Rating: 
Summary: Probably the most useful Taiji book widely available.
Review: Any Taiji book begs the question "why does this book exist?" You can't learn from a book after all, so a book must either enhance what you get from your current teacher, or help you find a new one.The typical Taiji book doesn't stand up to this question. It shows a form (usually poorly executed) sandwiched in a big wad of esoterica that is at best useless to a typical student and at worst misleading. Master Liang's book, on the other hand, is among the best that I've seen that are available to the public. First, of all, the examples are shown correctly. My pet peeve in Taiji books is bad posture and poor habits that should be purged after a few years of studying under a competent teacher, if not in the process of editing the photos. In contrast, master Liang's execution is, of course, impeccable. Second, this book contains guidelines for correct execution, which in most Taiji books is completely missing. These two factors alone make it stand above any of the widely distributed titles. I would prefer a little more emphasis on readily observable criteria of correct performance. Armed with this knowledge, a student could readily critique himself, or a potential teacher. I've seen only one or two better books in this regard, and those were privately published. Third, the book contains many demonstrations of applications for the 24 movement form which will be of interest to serious students and martial artists. Many people are unaware of Taiji martial applications because the abundance of grappling, throwing and other close quarters techniques makes Taiji fors difficult to interpret. Finally, while even students of traditional forms will find much of value here, this book covers two of the most widely studied standardized forms. Students of the 24 or 48 forms will find this a valuable reference. The main drawbacks of this book are that (1) the uniform that Master Liang wears is very loose, while this good for practice, it obscures the posture of the hips and lower back; many students would benefit from a clearer view. (2) This book continues a few bits of obscure nomenclature that has prevailed in the US since early, bad translations of Taiji books. For example Yema Fenzong ("Wild Horse Parts its Mane") is translated as Part the Wild Horse's Mane. Generations of American students have been waving their hands around like they were stroking "My Little Pony's" mane, which is not the right idea at all. Aside from these minor faults, this book sets a new, higher standard for mainstream Taiji books in English.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent text for both beginner and advanced students
Review: For a book of this type I feel I must first begin with this statement; One cannot learn a martial art from a book or a video. There is no substitute for the person to person instruction of a competent teacher. That said, this book is one of the best texts available on taijiquan. It is an excellent supplement to anyone's regular studies in taiji. The author provides clear (although brief) explanations of taiji theory and history. Then the author provides step-by-step instruction through the standardized 24 and 48 movement forms. For those who have already learned these forms the book is especially valuable as a source for study, review, and comparison. I repeatedly return to this text to examine Master Liang's posture and description of technique and application. For those who are just learning taiji the many photographs and descriptions are good references for learning the postures.
Rating:
Summary: When Video Tapes aren't enough
Review: I bought two tapes to learn the 24 Posture Yang Short Form. One by Paul Lam and the other by David Dorian Ross. I liked both and especially enjoy anything David Dorian Ross does. However, I kept finding myself wondering when I tried to practise what I learned on the tapes without watching: "what foot should the weight be on." I looked at many books. This one is great. It gives clear instructions and has photo's with lines to show the direction the hands and feet should move. However, you have the same problem with these directional lines as with a video when you are facing the instructor, i.e., they are mirroring you so what looks like a move to the right is actually a move to the left. That is where the text helps so much. I still am using the videos to learn but this was exactly the adjunct help I was looking for to memorize the moves. After doing a section of the tape, I can go to the book and begin to memorize which foot is bearing the weight and which foot is moving in which direction etc. I am so impressed I am going to order the accompanying video from [online store} as soon as I submit this article.
Rating:
Summary: When Video Tapes aren't enough
Review: I bought two tapes to learn the 24 Posture Yang Short Form. One by Paul Lam and the other by David Dorian Ross. I liked both and especially enjoy anything David Dorian Ross does. However, I kept finding myself wondering when I tried to practise what I learned on the tapes without watching: "what foot should the weight be on." I looked at many books. This one is great. It gives clear instructions and has photo's with lines to show the direction the hands and feet should move. However, you have the same problem with these directional lines as with a video when you are facing the instructor, i.e., they are mirroring you so what looks like a move to the right is actually a move to the left. That is where the text helps so much. I still am using the videos to learn but this was exactly the adjunct help I was looking for to memorize the moves. After doing a section of the tape, I can go to the book and begin to memorize which foot is bearing the weight and which foot is moving in which direction etc. I am so impressed I am going to order the accompanying video from [online store} as soon as I submit this article.
