Books by John Stevens

Here are the inspirational life and teachings of Awa Kenzo (1880-1939), the Zen and kyudo (archery) master who gained worldwide renown after the publication of Eugen Herrigel's cult classic Zen in the Art of Archery in 1953. Kenzo lived and taught at a pivotal time in Japan's history, when martial arts were practiced primarily for self-cultivation, and his wise and penetrating instructions for practice (and life)—including aphorisms, poetry, instructional lists, and calligraphy—are infused with the spirit of Zen. Kenzo uses the metaphor of the bow and arrow to challenge the practitioner to look deeply into his or her own true nature.

This definitive, richly illustrated manual covers the essential elements of the philosophy and practice of Aikido, the Japanese martial art that has been embraced by psychologists, spiritual teachers, and even Western bodywork practitioners. Full of insightful wisdom for beginners and experienced students alike, this book details the traditional methods and techniques of Shirata Rinjiro, of whom John Stevens is a principal student. Noted for the precise execution of a wide range of techniques and an emphasis on Aikido as a spiritual path, Shirata Sensei's teachings exemplify the Way of the Warrior: superior technical prowess combined with profound spiritual insight. In addition to photographs and descriptions of all the important Aikido techniques, Stevens recounts interesting and lively anecdotes about the history of Aikido and its founder, Ueshiba Morihei, who developed it from a martial art into a spiritual discipline. A biography of Shirata Sensei, complete with his reflections on sixty years of Aikido practice, is also included.John Stevens lived in Japan for 35 years, where he was a professor of Buddhist studies at Tohoku Fukushi University in Sendai. A widely respected translator, ordained Buddhist priest, curator of several major exhibitions of Zen art, and an aikido instructor, he has authored more than thirty books and is one of the foremost Western experts on aikido, holding a ranking of 7th dan Aikikai.

Invincible Warrior tells the fascinating story of the life of Morihei Ueshiba (1883-1969), whose quest for the true meaning of warriorship lead to the creation of the martial art called Aikido, "The Art of Peace." Ueshiba—whose name means "abundant peace"—is considered by many to be one of the greatest martial artists who ever lived. His documented ability to disarm any attacker, throw a dozen men simultaneously, and down and pin opponents without touching them has accorded his life legendary status. Invincible Warrior presents the real story behind Morihei''s achievement, illuminating the man and his message. Stevens describes the people, events, and ideas that influenced Ueshiba''s lifelong spiritual quest, which culminated in the development of unique teachings of Aikido. Illustrated with two hundred photographs of Morihei in action and filled with revealing anecdotes about his life and times, Invincible Warrior also offers valuable discussion of the Founder''s conception of Aikido as a path of harmony and love, unifying body and mind, self and others, humans and the universe.

Today's economy has been fluctuating so much that companies are whittling down their pools of local workers and outsourcing their services from abroad instead, which means that true job security is up to you. The best way to survive unemployment is by self-employment, and this book will teach you how to put up and operate your very own business right within the comfort of your own home. Everyone has the potential to create a self-sustaining business from their personal interests, hobbies, or skills. The most important factor, though, is how to handle the obstacles along the way, balance the financial sheets to prevent (Gasp!) bankruptcy, and consistently improve your business to attract clients and soar above the competition. The entrepreneurship road is long, but as long as you're equipped with the right know-how, you will be able to reap the rewards.

"I just don''t get math." If you''re a math teacher, you probably can''t count the number of times you''ve heard students, parents, and even fellow teachers make a disparaging statement about your subject. As math teachers and instructional coaches, John Stevens and Matt Vaudrey know how discouraging it feels to look out into a classroom full of disinterested and confused students.But they also know how amazing it feels to see comprehension dawn in their students'' eyes - when a concept suddenly makes sense and math becomes meaningful.In The Classroom Chef, John and Matt share their secret recipes, ingredients, and tips for serving up lessons that engage students and help them "get" math. You can use these ideas and methods as-is, or better yet, tweak them and create your own enticing educational meals. The message the authors want to convey is that, with imagination and preparation, every teacher can be a Classroom Chef.Far from bland or boring, the lessons and ideas in The Classroom Chef spark curiosity-and occasionally bewilderment and awe (yes, in math class).After all, mullets, ziplines, and sharks aren''t standard topics for typical math classes.But maybe they should be.

This book examines the relation of words and music in England and France during the three centuries following the Norman Conquest.

John Stevens' book examines the complex interplay between lyrical and musical compositions in the courts of Henry VII and VIII. He examines late medieval ideas about music and poetry and the impact of the Reformation on them, and uses the social information about music and musicians to interpret the evidence of the early Tudor songbooks.

The hermit-monk Ryokan, long beloved in Japan both for his poetry and for his character, belongs in the tradition of the great Zen eccentrics of China and Japan. His reclusive life and celebration of nature and the natural life also bring to mind his younger American contemporary, Thoreau. Ryokan''s poetry is that of the mature Zen master, its deceptive simplicity revealing an art that surpasses artifice. Although Ryokan was born in eighteenth-century Japan, his extraordinary poems, capturing in a few luminous phrases both the beauty and the pathos of human life, reach far beyond time and place to touch the springs of humanity.

Serves as a guide that sets out a strategic approach to understanding, implementing and managing HR risks. This work enables the user to understand how managing people risks will benefit their organization. It also assists the user to put into place a practical policy for managing risks associated with employees.

The Japanese poet-recluse Ryokan (1758-1831) is one of the most beloved figures of Asian literature, renowned for his beautiful verse, exquisite calligraphy, and eccentric character. Deceptively simple, Ryokan's poems transcend artifice, presenting spontaneous expressions of pure Zen spirit. Like his contemporary Thoreau, Ryokan celebrates nature and the natural life, but his poems touch the whole range of human experience: joy and sadness, pleasure and pain, enlightenment and illusion, love and loneliness. This collection of translations reflects the full spectrum of Ryokan's spiritual and poetic vision, including Japanese haiku, longer folk songs, and Chinese-style verse. Fifteen ink paintings by Koshi no Sengai (1895-1958) complement these translations and beautifully depict the spirit of this famous poet.