Customer Rating:  
Summary: Signal to Noise vs. Worshiping the "White Book"
Comment: Frequently called the "White Book" in Taijiquan communities around the world, this book would be a great central source of "notes" for deeper consideration by anyone who already familiar and grounded in Taoism, TCM, Taijiquan, and Chinese classical ideology back into the Chinese "Naturalist" period predating formal Taoism. It has typos, misarrangement of symbology/concept ordering, poorly chosen Chinese to English translation, some bad conceptual translation, and lastly it should be remembered that Master Hwa was not a "master" but a scholarly student of the arts. He was well-traveled, well-connected, a long time practitioner, and a gracious gentleman and a scholar, but he was not part of a lineage, formal or otherwise, and not recognize by serious practitioners as having that high a skill level.
There is a reason why most all "masters" and "grandmasters" and long term reknowned teachers do not reference this text to their students - and I've given you some of those reasons. Until you already understand the basics of the many principles contained in this book, you will be in no position to comprehend its signal to noise ratio.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Awesome Reference Material
Comment: I brought this book by accident when I first started practicing Tai Chi (Wu Dang Style) around seven years ago. I knew nothing of the philosophy behind Tai Chi or Taoism, And although at first I thought this book was a bit airy and seemed badly translated I now find it invaluable as a reference tool whilst practicing Tai Chi and Qi Qong.
I am now studying Wu style as opposed to Wu Dang style (practical Tai Chi) and have introduced Qi Qong into my training and this book has proved the perfect link for all my studies, I regularly pick it up and read a random chapter before going to bed and there is always something new to learn even if I have read the same chapter several times.
I highly recommend this as a tool to prop up your Tai Chi philosophy whilst learning from a good teacher though it is not in any way a book to learn from (why you would want to learn from a book anyway?).
I recently borrowed all the books I could on Tai Chi and Qi Qong from my local well stocked library and although there were some other very good books I still find this to have such a good range of detailed info that I keep this as my sole Tai Chi book, though I am looking for Master Ma long form book.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Don't get this as your first book on Tai Chi
Comment: Master Jou had a large and fanatical following, so I am well aware that I'll get flamed for offering any criticism of his work. Oh well.
What is good about this book:
-it is a great over-view of the major styles of Tai Chi.
-it offers a wonderful description of the lineages of the various styles of Tai Chi.
-the discussions of the principles behind Tai chi are good.
On the other hand:
-It is way too mystical. There are good scientific reasons for the advantages and effects of Tai Chi, there is no need to ignore them for arcane energies.
-The descriptions of the different forms of Tai Chi are only thumbnail sketches, not very detailed.
-Master Jou had a remarkable ego and could be extremely overbearing. His direct students acquired this trait (first hand knowledge but this also comes through in his writing).
-Master Jou is dogmatic. One walks away with the perception that there is no need for any other teacher or martial art, nor that Master Jou should be questioned. Maybe this is a product of the culture he grew up in, but it doesn't fly with me.
-not enough attention to the weapons forms.
-not enough attention to applications of the forms.
Maybe two stars is a bit too harsh, but this is a work for students who have a good solid understanding of at least one style of Tai Chi, and are mature enough to consider the points critically without accepting Master Jou's word as gospel.
Customer Rating:
Summary: I'm still reading it.
Comment: I purchased this book a couple of years ago when I was training in Portland, Oregon (Incidentally John S. Atherton recommended it to me). Since that time I've continued my study of taiji and moved two Taiwan. I train here with an excellent teacher who's really open about the purpose of our training, what he can and cannot do himself and so on.
I explain my background so that you'll have some perspective when I say that this book is still one of the most comprehensive sources of taiji info that I have around. It's really inspiring because of the author's personal story and really useful because of the information it provides.
That said expect to be overwhelmed because there is a lot to absorb. I read it and put it down, train and go back. Each time it's got something to offer.
Customer Rating:
Summary: An Earnest Personal Account
Comment: I felt this book was worth a read. Another reviewer mentioned there is too much personal interpretation. I agree and disagree. This personal flavor is both helpful and distracting. It is interesting to see how the author's thinking changes over time in his different forwards. Some of his statements and thoughts contradict each other but that seems natural when studying taijiquan - sometimes you think the "way" is this way, other times that way. Also, sometimes his opinions seem too dogmatic - "only taijiquan has X or Y", e.g., torso methods, whereas "external arts" do not have it, e.g., hand methods only - in my experience taijiquan is certainly unique but I wouldn't go this far. External arts have more value than he seems to have thought in my opinion. He also does not seem to try to separate fact from myth - going into a long account of Zhang San Feng's supposed 200+ year long life without seeming too skeptical about the legend or critical in his evaluation.
The highlights of the book are the drawings, the author's earnest account of learning from different styles, advice for students to follow the same path rather than learn from just one teacher, and his hope that others will continue to restore the (declining according to him) state of taijiquan.
Overall worth reading.
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