Reflections: BookReview

Book review: Young mind, young body

Author: Sue Zuang, H.C

My Overall Rating: A well thought out and enjoyable read!

Today, it is with great pleasure that I review this beautifully written and thoughtful book on developing self-awareness and transformational healing by respected health coach and certified Holistic Health Practitioner, Sue Zuang.

Aspects of mindset development and transformational healing are discussed eloquently as follows...

The book begins by reviewing the foundations for cultivating young mind, young body and then moves onto discussions on the following aspects:-

Stress Removal and reduction:

The detrimental effects of Life’s stresses and strains are well known. The author describes how one can change our perspective to make time our ally, by living in the present, prioritising the most important things and living with gratitude.

Internal aspects - Spirituality and meditation:

In this section the benefits of meditation on physical and mental health are well explained.

External aspects - Harmonious surroundings:

It is vital that we cultivate harmonious relationships not only with our surroundings but also with other living beings. One way of making room for this is by avoiding unproductive and unpleasant activities (such as harmful gossip and idle chit-chat) that drains us all of our energy and vitality.

Physical activity:

We are introduced to the concepts of traditional non-functional and daily body movements as functional exercise. Ideally, we would be wise to choose activities that (to coin a phrase form the author) help to reinforce the ‘profound calmness and quietude’ that should become the ‘baseline of our being’.

Meaning and purpose:

It is very to important to constantly focus on our inner wishes, dreams, burning desires and passions. We should continue to do what we love and keeping a journal can help track progress. By doing this we create pure bliss that no one can take away from us.

Sleep:

The only sure way to recharge, feel refreshed and energised. The importance of REM sleep, proper bedtime schedules free from distractions is also highlighted with a link back to the spiritual realm through the process of dreaming.

Nutritional aspects:

Here the author surveys the health benefits of good regular hydration and nutrition as part of a balanced diet. It is a very good survey of the landscape which can be bewildering at times and then how to apply it by assembling three meals way of example.

Detoxification:

The author discusses aspects of emotional, nutritional and environmental detoxification and cleansing strategies.

Dealing with Cravings:

Here embracing our appetite is important and replacement with healthier choices whilst being mindful of avoiding the two extremes of over-indulgence and suppression.

Building and Maintaining a daily routine:

We are all creatures of habit and building good habits is fundamental to creating and maintaining personal wellbeing.

Conclusions

This is a very well thought out book and I thoroughly enjoyed reading it. It is a book to be savoured, wither by dipping into or (preferably) by reading cover to cover. For me, as practicing Buddhist, it serves as an important reminder that we have the power to change our lifestyle choices. I will be re-reading this from time to time and indulging in further research, aided by the excellent ‘References and Resources’ chapter.

Overall a thoroughly well-deserved 5 stars to the extent that I think it really ought to be on everyone’s essential reading list!

A Review of the Book Junglenomics

(Click here to find out more about Junglenomics on Amazon (UK))

Author: Simon M Lamb

Reviewed by: Adisha Kariyawasam

My Overall Rating: A super, informative and topical read!

“Junglenomics: Nature’s solutions to the world environment crisis: a new paradigm for the twenty-first century and beyond”

Date read: 25 October 2019

To borrow a phrase from the preface of the book, we are fast approaching the 'last chance saloon'. Junglenomics is a complex, majestic book that not only is vast in scope but gives a clear, optimistic and persuasive account of how we can contribute to the rescue of our planet which has undergone such wilful neglect for so long.

The author, Simon Lamb, began this study some two decades ago based on the premise that the universe must have a rational, scientific explanation.

Junglenomics or 'Ecosystem Economics' explains how nature's blueprint must be applied to the economic world without delay so it can be guided to safety through amongst other things, the reformation environmentally destructive behaviour and markets.

The book is divided into 5 parts which logically follow on from each other and briefly summarised below:

PART 1. The economic Avatar

This is an in-depth survey of our journey so far from hunter-gatherer to agricultural coloniser.

PART 2. The natural world - new ways to end destruction.

This section discusses agriculture, the single biggest threat to land based species worldwide. Shocking statistics are brought to the fore e.g. in the time that you read the book, some ninety thousand acres of rainforest would have been felled! To counteract this there are programmes such as REDD (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and forest Degradation) and REDD+ which promotes sustainable forest management, FME (Free Market Environmentalism) a market approach to environmental problem.

PART 3. The wildlife and Wilderness Conflict.

This section discusses how large-scale poaching and illicit trades and environmental overexploitation can be counterbalanced by economic entities. Examples include Community-based conservation programmes such as CAMPFIRE Communal Areas Management Programme for Indigenous Resources whose primary interest is in restoring and protecting threatened species and environments. In terms of aquaculture, there are systems such as RA (Recirculating Aquaculture System) which represents the future of fish farming.

PART 4. The Great Valuation Divide.

The developed world’s relationship with nature needs to be reinvented, bearing in mind that the true value of Nature and Natural assets and resources is essential to all conservation strategies. Not only management costs but the costs of extent of protection and “opportunity costs” need to be considered. These Opportunity Costs present a dilemma if particular choices are made and this is further explored in the text. The upshot of which these costs must be fully considered and evaluated in any cost-benefit calculation preceding any proposed development which could potentially negatively impact the environment. Careful consideration needs to be made to understand what Biodiversity Off-sets that need to be in place. There is also a discussion on Biodiversity Banking options and how they differ from a regular bank and alignment of the interests of farming and nature.

PART 5. Delivering Change.

Change needs to be embraced. Especially if the alternative is disaster! As part of this change is the requirement for economists and ecologists to collaborate, without entering into blame games and playing into the politics of self-interest.

In summary, I strongly recommend people from all walks of life, not just those in power, read this book. We are living in a time of great opportunity and this book offers hope at a time of much chaos and disturbing complacency from many sectors of society. Our need for economic and ecological change is much more urgent than ever before. This book will help you recognise the opportunities to find the courage to grasp valuable opportunities to not only help us but make the world a better place for our children and future generations.

“We are the problem, yet within us lies the solution -
if only we have the understanding, the will, and imagination to find it”

It is very clear that the author Simon M. Lamb has channelled a phenomenal effort into creating this book and he presents his discussions clearly and eloquently. Therefore , I have no hesitation in awarding this book a thoroughly well-deserved five stars!

Do check out the following website to find out more about the book and the rationale behind its creation:

https://junglenomics.com/index.php/the-book/why

Other websites of interest:

1. https://www.earthday.org/earth-day-2020/

Reflections

Sunday, 18 October 2020

Book Review: 18th October 2020 | Non-fiction | 'Young mind, young body' by Sue Zuang, H.C