Rating: 
Summary: Second Edition is a relief.
Review: Yes, I think that title makes for a fair statement.Normally you will not see me go out to get 'second editions' of anything, be that books, cd's or whatever else.
As I proceed through the latest edition of Complete Idiot's Guide To Feng Shui, it becomes evident however, how authors Moran and Biktashev went through great lengths to offer even more material than was already available through the previous publication and it is safe to say that they now have an entirely new book out, rather than just an edited version. The second edition provides a whole new spectrum and it will guide students up to advanced level. The last decade or so, students' and clients' feedback tells me how people increasingly feel endlessly-lost-in-space by the stream of conflicting formulae and how they often don't know how to aim their ship's compass needle anymore. Look at the sheer vomit of book after book after lecture after course. Because of this confusion, I saw many people got lost for the trade. I have always felt confident that the hype around Feng Shui and other Qi studies would be temporary, for it is simple deduction how people - clients, students, practitioners - will not accept emptiness and superficiality any longer. There are two titles that have been very recently published that strengthen me in this view, and those are the latest Feng Shui title by master Eva Wong and the Second Edition of Complete Idiot's Guide To Feng Shui. Finally, I would say, two books that will not take advantage of reader's ignorance, that will not have a hidden message: 'buy me, and then later buy a better edition of me, but for the time being let's keep you uninitiated'. Anyway, this book - as it can be taken as a step by step guide - introduces cohesion back into the process of studying and applying authentic Traditional Chinese Feng Shui, this time not just for the beginning student - who will feel already supported in building his or her own house's Flying Star chart - and the advanced student, but for the practitioner and the teacher who will feel endorsed by its content in how it deals with many of the misconceptions that have been out there. Teachers who choose to follow a down to earth and academic approach can add the material to their curriculum. To me, the book vibrates a refreshing responsibility and sincerity towards the society of students in Oriental metaphysics, the more so where Moran and Biktashev for the second edition cared to add reknowned Chinese master Joseph Yu to the board of authors. Yu has been one of the world's leading authorities on Classical Chinese Feng Shui, the Chinese astrologies of Four Pillars of Destiny and Zi Wei Dou Shu and is known for his indepth teachings in Yi Jing (Book of Changes). In doing so, the second edition definitely moves away from the first one, as Yu offers many advanced Flying Star techniques, adding special charts and advanced techniques, some of which would be generally still regarded 'secret' and withheld and not be given out at all by other teachers. Yu further addresses formulae that may even out some of the controversies that we have seen emerge lately. The book's collection of Star charts are clear and easy to understand, also to the beginning student. To my knowledge there isn't a book around that has this kind of information. He has added accurate step-by-step instruction about performing an advanced Feng Shui audit. On top of this, and not to be found in the first edition also, Yu then devotes a section entirely on Four Pillars of Destiny, thereby complementing much of the Time aspects already available in Feng Shui theories and aspects of destiny. Over recent years, the Four Pillars of Destiny has successfully taken over the position once taken in by what I would call 'Popular Chinese astrology', where we only found our year animal described in magazines, newspapers and books. Instead, the reader will be able to build his complete Chinese horoscope according to the traditional rules and find the Elements and animal signs for his or her year, month, day and hour of birth. To round up this review, and only meant to express my personal views, I believe a powerful red thread of the book already lies in its explanation of the difference between faux and authentic Feng Shui. Furthermore, the reader will find no rituals, affirmations, visualizations or superstition, for simple reason that Classical Chinese Feng Shui never needed this and authentic teachers never needed to rely on them.
That, to me, is a relief already and why I must recommend the book as a 'must have'. The book does right to the ancient Chinese masters who were far from hippies or alternative new age thinkers, but who were instead astronomers, mathematicians, physicists and who had in the first place built Feng Shui from their sound observation of astronomical realities. Hence the title of my review. What I particularly like is how the authors keep themselves approachable to readers of both the Complete Idiot's Guide To Feng Shui as well as the Complete Idiot's Guide To The I Ching (same authors), who can subscribe to the authors' Yahoo! Group mailinglists for further exchange and studies. Readers of Complete Idiot's Guide of Feng Shui:
Readers of Complete Idiot's Guide To The I Ching:
Website Joseph Yu:
Rating:
Summary: The Best Feng Shui Book Ever!
Review: How can I say that The Complete Idiot's Guide To Feng Shui - Second Edition is the best feng shui book ever? Because I have read almost every feng shui book written in English and on the book shelves in America. As an international Time-Space (Classical) Feng Shui Consultant I have longed for a book that I could recommend to my students and my clients so they can have a quality, handy reference to work with as well as a clean, clear, concise introduction to the basics of Classical Feng Shui.
Elizabeth, Val, and Joseph have formed an exquisitely powerful team to bring this incredibly complex system into an easy to follow and understandable format. This book comes complete with charts and the instructions on how to develop the charts and how to read them and apply the information to their homes and offices. The information in this book is worth $1000's. Although no book can take the place of personalized instruction, this book takes us further than any other in the marketplace. Thanks to the authors for bringing this powerful, heretofore mysterious technique to all of us. Many Blessings.