Rating:
Summary: excellent reference
Review: Like other reviewers, I agree that a book is no substitute for instruction by a teacher. Nevertheless, this comes as close (for the Yang style short form) as anything I've found. Even if you have no interest in the martial aspects of taiji, having the potential applications of the form enriches practice. I found the illustrations clear. I own a half dozen or so books on taiji, and this is the only one I regularly consult.
Rating:
Summary: Worthwhile
Review: The simplified, widely practiced 24-posture form was devised by the Chinese government in the 1950's due to a shortage of doctors. Founded primarily on the Yang style, it takes 5-10 minutes to practice, less time than for the 37- and 108-posture forms.
Yang style is probably the most thoroughly documented style of Taijiquan, for better or worse. So this 24-posture short version represents a mainstream starting point.
Liang's compact manual probably offers the most complete and concise description of this form available, together with overview of historical background, training tips, and illustrations of martial applications "hidden" within the form.
The companion video of the same name (purchased separately) shows the sequence twice from the front view, once from the back. Then it shows martial applications individually and also the 48-posture version. To get the 24-posture form broken down in detail, I also recommend Dr. Paul Lam's DVD, "Tai Chi the 24 forms".
In the YMAA tradition of Dr. Yang, this manual (and video) represent training notes at a disciplined, somewhat demanding level. The numbering system for the photographs, together with the compactness of the page layout have caused me to pencil in some arrows and titles.
If you're simply looking for a group stretching routine to follow along with at your local community center, you may consider this text ambitious.
Rating: 
Summary: Excellent Source for Students of 24 & 48 forms
Review: There is a lot of stuff out there on tai chi these days. It is hard to find anything that is helpful, in a practical sense, to students of specific forms. This book (as do all of the YMAA books) has easy to follow pictures accompanied by arrows showing where movement originates and completes. For the student of the 24 and 48 forms who needs a reference between classes, this is an excellent source.
Rating:
Summary: This is a solid book for a beginner
Review: This book is an excellent book for the beginner it shows the moves very clearly. good photos. It also includes the applications for those who are interested in self defense. I think applications are important because they demonstrate the why and hows of a particular posture. I highly recommend it.
Rating:
Summary: One of the best books on tai chi
Review: This book presents the 24 and 48 posture tai chi form. The 24 move form is good for busy people, but the 48 move form is even better because it combines movements from the 3 most popular styles of tai chi, Yang, Wu, and Chen, so the student gets some background in each. At 150 pages long in large paperback format, this book packs a lot of info between the covers. For example, I learned that in addition to the Wu style, there is also a W'u style, which I didn't know, although I've studied both Yang and Wu style tai chi.
The author gives a brief introduction to tai chi in the first chapter, discussing basic concepts and information, then proceeds to some classical Taoist philosophy. He also tells some interesting stories about the founder and his sons, who had many adventures and exploits, and various stories and legends have grown up around them.
Next there is a separate chapter on chi gung, a subject that has become almost a requirement for a tai chi book, I notice. However, most of the book is taken up by athe chapter showing the martial applications and the 48 move form. Dozens of applications are shown, and the photos are clear and easy to understand. I found this the most enjoyable part of the book, as there are still postures I don't know all applications for, such as snake creeps down, and the author presented one on that.
There is a chapter on guidelines for tai chi practice that gives detailed instructions for how to use the different parts of the body, from the eyes to the feet in performing the form. I found this useful because sometimes I still forget some of the fine details of how to hold the body when I do the form.
Finally, there are several appendices which provide a list of the 24 and 48 postures and their translations, a glossary on Chinese terms that is more complete than most, and a brief bibliography for further reading. The book is well written and easy to understand even when discussing some of the more abstract and esoteric principles. There are two mini-biographies of each other, two prefaces by two different masters, and a preface by the notable Dr. Yang Jwing Ming.
Rating:
Summary: Re-Engineer Your Body and Mind
Review: This book, written by a young apprentice who's a mechanical engineer as well as a skilled pratictioner of tai chi, presents a detailed and engaging overview of Eastern medicine, best practices for tai chi, and preparation before plunging into a methodical listing of each of the 24 and 48 postures of tai chi. A monument to ingenuity and hard work, each exercise is presented by a cogent verbal description and accompanying photographs, usually about four photographs for each exercise with arrows indicating the direction of movement. If you do well learning from books, whether visually or verbally, this book could be an excellent way to learn the vocabulary of tai chi movements. Aging hippy types may be put off by the black and white photos and the comprehensiveness of detail, but like a dictionary, this book is worth examining because it arguably contains a large body of knowledge skillfully presented. (Those desiring a more relaxed but less educational approach might try Step-by-Step Tai Chi by Lam Kam Chuen, published by Gaia books, the group that gives New Agers a good name.)
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