The Stress-Free Habit: Powerful Techniques for Health and Longevity from the Andes, Yucatan, and the Far East

Long before he wrote his bestseller "Confessions of an Economic Hitman," John Perkins drew upon his experiences in other cultures to write this book on stress management. Illustrating his points with anecdotes from indigenous cultures in the Andes, Yucatan, Java, and Sulawasi, Perkins outlines five elements of what he calls the "stress-free habit": be who you want to be; recognize that it is the lack of a solution that is the problem, rather than the problem itself; concentrate; have faith; and meditate. It is a short book and an easy read, with both interesting windows on other parts of the world and practical advice.

A friend's husband recommended this book and when it arrived I could not put it down - read in 24 hours and then reread key parts again. I teach at a school that is a victim of NCLB. If I could get the staff to read this book for professional development instead of more rhetoric, I know our staff would quit stressing and BE the excellent teachers that we are, I know we would be more productive. The meditation "how to" of this book was so simple and made so much sense. The anecdotals on other cultures were interesting and applicable. Kudos to the author on this simple little book packed with life changing practices.

As a physician in the Washington DC corridor, I found this book both fascinating, inspiring, and practical. A must for all of us in this stressful era.