covers his subject pretty well, and is fairly well-informed. Great book for beginners, albeit a little too 'New Agey'.