Choosing to Be: Lessons in Living from a Feline Zen Master

I don't normally write reviews, but this author receives special kudos for a book that is not only terribly insightful but is also a book that has tremendous healing potential for those among us who are depressed, healing from a chronic illness, or just trying to get along day to day in a stressful world. The photograph of the young coon cat watching (with great fascination) the water swirl down the bathtub will stay with me always. I am also a great cat lover and appreciate the author's divine connection to the essence of being, as demonstrated to us by these wonderful animals.

Kat Tansey's book, Choosing to Be, is brilliant! The author makes the principles of Buddhism and meditation accessible to everyone by using her cat, Poohbear, as the Zen master. I have been adopted by many cats in my lifetime (yes, they do adopt you) and always believed in their wisdom and spirituality. Poohbear, the cat, actually talks and takes the author, Kat Tansey, through her journey from the abyss of chronic fatigue and depression, to her ultimate triumph of rejoining the world. The beauty of Choosing to Be is that you can give it to anyone, even people who are not into Buddhism and meditation. The stories are wrappers for deeper truths that everyone can relate to. I loved Choosing to Be and I can't wait to buy the audio book read by Poohbear himself!

I read this book in two sittings and will be going back to delve deeper. This deceptively simple story has a powerful message for all of us who are "over-do-ers." The value of meditation is clearly demonstrated by Kat and her feline Zen master in a format that is so easy to digest that you might not realize how much you are learning. At the very least, I'll never look at my pets the same way again!

Successful businesswoman Kat Tansey is attempting to recover from chronic fatigue syndrome and depression by practicing Buddhist meditation. But as she grows frustrated with the progress of her sittings, she shares her disappointment with her Maine Coon cat companion, Poohbear Degoonacoon. Pooh can speak English, of course, and he's also adept at dispensing philosophical advice. He regularly points Kat in directions that allow her to discover more about herself and to accept the special healing that techniques of Eastern introspection can offer. He also encourages her to be more attentive to her human teachers. At the same time, another Maine Coon is added to the family: a kitten named Catzenbear. Witnessing his antics and his innocence provides further instruction. Obviously, readers are expected to suspend their disbelief to accept the teachings here, since most of the information is presented by a cat. Pet owners should have no problem doing so. Science fiction aficionados who accept proclamations by Mr. Spock or Yoda should be open to this style of writing as well. Otherwise: nay-sayers could very well pooh-pooh (!) the entire premise of the book. But the author's use of a fictional device to explore the refinements of the meditation process does not diminish its ultimate truth. Individuals who are looking for a unique self-improvement book, even if they have no inclinations toward Buddhist meditation, can find illustrations of helpful life lessons here. Most difficult of all is the transformation of choosing to BE instead of choosing to DO. That's an exercise we busy 21st-centurians should all take a stab at.

Kat Tansey has written an absolutely delightful book. The story of how her two cats helped her battle back from severe physical and emotional problems is both captivating and heartwarming. And, the writing is superb. In a day and age where so much writing is only worthy of fast reads, the author's powerful writing had me savoring each and every sentence. As well written as the book is, the underlying message is even better yet. Those of us who are driven to always be "doing," should heed the author's message to learn to "just be." Certainly not the first author with such a message. But, truly one of the most enjoyable books making that very important point.