Books with author David Schiff

While it seeks neither to define Zen nor answer its most famous koan (a riddle unanswerable by conventional thinking, in this case the sound of one hand clapping), this bestselling little book with 437,000 copies in print possesses a maverick Zen spirit that points to a different way of looking at the world.With each page featuring a quote, phrase, story, koan, haiku, or poem, Zen Companion combines the feeling and format of a meditation book with 2,500 years of wisdom-from Lao-tzu and Groucho Marx, William Carlos Williams and The Little Prince, D. T. Suzuki and Walker Percy, the Buddha and the Bible, Einstein and Gertrude Stein. It's a celebration of intuition: "If a man wishes to be sure of the road he treads on, he must close his eyes and walk in the dark"-St. John the Cross. Individuality: "Do not seek to follow in the footsteps of the men of old; seek what they sought."-Basho. Uncomplicated nature: "Among twenty snowy mountains/The only moving thing/Was the eye of the blackbird."-Wallace Stevens. Childlike spontaneity: "Goodnight stars. Goodnight air."-Margaret Wise Brown. Irreverent paradox: "Wakuan complained when he saw a picture of bearded Bodhidharma: 'Why hasn't that fellow a beard?'" And above all, the simple pleasure of life lived in the moment. "Chop wood, carry water."

A moment of pause in the midst of business as usual. A breath of calm to counteract the bustle of the everyday. A nugget of wisdom for your desktop. This calendar features hundreds of quotes, koans, parables, and poems. Find peace and wisdom in the words of philosophers like Osho: Whatever you feel, you become. It is your responsibility. Draw inspiration from writers like Anaïs Nin: When you possess light within, you see it externally. Learn from Zen masters like the Buddha himself: Choose the path that leads to wisdom.

While it seeks neither to define Zen nor answer its most famous koan (a riddle unanswerable by conventional thinking, in this case the sound of one hand clapping), this bestselling little book with 437,000 copies in print possesses a maverick Zen spirit that points to a different way of looking at the world.With each page featuring a quote, phrase, story, koan, haiku, or poem, Zen Companion combines the feeling and format of a meditation book with 2,500 years of wisdom-from Lao-tzu and Groucho Marx, William Carlos Williams and The Little Prince, D. T. Suzuki and Walker Percy, the Buddha and the Bible, Einstein and Gertrude Stein. It's a celebration of intuition: "If a man wishes to be sure of the road he treads on, he must close his eyes and walk in the dark"-St. John the Cross. Individuality: "Do not seek to follow in the footsteps of the men of old; seek what they sought."-Basho. Uncomplicated nature: "Among twenty snowy mountains/The only moving thing/Was the eye of the blackbird."-Wallace Stevens. Childlike spontaneity: "Goodnight stars. Goodnight air."-Margaret Wise Brown. Irreverent paradox: "Wakuan complained when he saw a picture of bearded Bodhidharma: 'Why hasn't that fellow a beard?'" And above all, the simple pleasure of life lived in the moment. "Chop wood, carry water."

Nothing moves the Christmas spirit like caroling. Sing on the way to Grandmother’s house. Sing going for the tree. Sing while heading to shop and back. Then bring the party in from the car, pop the CD in the stereo, and gather family, friends, and neighbors for eggnog and song—caroling has never been so joyful, activity-filled, or convenient. Announcing Christmas Sing-Along Car-i-oke, a holiday fun kit featuring a book of 17 great sing-along carols plus other musical activities, a CD of accompanying music, and three booklets of lyrics for the backseat. The second book after All-American Car-i-oke, with 110,000 copies in print, Christmas Sing-Along Car-i-ike is a family Christmas concert and talent show between covers: Get right into the mood with the caroler’s favorite, “We Wish You a Merry Christmas”; turn up the rousing factor with a hand-clapping “Go Tell It on the Mountain”; join the Messiah’s “Hallelujah Chorus”; then glide into a tender “Silent Night” with solo guitar accompaniment—just the way the song was unveiled on Christmas Eve, 1818. Plus there’s the Backseat Ballet Company’s production of The Nutcracker, a hip-hop version of “’Twas the Night Before Christmas,” even a recorder lesson that will teach you how to play “Jingle Bells” and other tunes. The CD is filled with musical variety (a bluegrass version of “Good King Wenceslas”; an original reggae carol, “Bah, Humbug!”), and just enough vocals to keep everyone together; the 64-page book contains not only all the lyrics, but also tips on singing and Christmas history, lore, and trivia; the three booklets contain just the lyrics. Play it early, play it often, for the merriest of holidays.

