I received this book from NetGalley for review. This provides an instructive and educational view to relieving stress via Taoism psychology. Like most medical conditions it takes acceptance and desire to change unhealthy habits and routines. By taking an active role daily one can learn the tools needed to reduce stress. This is for people who want to ease the effects of stress through holistic and spiritual practice. ( )

Check the full review at http://rubinaramesh.blogspot.com/2013/12/the-tao-of-stress-by-robert-g-santee.ht...

This book has been a wealth of information regarding the battling against stress. It teaches you how to reduce stress and by following the various methods told in this book, you can eradicate stress out of your life. This would create not only harmony within yourself but also with those who live around us. The author uses short stories to convey his teachings and practices, which I found very entertaining and interesting.

This book has been divided into four parts. It covers the basic of stress and Taoism and is based on the components of Zuowanglun. It teaches you about simplifying your life, behaviour and how to interact with others. It also focuses on desires - how to reduce your desire so that you can reduce your stress.

The Tao of Stress deals with maintaining your vital energy (qi). This keeps the mind, body and environment in harmony. It touches every aspect of our lives whether eating, drinking, sleeping, exercising, and also chronic stress. How each of this if not properly done, can change the energy within us, causing us chronic stress. The author tells that maintaining a journal is very important in recording our stress level. I found this particular statement very intriguing. Whether it is weight loss or letting go of her habit - we are always advised to keep a journal which records even a slight change in our habits. Similarly, making a note at various stages of our daily life can show us where a stress is coming from or what stresses us out the most. The author states that to have a bit of normal stress, is not a problem. In fact, normal stress allows us to find solutions to different problems.

This book has loads of information. So, if you’re planning to glance through this book, it is of no use. You have to make a habit of reading this book daily, to understand the practices and the teachings of Taoism. There are exercises given by the author, which if practiced properly, shows you the right part of Taoism.
One of the best features I like about this book was not only its teaching, but also how it tried to show the readers about the negative aspects affecting our lives. It is so easy to complain, whine, criticise or even mock others. But all these are negative feelings which prevents from finding solutions to all our problems. All these negative feelings makes us lose our centre and focus in life and disbalances the cosmic forces of yin and yang within us.

By following The Taoist path, we not only simplify our lives, reduce the desire but also eliminate negative thoughts from our mind. ( )