Rating:
Summary: Second Edition: Exceedingly Well Done!
Review: As a serious student of Feng Shui for more than 10 years and a professional Feng Shui consultant, I have traveled many miles and spent a small fortune to learn the knowledge that is contained within the pages of this wonderful book. A big thanks are owed to Elizabeth Moran and Masters Biktashev and Yu. The authors have with great respect taken a complex subject and managed to make it easy to understand and even fun! The new graphics are beautiful. The explanations are clear and concise.
If you could only choose one book on the subject, this would have to be the one.
Rating: 
Summary: Not For Idiots
Review: To me, an "Idiot's Guide" means a basic overview which this book is not! It is very convoluted and disorganized and goes way too much into all areas of Oriental philosophy. While there are a very few interesting areas, this book is way over the top.
Rating: 
Summary: good, but not complete
Review: This book is fairly good, although many of the concepts are different from other feng shui books: 1. east/west system - most books I read before this one suggest you sit "facing" your lucky direction, but this book suggest you should have your lucky direction "behind" you, which one is correct? I don't know. 2. the section on flying star is really not flying star, but "Nine Star Ki", a variation of the authentic flying star system. people who really want to learn chinese flying star should purchase David Twicken's "Flying Star made easy" 3. The best section of the entire book is the four pillars of destiny by Joesph Yu, it's got everything for you to get start on, although if your chart is too balanced - you may have a hard time figuring out if your day-master is weak or strong without factoring in clashes,combination, and hidden elements of the earthly branch. I would highly recommend David Twicken's Chinese Astrology book if you want to have a complete understanding of four pillars. curtis f
Rating:
Summary: An interesting and enjoyable read.
Review: This book gives a clear picture of Feng Shui for the beginner. Great for anyone who is curious and wants to know more about the feng shui craze. This was my 3rd "Idiot's" book and they all have been interesting and enjoyable to read, I love the "idiot's" series!
Rating:
Summary: Execllant Reading
Review: This book is well thought out, very easy to understand and apply. I would recommend this to anyone that is just starting out to learn about Feng Shui. The author has taken the time to go into great detail to explain what has been up until now confusing.
Rating:
Summary: True Feng Shui without the superstition
Review: If you're truly interested in learning traditional Feng Shui and don't just want to be told where to place your furniture this is the best book out there. This book is one of only a few that instructs the reader in the basics of traditional Feng Shui. Most of the feng shui books on the shelves are varied versions of BTB Feng Shui. They tell you which corners are related to which life aspirations (wealth, romance, career, etc.) and how to enhance them with plants, wind chimes and mirrors. These techniques can work well to help you focus your intentions and goals for these aspects of your life and provide improvements as a result, but they have nothing to do with Feng Shui! Traditional Feng Shui is sooo much more than that and this book will give a sincerely interested reader a great foundation and dispel many of the myths that are so commonly referred to as Feng Shui. No serious student should be without it!
Rating:
Summary: Excellent introduction to Feng Shui!
Review: After poring through a lot of the Feng Shui texts available today, I was pleasantly surprised by the quality and authenticity of information in the "Idiot's Guide to Feng Shui." The book begins with a very rational and demystified look at the history and theories of Feng Shui. The next sections continue with information about two major classical schools of Feng Shui, the "Eight Mansions" and the "Flying Stars." All the information is well presented with interesting and scholarly tidbits included in addition to the main text. The last section is an introduction the the Four Pillars of Destiny (Ba Zi) school of astrology, written by noted Feng Shui and Chinese astrology master Joseph Yu. Most of the Feng Shui texts on the market tend to over mystify Feng Shui turning it into a quaint practice that westerners easily exotify. Many other texts play to the McFengshui market where a wonderfully complex science is simplified to the extent where it barely resembles the original. The "idiots Guide" avoids this and does an excellent job of presenting authentic Feng Shui, at least at an introductory level.
Rating:
Summary: Missing Link to Authentic Feng Shui
Review: Why? Because it provides the missing link to the 6,000 year old true Feng Shui secrets that have been withheld from the masses-- even to this day. Why is it -- that after spending thousands of dollars in both training and in purchasing and/or scanning through most every book we have come across, this book is currently the one we can in good conscience recommend to our clients? Why is it that we have had call after call for help where new clients had unsuspectingly applied less than complete Feng Shui to their homes, relationships, and businesses only to introduce potential imbalance where there was none? True advanced Flying Star Compass Feng Shui is so powerful that it doesn't matter at all whether you believe in it or not -- this stuff is based on repeatable formulas that work. This beautiful art of placement is that and much more-- when you get ahold of the real McCoy. Can take you from beginner to intermediate. Matthew & Carol Erwin Consultants in the Twin Cities
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