From now on, backseat pleas of "Are we there yet?" will be replaced with "Can we go for another ride?" Introducing ALL-AMERICAN CAR-I-OKE-yes, karaoke for the car-a kit including a book of 15 great family sing-along tunes and activities galore, an accompanying CD of music, and three booklets of lyrics for the back seat and the way-back. Sing a gutsy, rocking version of Proud Mary-and learn some cool seat-dancing moves to go with it. Put on a show voice for Give My Regards to Broadway. Play a mad-lib version of mix-and-match lyrics with the Are We There Yet Blues. Pair off for the cowboy duet Red River Valley, raise a tear with Danny Boy, put on your best hillbilly voice and tell the story of Big Rock Candy Mountain (with some new child-friendly lyrics). And take the Car-i-oke Challenge: Try to hit the high note-land of the free-eeeeeee!-of The Star-Spangled Banner. The CD, recorded in Nashville, ranges from big instrumental productions with full horns to jug-band fun; vocals are added where needed to help the singers along. The 64-page book includes full lyrics to all the songs, plus tips on singing, road song quizzes, travel trivia, lessons in back seat drumming, and other musical activities. The three booklets have just the lyrics. It's an all-American, all-family musical extravaganza.

From now on, backseat pleas of "Are we there yet?" will be replaced with "Can we go for another ride?" Introducing ALL-AMERICAN CAR-I-OKE-yes, karaoke for the car-a kit including a book of 15 great family sing-along tunes and activities galore, an accompanying CD of music, and three booklets of lyrics for the back seat and the way-back. Sing a gutsy, rocking version of Proud Mary-and learn some cool seat-dancing moves to go with it. Put on a show voice for Give My Regards to Broadway. Play a mad-lib version of mix-and-match lyrics with the Are We There Yet Blues. Pair off for the cowboy duet Red River Valley, raise a tear with Danny Boy, put on your best hillbilly voice and tell the story of Big Rock Candy Mountain (with some new child-friendly lyrics). And take the Car-i-oke Challenge: Try to hit the high note-land of the free-eeeeeee!-of The Star-Spangled Banner. The CD, recorded in Nashville, ranges from big instrumental productions with full horns to jug-band fun; vocals are added where needed to help the singers along. The 64-page book includes full lyrics to all the songs, plus tips on singing, road song quizzes, travel trivia, lessons in back seat drumming, and other musical activities. The three booklets have just the lyrics. It's an all-American, all-family musical extravaganza.

Nothing moves the Christmas spirit like caroling. Sing on the way to Grandmother’s house. Sing going for the tree. Sing while heading to shop and back. Then bring the party in from the car, pop the CD in the stereo, and gather family, friends, and neighbors for eggnog and song—caroling has never been so joyful, activity-filled, or convenient. Announcing Christmas Sing-Along Car-i-oke, a holiday fun kit featuring a book of 17 great sing-along carols plus other musical activities, a CD of accompanying music, and three booklets of lyrics for the backseat. The second book after All-American Car-i-oke, with 110,000 copies in print, Christmas Sing-Along Car-i-ike is a family Christmas concert and talent show between covers: Get right into the mood with the caroler’s favorite, “We Wish You a Merry Christmas”; turn up the rousing factor with a hand-clapping “Go Tell It on the Mountain”; join the Messiah’s “Hallelujah Chorus”; then glide into a tender “Silent Night” with solo guitar accompaniment—just the way the song was unveiled on Christmas Eve, 1818. Plus there’s the Backseat Ballet Company’s production of The Nutcracker, a hip-hop version of “’Twas the Night Before Christmas,” even a recorder lesson that will teach you how to play “Jingle Bells” and other tunes. The CD is filled with musical variety (a bluegrass version of “Good King Wenceslas”; an original reggae carol, “Bah, Humbug!”), and just enough vocals to keep everyone together; the 64-page book contains not only all the lyrics, but also tips on singing and Christmas history, lore, and trivia; the three booklets contain just the lyrics. Play it early, play it often, for the merriest of holidays.

While it seeks neither to define Zen nor answer its most famous koan (a riddle unanswerable by conventional thinking, in this case the sound of one hand clapping), this bestselling little book . . . possesses a maverick Zen spirit that points to a different way of looking at the world. With each page featuring a quote, phrase, story, koan, haiku, or poem, Zen Companion combines the feeling and format of a meditation book with 2,500 years of wisdom-from Lao-tzu and Groucho Marx, William Carlos Williams and The Little Prince, D. T. Suzuki and Walker Percy, the Buddha and the Bible, Einstein and Gertrude Stein. It's a celebration of intuition: "If a man wishes to be sure of the road he treads on, he must close his eyes and walk in the dark"-St. John the Cross. Individuality: "Do not seek to follow in the footsteps of the men of old; seek what they sought."-Basho. Uncomplicated nature: "Among twenty snowy mountains/The only moving thing/Was the eye of the blackbird."-Wallace Stevens. Childlike spontaneity: "Goodnight stars. Goodnight air."-Margaret Wise Brown. Irreverent paradox: "Wakuan complained when he saw a picture of bearded Bodhidharma: 'Why hasn't that fellow a beard?'" And above all, the simple pleasure of life lived in the moment. "Chop wood, carry water." - from a different edition of this book

The unexpected saying. A haiku that leaves an "Ahhh" in its wake. A momentary glimpse of Beauty--or a 2,000-year-old line of Truth. In words of Zen masters, Beat poets, transcendentalists and mystics, seekers, iconoclasts, outsiders and artists comes a full year of wisdom, ephemeral and yet lasting. Forget coffee--this is the daily jolt that really clears the mind. Or, as Jung said: "He who looks outside, dreams; he who looks inside, awakens." Now in its tenth year.