Rating: 
Summary: Who You Calling an Idiot
Review: If you can humble yourself enough to consider yourself an idiot, then this book is for you. But an idiot can learn classical or traditional feng shui from this present volume.This book is not one that you read once, put aside and forget about. It is a serious textbook on learning real and authentive feng shui. It is a reference book as well filled with wisdom and practical advice for those who are serious students of feng shui. I have on my shelf about a dozen books on feng shui ranging from simplistic explanations to almost superstitious treatment of "cures" to complicated study books. There are two books that I keep pulling out of the shelf as I continue studying this ancient art (and science). The Complete Idiot's Guide to Feng Shui (2nd ed.) is one of them. (The other one I find referring to constantly is Eva Wong's Master Course on Feng Shui, Shambhala Press, 2001). The authors, Moran, Yu and Biktashev, lay down an understandable and solid foundation on feng shui in the first part of the book. Understanding this foundation is essential if one is to seriously study feng shui. The second part of the book lays down the practical principles of classical or traditional, and thereby authentic, feng shui. Considerable material is presented in the second part. Since I am particularly interested in Flying Star feng shui, this second part is what is most useful to me. I have folded, dog eared, paper clipped, underlined, marked and remarked, these pages on flying stars. For me, flying star IS feng shui. And I've learned tremendously from this section. My interest so peaked that I wanted to know more. Luckily, Joseph Yu has an online course on the subject and I am now enrolled in his class. I know that I've barely scratched the surface and my serious study of feng shui continues to develop. The authors have done more than a yeoman's job in presenting to the world true and authentic classical feng shui. We are endebted to their courage to write this book and share with us the secrets of Feng Shui. All IMHO.
Rating:
Summary: Write down the name of this book!
Review: Yes, get out your pen and paper and write down the name of this book. If you are interested in learning about traditional Feng Shui, then this is THE feng shui book that you want. WARNING: Many Feng Shui books are based on a popular version of Fung Shui that has little to do with tradional Feng Shui. Yes, popular Feng Shui is easy to understand but it does not have the history of traditional Feng Shui to back it up. The beauty of the Complete Idiot's Guide, is that the authors explain traditional Feng Shui in an easy to understand to format. Chances are, if you pick up any other introductory book to Feng Shui, you are going to confuse yourself with Bull Shui. Do yourself a favor: get the Complete Idiot's Guide to Feng Shui (2nd Edition). Write it down.
Rating:
Summary: The Best By Far!
Review: Don't be fooled by the title. While the contents educates the public to what traditional feng shui is all about, it is written in a very user-friendly and humourous manner. Every page from cover to cover is a goldmine of information that is useful to not only beginners, but indeed advanced students. This book covers the basics thoroughly and the added bonus of how to construct a flying star chart along with basic interpretation as well as hard to find information on 4 pillars of destiny makes this book a MUST. It is seldom these days that one gets so much more for your money. If you are confused by all the conflicting feng shui books over the years, this SECOND EDITION book is an essential item to your library.
Rating:
Summary: This Book Is a Treasure
Review: I appreciated the book's straightforward approach to the vast amounts of information. I found the sidebars, i.e., "Wise Words", "Master Class", etc. helpful and entertaining.
The best part for me, however, was implementing the ideas and FEELING the results in my own home. I had no idea how profound a difference simply rearranging furniture in a room could make. Thank you, Elizabeth, Joseph and Val.
Rating:
Summary: the most valuable compendium ever on feng shui
Review: I'm just new to feng shui, though I already had a lot of books about it (books I never studied completely because of too much contradicting principles). But now with this book, things have changed. At least a book that tells you in a clear AND consistent way what feng shui is about, (and even how to read a compass), what the flying stars and the four pillars mean etc... The illustrations, tables and reference charts are invaluable to grasp it all. This book awoke my intrest in feng shui (and chinese astrology) again. When you read the book, you feel that feng shui is very complex indeed. As the authors state, one should read and reread the chapters thoroughly because feng shui is not that easy at all. But when you follow the authors you can't go wrong. Step by step they guide you trough the most difficult parts. However it's not all plain sailing. What I still miss in this book are some specifications re apartments (facing and sitting directions, what about the tenant-owner relationship etc...): as to me a too much neglected part in all feng shui books. Perhaps a hint for a 3rd edition ?
Rating:
Summary: It's about time!
Review: Joseph, Elizabeth and Val, I consider your book a real treasure. Quite an endeavor and gift to be able to address the lay person as well as the practitioner and hold such interest. The time and effort involved must have been considerable...in translation alone. The level of notable expertise is
offered even to those who want to take babysteps. An easy to follow text with levity, fact and quotes. Currently, the best (most authentic and accurate) feng shui book on the western market. I offer the book to my clients who wish to know more about feng shui. At first, I wondered what took so long. Why was this type of book not published before now? My
answer. This took ALOT of work and more importantly the cooperation of three people working TOGETHER.
Rating:
Summary: an answer to understanding traditional Feng Shui.
