Feng shui : arranging your home to change your life /

Literally "wind and water," feng shui is a Chinese belief system dedicated to finding harmonious siting plans for buildings by taking into account the metaphysics of energy flow, geography, and a complex calculation of time cycles and the influence of the five elements of the cosmos. Architectural historian Lip has written an information-packed introduction to classical Chinese architecture replete with diagrams, photographs, and her own beautiful brush paintings. After a detailed dissection of the way Chinese structures function, she explains the core concepts of feng shui and then examines actual Ming and Qing temples and palaces in terms of their placement and structure. British feng shui consultant Master Lam Kam Chuen has produced a more practical book designed with the homeowner or apartment dweller in mind. Short text blocks are interspersed with vivid watercolor examples of siting and energy flow, with tips for improving the harmony of many common living situations. Although he cautions that without the services of a good geomancer we are dealing with a simplified knowledge of feng shui, he gives such hints as how to assure restful sleep by solidifying the tortoise placement of our beds and how to avoid a stagnant social life by not locating dwellings on cul de sacs. Journalist Lagatree provides a very quick and simple overview of feng shui. Oriented primarily to interior rearrangements rather than house sitings, the book might provide tips for realtors dealing with Chinese buyers or advice for designers who do not want to imperil clients, but it doesn't provide a thorough grounding for readers new to an intricate and foreign way of looking at the physical spaces that surround them. Because of its historical insights and in-depth analyses, Lip's book would be appropriate for academic libraries while Chuen's thorough but readable advice would be the best choice for general readership.‘David McClelland, Temple Univ. Lib., Philadelphia (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.