Sunday, June 7, 2009

T'ai-Chi For Geniuses (The Book)

Originally posted on myspace February 24 2009

My second book "T'ai-Chi for Geniuses--A Practice Companion for the Genius in Everyone" is now in print. I actually wrote it before "Songwriting for Geniuses-25 Tips for the Genius in Everyone" but since the songwriting book was much shorter, I decided to do it first as a trial run. I went with iUniverse and this is a self-published, print-on-demand book. That means that they make and send you the book when you order it. There's no wasted paper, they're only made when sold, and more importantly there's no huge pallet of books in our apartment!

I have a web site where you can find out about the book, read a free sample, as well as order copies through
www.iUniverse.com, www.amazon.com, or through me directly paying with paypal. In case you're wondering, I make more money (and you get the book faster) if you order it directly from me.

Or, you can also go to www.GeneBurnett.com and click on the book's cover on
the home page.

Or, you can also search the book's title or my name on
www.amazon.com

T'ai-Chi Chuan is a Chinese martial art based on consciously aligning with the unforced balance of Yin and Yang energies that underlies all things. Whether or not you are interested in martial arts, T'ai-Chi principles of balance can be applied to any life activity to increase performance, efficiency, health and enjoyment.

"T'ai-Chi for Geniuses" is a practice companion, not an instructional training manual. Rather than presuming that the reader is a "dummy" or "complete idiot," I assert that there is an inner "genius" within everyone. This genius is a wellspring of intuitive knowledge vastly more intelligent than our conscious minds. I encourage the reader to listen to this inner genius while I break down the often confusing and mysterious T'ai-Chi training into four levels of work: Bone, Muscle, Energy and Spirit. Applying these levels of work to solo form training, partner work, weapons training, and daily life, I show how you can improve the quality and clarity of your practice, eventually becoming your own teacher and student.

I live and teach T'ai-Chi in Ashland Oregon and I've been teaching since 1985. I was certified to teach T'ai-Chi by Andrew Dale of the
Xin Qi Shen Dojo in Seattle Washington. I combine traditional Chinese principles of health, balance, and self-defense, with a Western, psychological, bioenergetic approach in an on-going exploration of the mind/body connection.

"Songwriting for Geniuses" is a short book of 25 tips to help aspiring songwriters write better, more satisfying songs. It's not about writing hits or improving the commercial quality of your songs. It's not about technical tricks or music theory. It's focused more on helping what I call your inner "genius" write songs that accurately convey your thoughts and feelings in a satisfying way.

Personally, I'd love to give you all free copies but this thing cost a bit to set up and until (and if!) it breaks even, I just can't afford to give any away.

I appreciate your support and please feel free to forward this to anyone you think might be interested in my book. And please consider giving a copy to any aspiring songwriters or T'ai-Chi students you may know...

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