The Way of Qigong: The Art and Science of Chinese Energy Healing

"I teach tai chi and this is the best book I've ever read on the art of qigong. Extremely clear & comprehensive. I've read it once and have started on a second read. It's a book I'll use as a reference in the coming years. Can't say enough good things about it. If you practice qigong or tai chi, you most definitely will want to read this. And if you don't know anything about these arts, this is a great place to start."
~ Written on 2010-07-24

"Excellent--but a BIG book. It's great if you are looking for a scholarly work. No photos of poses though, just somewhat crude drawings. KEN COHEN'S "QIGONG" CD, however, IS WONDERFUL! And it comes with a tiny booklet that provided me with all the info I needed. I did already have the Deborah Davis book and CD set ("Women's Qigong for Health and Longevity"). It IS TERRIFIC! BOOK IS GREAT. (And it is not just for women; plenty of good info for all.)"
~ Written on 2010-04-22

"Not much to pontificate about. Order was timely, notifications were timely, product was of high quality."
~ Written on 2010-03-26

"As a first book with a broad general description of the rationale behind qigong (and relevant chinese philosophical and medical concepts) this is a well organized and very readable initiation.

Some Strengths:
1. The breadth of the author's personal study here and in China. He has not only been a scholar of QiGong, but also of the language, culture and religion, especially Daoism -- the ancient chinese root of these practices. This broader context enriches his ability to read more widely in the original sources/commentaries, to ground what he teaches in its social context for China as well as the US, and to be discriminative about implied meanings and claims.
2. The breadth of his studies in other indigenous health traditions, whether specifically mentioned here or not, I suspect adds to his comparative abilities to recognize and ocmmunicate some of the "universal" concepts particularly well for beginners.
3. Very extensive footnoting and referencing which helps provide more sources for those interested to verify his assertions and/or expand their own studies. These provide a solid resource for returning even after the "beginning stage" seemed to have past -- then again at some level one may be a beginner for a very long time when attempting to understand and use a tradition that has evolved across millenia!!!
4. Appropriate and useful information about learning to "interpret" scientific studies about qigong and the claims of masters.
5. Introduction to some of the most common techniques for health purposes (Eight Brocades, Five Animal Frolics, etc) with readily accessible references to study them more deeply.
6. Includes a representative variety of breathing, meditation and active techniques -- many of which are adaptable to persons with limited physical endurance or mobility.
6. A schematic of a potential learning/workout program that can then be individualized according to one's own needs/interests.

Persons wishing to learn a single technique in great detail (such as microcosmic breathing, the Eight Brocades, or the full movements associated with a particular school or animal) may find this work by itself to be too broad and not deep enough for their specific focus. Likewise, the person who is time pressured and just wants a simple place to start a few exercises may feel lost in all the choices and details. However, I enjoyed finding his carefully detailed and researched map of the world of QiGong. Thus am grateful for the opportunity to experience through his eyes a well-guided skyview, before attempting to diving in on my own solo missions. After the first read; I have eagerly returned to select my own places to start within his array of choices, I have felt better equipped with knowledge about why I would be doing a particular practice, and I have felt his book enhanced my enjoyment of seeing where these trails lead me.

A nice companion for those unavoidable hurried times, however, are the very succinct books by Suzanne Friedmann."
~ Written on 2009-12-27

"One cannot start out with a better in-depth look at Qigong that is both interesting, useful, practical and still does not bog one down with too much extraneous information. Yes, Mr. Cohen seems to get carried away with some elements that seem unimportant (such as which teas to drink), but the book is a very encompassing look at Qigong and some taichi. This book is a must for anyone who is interested in improving their health; whether at the level of being quite ill to improving their already good health."
~ Written on 2009-12-21