Going to Pieces without Falling Apart

Rating:
Summary: Going to great lengths without telling things apart
Review: This book uses a very selective, pick-and-choose approach to Buddhism as a means of pointing up the failings of traditional psychotherapy, by the use of anecdotes from the psychiatrist-author's personal life and from the case histories of his (almost entirely female) patients. It succeeds to some degree on the descriptive level, but it is not a how-to: if you need therapy, this book is not a substitute for it, and if you want to develop a meditation practice, this book will probably encourage you but it will not show you or tell you how. If you want to learn about Buddhist meditation practice this book is particularly misleading because it suggests that meditation can be a sort of care-free lifestyle accoutrement that will correct all the flaws of your (and your therapist's) Western mindset. There is an over-emphasis on esoteric Tibetan practices and beliefs that have no demonstrable connection with the teachings of the Buddha. These lurid by-ways are showcased at the expense of the traditional core of Buddhist teaching, such as the laws of moral cause and effect (i.e., karma), the four Noble Truths, and the eightfold Noble Path. Most surprisingly, the author gets through his 180 pages without once noting that, according to the Buddhist perspective, progress in meditative insight and the spiritual path is based squarely upon self-discipline and moral living. By the end of the book you will know quite a bit about the lifestyle of a successful Manhattan psychotherapist and the sorts of problems that plague his patients, but if you want to be bristling with insights about yourself, as the author is, you would be better advised to undergo one of the intensive meditation retreats that he is always going on, and going on about.

Rating:
Summary: Going to Pieces with 5 Stars
Review: This is a national bestseller.
I give 5 Stars because I'm glad that Western Physicians writing something about Buddhist Psychotherapy !!!
However, it seems to me that he does not simplify his wordings well enough to lay people. And there are no real application to real practical life to follow.
Unlike the book "Art of Happiness" by Howard Cuttler with The Dalai Lama , telling you exactly what to do to get that happy out.

The author seems to be happy to tell people about his stories,
However, he does not use what he knew from medical school to apply with the wisdom of Buddha's teaching.

You 'd better look for some other books such as
Buddhist Psychotherapy: An Eastern Therapeutical Approach to Mental Problems by H.S.S. Nissanka
or from Buddhist pragmatic monks such as "The Heart of Buddhist Meditation by Nyanaponika.



Rating:
Summary: Read This Book!!
Review: This is the best I have ever and will ever read. It explains budhism and psychotherapy, which are complex subjects in and of themselves, in a way that really connects with the reader.

Rating:
Summary: Good, but expected more
Review: With a title like that, and the author's credentials, the temptation was too much to buy this book. Overall this was a good effort, and I was able to extract at least one nugget of wisdom from each chapter. But....I found the author a little too self-absorbed, and at times he comes across as a Buddhist insider talking down to his readers. I expected a little more depth and fewer anecdotes, but at least the author seems to be honest and I am sure there are people who will like his approach.