Rating: 
Summary: Ok, I have to weigh in on this topic now...
Review: ...I have seen the recent negative reviews where people have performed the Five Rites as explained in the book, 21 reps a day, and have experienced NO results. I find that unbelievable. My only question would be "how" are they doing the Five Rites? The author/Col. Bradford is adamant about doing the rites completely "to form" and adhering to every aspect as written in the book.
There is breathing to attend to; physical form with the actual rites movements; and ensuring that the head does indeed go back and forth correctly with each exercise, among many others. It would be my suggestion to those folks who have experienced nothing so far, that they look into "how" they are actually performing the rites.
I say this because, after five months of doing the five rites (and I am only able to do up to 10 reps of each so far, they are so intense to do!), I have lost 20 POUNDS, and my energy and fitness level has NEVER BEEN BETTER! I have tried many, many exercise routines and eating programs, but I will be doing the five rites for LIFE! I wish I DID have a "before and after" picture for those who are skeptical! All I can say is that I am constantly having co-workers ask me what I have been doing lately, because I look so much better! I also have not been sick since I started the Five Rites.
This way of living involves so much more than just exercise...it balances all of your internal systems (hormonal, metabollic, etc.), that is how it works so completely. I had female hormone problems prior to doing the Five Rites, and now I have NO problems in that area (and I am in the middle of peri-menopause).
Well, I just had to provide my two cents, and to say that this WOL (way of living) is superb, and very satisfying. I feel fit from the inside out, and that is how it should be! Thanks for listening.
Rating:
Summary: Five Rites Just Right For This Reviewer
Review: Ancient Secret of the Fountain of Youth arrived less than a week ago. I immediately read it and began to put it into action. So far the results have been unbelievably gratifying.
This book involves an intriguing story. The reader is left wondering, "Was there a Colonel Bradford? If so, what became of him? And who is Peter Kelder?"
Intriguing as the narrative is, it is not the core of the book. That core consists of five Tibetan yoga exercises (the Five Rites) whose purpose is to aid health by getting the chakras--
those energy centers that supposedly lie along the spine and in the head--to vibrate and move in harmony.
You may feel that you do not believe this. Fine. Then perhaps
you will be able to do the exercises simply as exercises. In
the past few days I have been doing just the first three of them-
and I have been able to greatly increase the distance I can
walk, and to give up using my cane. I am, needless to say, very
happy. and I hope for more and better to come.
This is merely an anecdote. and your experience may be different But if you have intractable health problems you may wish to try
this book--naturally in conjunction with advice from your doctor or other practitioner.
Rating: 
Summary: Some gems amidst the baubles
Review: Favorite quote of the book: (page 24) "Each one of us who strives to raise his or her consciousness to higher levels helps to elevate the consciousness of mankind as a whole."
Book motivation: Judging from the appeals in the back of the book, the motivation of this book seems to be to heighten interest in the Tibetan cause in this Western world. Tibetans suffered unimaginably during the Chinese takeover. A secondary motivation might be to introduce and embody Eastern concepts in an enticing Western packaging. This book may certainly be responsible for people delving further into Hatha Yoga, Tibetan Yoga styles, and Sufism, although it doesn't overtly push this agenda.
Book Format: Uses an easy to follow story to keep attention and introduce the exercises. The book employs several methods of propaganda. First there is the title 'Ancient Secret of the Fountain of Youth'. There is the Colonel, an undisclosed individual, who quested after this secret knowledge in Tibet and returned to yield his very hard-won and incredibly valuable knowledge to his friends. There is the 'lost chapter." There are the testimonials, which are many and various, and located at the book beginning to heighten your expectations and whet your appetite (6+% of the book is relegated to testimonials). There is an introduction by a doctor. There are claims of a much earlier printing. These and other literary devices make it an interesting read.