Review: In today's instant tea and coffee - instant ups and downs - instant women's magazines "Foong Sway" - we find an answer to understanding traditional Feng Shui. Elizabeth and Masters Joseph and Val show us a side of Feng Shui that is not frightened to open the portholes of our intelligent nature. Most of the rubbish that is readily available shows the public the easy way for Faux analysis. Purchase this cure and immediately feel the difference. I don't think so. This excellent book is choc full of helpful words and masterful class notes to guide one through life's tortuous path. Speaking of which, I have always thought that Wang Shan Wang Shui was a sexual manoeuvre, now I've learned otherwise and it's this instruction that takes this book into excellence. My partner, a Feng Shui practitioner, asked me to review this wonderful book while she was on a job so I sat in the car and used this book as my advisor and worked out with my limited knowledge, the house that is to be built is a Dui house for period 8 and should be angled, etc... Well I was right - I deserved the money my partner was paid, or at least half! After reading this book and having met Master Joseph and sat through parts of his wonderful Master classes I felt honoured to review this comprehensive, well laid out and most thought provoking compendium.
Rating:
Summary: A MUST-BUY!
Review: Hooray! Now here is a book that shows what Feng Shui really is! If you always thought "There must be more to Feng Shui than hanging crystal balls in the corner!" here are your answers. Don't get confused by the title, this book is for the serious student. It also can turn any idiot into an expert. Elizabeth Moran not only compiled the Feng Shui knowledge from the masters Joseph Yu and Val Biktashev, she also added a lot of scientific material to explain the origin of the concepts behind Feng Shui.
Like any "Complete Idiot's Guide" this one is well structured, you can take the long tour and read about all the backgrounds before you get to the practical applications, or you can immediately flip to the Feng Shui stuff and start practising in your own house. Wonder where your wealth corner is? In Traditional Feng Shui there are even two and there is also your personal wealth direction!
It was very brave of Elizabeth Moran to completely rewrite the book. (Make sure you get the "Second Edition!") The first edition was already better than average, but it still contained some confusing concepts. Now the Second Edition is THE book that a master can recommend to his clients if they want to know more about why he told them to move the bed.
It covers the two most common Feng Shui schools practiced throughout Asia - Eight House School and Flying Stars, it explains the backgrounds, advantages and disadvantages of both and how to combine them in reading the same house. For easy reference every possible star chart is in this book - they come in circles so the beginner can easily apply them, though it may be a little confusing at first for the advanced student.
Giving you even more at no extra cost, this book also includes an easy to read and easy to apply introduction into Chinese Astrology. All the tables are there to construct anybody's horoscope chart - and you don't have to learn a single Chinese character.
The Chinese believe that Heaven, Earth and Man must come together to create luck, that is doing the right thing in the right place at the right time. This book provides you with all the knowledge to find out when and where you can do it.
About the reviewer: Robert Schmitz is a professional Feng Shui consultant in Berlin, Germany. I am asked quite often which books I could recommend. Now I found one!
Rating:
Summary: The Second Edition is the Best Feng Shui Book Available!
Review: When you type in "feng shui," amazon search brings up 406 books (as of May
2002). Only about 10 are worth reading. Just because a book is popular
doesn't make it valid. As a tradition feng shui practitioner, I'm incensed at
what's happening in the book market. No doubt feng shui is hot. People are
getting book deals who have no knowledge of feng shui. Clearing Clutter? Give
me a break. Tradition feng shui has nothing to do with clutter clearing,
spirituality, religion, or "handing bells in your front door to ring in
happiness" as was printed in the magazine Feng Shui For Modern Living. This
is junk feng shui. New aged psychobabble, pure and simple. There is no wealth
corner. You won't find a mate by hanging a picture of lovebirds in your
bedroom. Mirrors won't attract or deflect good or bad qi. Please support this
book. Moran, Yu, and Biktashev are respected authorities of traditional feng
shui. They give instruction about two tradition methods - Eight House land
Flying Star. Here, you'll learn to determine what house (and mate) is
favorable to you. You'll learn about furniture placement and land evaluation.
Also, there's an entire section about The Four Pillars of Destiny, a system
of Chinese astrology. Here, you can learn to calculate your luck -- your
best years, months, and day, and your best colors. Other good books are by
Eva Wong, Raymond Lo, and Stephen Skinner, all of whom spoke at the feng shui
conference mentioned at the beginning of this review.
Rating:
Summary: Simple and Comprehensive
Review: As a Feng Shui consultant and owner of THE FENG SHUI HOUSE in Athens, I have studied almost every book published on Feng Shui.Also,
I have been following great masters whom I respect for the knowledge they shared with me, but when I found Feng Shui Second Edition, I just understood how to apply Feng Shui rules and tecniques in every residential or working place without spending a fortune on that!I was really enlightened on the concepts of Feng Shui and I was surprised realizing how easy the applications are!I do feel that whoever starts learning Feng Shui with this book is really lucky!
Joseph, Elizabeth and Val Thank you so much for the serious and profound help you provide with this excellent piece of real work!
Vasso Anagnostopoulou
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