Dancing with Your Books (Plume) [Paperback]

J. J. Gibbs (Author)

Book Description

Series: Plume | Publication Date: September 1, 1990

Zen Buddhists have long taught that success at any task can be achieved only through a mastery of concentration. The college freshman and business professional alike will appreciate this effective approach to learning made enjoyable.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Here is a sound guide for students that one hopes will be cataloged in the How to Study rather than Zen religion area. The author, an experienced professor, touches bases with many previous writers who have explicated Zen Buddhism for the West. Simple meditation, mind control, and relaxation methods are explained in short chapters. The applications to study are relevant to most common student problems. A final section summarizes some specific study techniques given in other guides. In all, this is a valuable addition to a subject that usually lacks discussion of the psychological pitfalls. It could become a cult classic--but who can tell in the current college atmosphere? For undergraduate collections.
- Jeanne S. Bagby, formerly with Tucson P.L., Ariz.
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: Plume; 5th edition (September 1, 1990)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0452264960
• ISBN-13: 978-0452264960
• Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 5.3 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #844,841 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Change your prespective about studying!, August 26, 2001

By 

Sara Windross (British Columbia, Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Dancing with Your Books (Plume) (Paperback)

I absolutely love this book! It has really helped me change my prespective about studying. Before I found this book, I hated studying. I'd shiver at the thought of spending hours on school assignments that seemed pointless to me. Studying really felt like a painful chore, something that just had to be done. I refused to look at studying as a chance to enjoy learning. I believed studying was impossible to enjoy, if I didn't think it would benefit me in some way. I was always clumsy with my books, I didn't know how to dance with them. However now that I have found this book, I know I can learn to dance with my books and actually enjoy learning. I highly recommand this book to anyone who has always seen studying as a chore. Anyone who believes that it's impossible to enjoy learning and yet has always had the desire to dance with their books!

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Focus. Relax. Enjoy. Discipline your mind., November 21, 2001

By 

Evan A Genest (Hsinchu Taiwan) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Dancing with Your Books (Plume) (Paperback)

The author has made a very personal work here. He's like a mentor, a coach, a big brother to the reader, telling you pretty deep advice about how to change your attitude in all things. He starts by explaining how you can relax, enjoy, and focus on all phases of your life, whether it be eating, taking a shower, walking, whatever. He then gives very specific pointers on using your new found focus in your studies. The reader is advised to live in the moment, thereby increasing your performance meaningful. By acting with meaning and purpose and focus, your actions become much more efficient.

It's a simple, short book, and very easy, pleasant reading. JJ Gibbs has an effective writing style and has really succeeded in making a book which is much more than a how-to-study guide. I keep it on the shelf next to What Color Is Your Parachute.

For my money, this beats the pants off of Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintainence (admittedly a work with a different intent) for persons interested in disciplining their mind.

I read and successfully applied these principles between 1992 and 1996 in graduate school, studying chemistry. The principles taught by the book have influenced me in more than just study habits, though. My copy of the book is now dog-eared from having read it several times through and I think of it's message often.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Super book!, November 19, 2004

By 

M. Ryan "lucy146" (MA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Dancing with Your Books (Plume) (Paperback)

What a great book! Really saved me during college. A different way of looking at studying. With this way of thinking the stress just diminished so much that I wasn't using all my energy dealing with it. So I had energy to study, which in turn decreased the stress even more. Well worth the $!