Story Line Shortcomings: Sounds like fantasy. First there is the 'alias' of the Colonel, a thoroughly unprovable entity . Next, the out of place body mirror in the monastery. Next, although this monastery is almost impossible to find, while there, the Colonel runs into two Western men, one being a bio-chemist. Next, instead of delineating the Tibetan diet and leaving it at that, he adulterates the book with many of his own opinions concerning a proper diet and forwards them as facts. Apparently the Lama's pure dietary advice is not good enough for 'Mr. Kelder.' For instance 'Mr. Kelder' advocates drinking your coffee black if drinking it diluted with milk or cream bothers you. You are also recommended to drink 12 8oz. glasses of water daily. Whew! Next, there is the proffered 'fact' that to become a superman or superwoman, one must necessarily become celibate. If you are not getting younger then maybe there are certain activities you need to quit, otherwise expect less results.
Technical Shortcomings: The book does not overtly spur its readers on to learning more about increasing health using additional asanas and other practices in Yoga, and thus lacks as a primer. There is also his identification of the 'subconscious' with a 'super-conscious', although this might not bother but the most discerning readers. Then there are the Dervishes. They do spin both ways, but in 'Mr. Kelder's' book you must only spin clockwise. This point is even punched up by 'doctor' in the appendix. Are doctors experts on whirling directions? Dervishes spin clockwise to increase their outward flow and create yang. They spin counterclockwise to heighten their inner channeling and yin. An Arabic poet, Rumi, started the divine practice of whirling.
Belying statements to the programs efficacy: (page 72-73) "...to achieve this kind of miracle, you must first desire to do so. Then you must accept the idea that it ...is certain you will. As long as the goal of growing younger is an impossible dream to you, it will remain just that." (So, if you find yourself getting older while doing these 'rites,' maybe you just missed the fundamental first step of believing, without a doubt, that they will work). (page 82) "The rewards you want should always be expressed in terms of feelings." (not observable results). (page 80) " ...you create and shape your life with your thoughts.
Silver Lining: For those of us in reasonable shape, who do not have one of the precluding conditions listed in the books appendix, this may be a good short workout to incorporate into the day. Do them as described, very carefully and slowly in the beginning. Anyone who can charm the idle off of their duffs and into action gets my vote. The introductory discourse on mantra/mantrum is probably one of the better aspects of this book. You can read this book in under three hours if you bypass the testimonials.
Rating: 
Summary: One more thing....
Review: I am still considering this book (that's why only 3 stars). I am sure the exercises are beneficial, however, judging from other reviewer's comments on experiencing stress, (...), back aches, fatigue, etc.. - these are typical symptoms of dedydration. As with any exercise program or just living in general, the body needs lots of water - a lot more than we normally think as being OK (other liquids such as juice, soda or tea does not benefit the body like water). I strongly recommend "You're Not Sick, You're Thirsty - Water: for Health, for Healing, for Life" written by F. Batmanghelidj, M.D. He explains why water is so vital, the benefits and how to do it. Water helps all bodily functions to work more efficiently down to the cellular level. Please note that among water's many benefits is the tendency to slow down and prevent premature aging.
He also recommends vitamin supplements as well to round out your water regimen. So stay hydrated and enjoy your exercise!
Rating:
Summary: I look better, but is it because of the book?
Review: I bought this book because of the reviews. I've been doing the rites now for 6 weeks and only increasing by 1 repetition a week so I'm up to 9 now. I'm on a self-improvement regimen anyway so I added this as the reviews were fantastic and figured it couldn't hurt. I'm a lot more flexible and can move around a lot easier than before. I also feel happier. I've lost some weight (been dieting though) and I look a lot better if my friends are to be believed. I think I look a little younger, and a man (in his early 40's) who asked me out would not believe I was 51. Maybe it's just a combination of diet, exercise and skin creams, I don't know, it's probably too soon to tell, but I know I feel and look better than I have in years. I've been on self-improvement programs before and not derived as much benefit as from this time, so maybe the 5 rites are really what they're cracked up to be. I do have some gray hair that I dye, and I'm waiting to see if it starts to go away like other people have said. That would be the proof for me as gray hair doesn't respond to diet and exercise! I'll post again in a few months. I recommend this book if for nothing else than to get you to limber up...
