Customer Reviews

Feng Shui Demystified

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

FENG SHUI DEMYSTIFIED is as clear and bright as the author's name. Written with humour and a simplicity of style and content, the information is accessible, understandable and down to earth. Multiple solutions are offered -- both energetic and using traditional and/or everyday items.

The book is effective at many levels. Since it is a comfortable size for carrying, one can take it shopping for a new home or to help a friend. Major problems and their solutions are easy to spot. As time goes on, one will find subtler and subtler improvements to make. Each area from a room to an important object, such as a desk or stove, is covered in detail. Shapes, colors and placement are part of the minute detail given, so that if one notices a lack, there is probably an easily accessible solution given.

One feels that Mr Englebert has worked deeply and viscerally with Feng Shui. This is a book to own and to give and to keep close at hand.

I thoroughly enjoyed this author's writing style. I found it easy to read and the author provides many useful feng shui suggestions.

I have read many feng shui books and this was one of the easier and more enjoyable of them. The only thing that stumped me was that I found some inconsistencies between this book and some others. For example, when he talks about the Green Dragon and White Tiger (two land features relevent to feng shui) he describes them in different locations than other authors (Lillian Too, to name one). He also mentions that water should flow away from your entrance, where others have declared this represents money or opportunities flowing away from your life. It made me wonder if these were inaccuracies (and if so, were there others?), or if these were just philosphical differences on the part of the authors.

One thing I liked about this book is the comparison of different feng shui styles (the compass method and the entrance method). I had not seen this in other books and found it clear and useful.

All the reviews above this are of the 2000 edition from The Crossing Press, which is now out-of-print. The reviews following this are of the revised 2010 iUniverse edition. The 2010 edition is substantially expanded. It has an excellent index which the earlier edition lacked. It has many more illustrations, including some very helpful photographs. There is also a 33 item "Checklist for Moving" which can be used by people buying or renting. The list is made for photocopying and taking with you when walking through a potential new home. This edition is also available as an e-book.

I have read several books on feng shui so I would categorize this book as introductory but effective. This book is very basic and tends to skip around alot. It is for the novice only.

The author presents feng shui in the simplest way. He easily incorporates it's concepts into western design. Demystified helped me easily identify problem spots, explains them and offers a cure. The author also offers references and encourages us to delve deeper. Great book for beginners and for those who like inviting "chi" into their home.....