Life Energy Encyclopedia: Qi, Prana, Spirit, and Other Life Forces around the World (Paperback)

~ Stefan Stenudd (Author)
Key Phrases: psi plasma, life energy ideas, life ether, Holy Spirit, Biblical God, Philosopher's Stone (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

In every part of the world, already thousands of years ago, humans have speculated about some kind of life force. In China it is called qi (also spelled chi), in India prana, in ancient Greece pneuma, in Latin spiritus, and in Hebrew ruach. There are hundreds of life energy beliefs, which have many similarities. This encyclopedia presents and explains them all. In the introduction, distant origins of human thought are traced, examining how spiritual beliefs and life force ideas emerged, and how they were developed through time. Stefan Stenudd is an author and historian of ideas, who researches the thought patterns of myth in general and creation myths in particular. He is also a high-grade instructor of the peaceful and spiritual martial art aikido, since more than 30 years. Aikido, too, evolved from ideas of a life energy.

About the Author

Stefan Stenudd is a Swedish author and historian of ideas, who researches the thought patterns of myth in general and creation myths in particular. He has written a book about the cosmological and mythological ideas of the Greek philosophers, and one about the Chinese life energy Qi. He has also written bestseller books about the peaceful martial art aikido. He has practiced that art for more than 35 years. Aikido, too, evolved from ideas of a life energy. --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 196 pages
• Publisher: Arriba (February 9, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 9178940192
• ISBN-13: 978-9178940196
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 2.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,715,618 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Well done introduction for further study of life force theories, June 17, 2009

By	Jaroslav Sip - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I have first edition of the book, which a have bought almost a year ago.

First part (mine edition has cca 30 pages, the new one has 24 more) of the book - Introduction - describes the evolution of mankind's approach to life energy from the ancient times of paleolith, rise of agriculture, entry of great world religions, to the Alchymism, Era of Enlightenment and the scientific theories of 20th century. Pity is that the introduction is brief, since there is lot of information mentioned, but on the other hand it is an introduction.

The second part of the book is Encyclopedia with entries from A to Z.

After reading it, I have to say, that the book is perfect introduction, when you are willing to study the life energy theories in depth - it has a lot of hints and pointers. What I would like to see in its second edition, is some more information from the non-writing cultures, such as Native Americans, Oceania etc. - if there are any, of course. What may also help is bibliography part, which was not attached in my edition.

The book does not cover exhaustively the subject, but opens horizons. But what is the best way to study life force, a book or the life?

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Misleading, April 15, 2009

By	Scotreader (Indianapolis) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Life Energy Encyclopedia: Qi, Prana, Spirit, and Other Life Forces around the World (Paperback)

Although this book has the word encyclopedia in it's title, I expected more than the A to Z it gave.

For those interested in this subject, _all_ of it's content can very easily be found in Wikipedia (and without spending a dime!).

I expected more from it and more from a teacher of Aikido. Not worth buying.