I love Cheri's books. I find them to be WONDERFULLY enlightening, interesting, deep and profound, yet fun and funny. A FANTASTIC way to understand deep Zen teachings and apply them to every day life. The books "There is Nothing Wrong With You" and "Suffering is Optional" especially spoke to me.
I REALLY like the handwritten look text. It is both easy to read, and seems more "fun" somehow than regular book type. Her approach is very conversational and fun, and at times, humorous. She draws me in, and I don't want to stop reading (except to do the exercises).
I previously tried to read some of the Zen classics, by both oriental and western writers, but their writings just seemed to philosophical, too dry, too hard to understand and apply, not to mention too small type to read comfortably. I just happened on Cheri's books at my local bookstore. Once I read one, I was hooked! I've read 5 and counting!
This book is GREAT for solving your undesirable relationship patterns. It really helps one take responsibility for one's own happiness...neither looking to another for happiness or buying into "them" looking to you to "make" them happy.
I also highly recommend "If the Buddha Dated" and "If the Buddha Married".
Thank you Cheri!
This is an excellent, humorous, and enjoyably readable meditation on modern relationships and how to survive them; some ways in which we fail, and a suggestion of a way not to fail. The suggestion is that, no matter how perfect the person we have found seems to be, they aren't; and neither are we. The passion we are feeling, no matter how wonderful and exhilarating, does not offer us a waiver for understanding our true selves and doing the hard work of being with another person.
And yet, though we may call it "work," it need not be somber or bereft of playfulness and spontaneity.
There are some basic instructions for sitting meditation and beginning an awareness practice, as well as a lot of "right on" observations about the pitfalls (and the hard teachings) of being in relationship. Decorated with Cheri's characteristic doodles and sketches. Highly recommended.