Rating: 
Summary: Effective, but Largely an Exageration
Review: I do think that the excersices in this book are rather good, and are definitely worth trying out. But to me, I think it is clear that the authors claims are bogus and an immense exageration. According to him, just doing the exercises and eating in way that you don;t combine too many foods at the same time will be the gateway to a fountain of youth type effect. He goes to the extent of presenting some story of a man who like achieved the most extradinary and phenomenal results this way. In my opinion, the story is clealry falsified. There might be a fountain of youth, but it is found in living a balanced life with good all around lifestyle habits.
Rating:
Summary: Effective, but Largely an Exageration
Review: I do think that the excersices in this book are rather good, and are definitely worth trying out. But to me, I think it is clear that the authors claims are bogus and an immense exageration. According to him, just doing the exercises and eating in way that you don;t combine too many foods at the same time will be the gateway to a fountain of youth type effect. He goes to the extent of presenting some story of a man who like achieved the most extradinary and phenomenal results this way. In my opinion, the story is clealry falsified. There might be a fountain of youth, but it is found in living a balanced life with good all around lifestyle habits.
Rating:
Summary: Simple and Effective
Review: I got this book after I purchased a similar book from another author and gave it to a friend who decided to keep it. I've read some of the reviews here and see that some people do not like the first exercise - the spinning. It is my favorite. While it does say in this one and other similar books that it is not recommended to go overboard with spinning - there I times I do spin about 99 times three times a day. It's a way of getting naturally high. (On a side not, spinning is my favorite part of salsa dancing).
I also know a woman who has transformed literally in a few months by doing these exercises - and she too, did mostly spinning. Not only did she look younger, but she become way slimmer.
Some reviewers say that this it not a book for beginners - but the exercises (essentially hatha yoga exercises) are very simple and you are meant to do them according to your comfort level, progressing at your own pace, so it doesn't matter how stiff or flexible you are - if you persist with the exercises you are bound to make progress. I'd even call this book "lazy man's book for flexiblity and awakening vital energy" because, after all, it only has five exercises.
There is a sixth "rite", but to the practice of that one, I believe that Taoist books related to the cultivation of sexual energy (e.g. Mantak Chia's) do it much greater justice.
Rating:
Summary: Low risk, high return potential
Review: I have been doing these exercises for 4 years (almost everyday). I've never been sick, have plenty of energy, have practically no gray hair, and many people tell me I look at least 8 years younger.
I do not agree with the reader who said "if these exercises were as good as they claim the whole world would be doing them". For years the medical community has been saying we should eat 5 or 6 servings of fruits and vegetables to prevent cancer and heart disease. How many people do you know who actually do it?
I can't say for sure my good health is caused by these exercises because there are others things I do such as: I walk and hike a lot, I drink lots of water, use sun block, don't smoke, and drink alcohol very rarely (haven't stick to all those vegetables yet).
To know if these exercises really work, we would have to do a control experiment. There is no other way to know for sure but a scientific experiment to separate the variables. (Too bad we can't make rats do the exercises!!)
Meanwhile, the book is inexpensive, there are very few risks and potential for high return. But, like others readers, I am open to and still waiting for "miracles". I am waiting for my perfect vision. Best to all,
Rating:
Summary: Highly Recommended
Review: I highly recommend the daily practice of the exercises in this book. The exercises dispel the sloggy, heavy air that people tend to get as the age. It jump starts and accelerates those invisible discs of energy around our bodies leaving us feeling and appearing more youthful and buoyant. As noted by one reviewer the exercises are simple and effective. They also work, so get to it!
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