Teens Ask Deepak

January 1, 2006
Gr 8 Up -Chopra describes this title as -a guide to spirit as seen through the eyes of teenagers. -& - It is divided into five chapters: -How Spirit Works, - -Success, - -Well-Being, - -Relationships, - and -God. - The questions were gleaned from public appearances, the Internet, and the author's experiences with his two children. The basic advice is sound: to examine one's inner self, to think before speaking or acting, and not to do things that one will find embarrassing later. While most of the material is likely to resonate with parents, some of it may not. For example, Chopra says that teens 16 and older should be able to experiment with drugs and alcohol, and that after -one drink or one pill...the vast majority of kids will walk away of their own accord. - Parents and other adults are also sometimes made to seem uninformed. The book's organization, not just by chapters and subheadings, but also by the use of repetition, transitions, and other language conventions, is exceptional. Checklists, self-surveys, sidebars, and adages abound, and cartoon illustrations appear throughout. The author simply identifies himself as a doctor, and there are no sources cited for statistics." -Marilyn Fairbanks, Azure IRC, Brockton High School, MA"

Copyright 2006 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

January 1, 2006
Gr. 7-10. Chopra, who has spent his career exploring the mind-body connection and helping people develop their spirituality, brings his expertise to teens' questions. The book centers on questions Chopra has received from teenagers in person and online. The topics are divided into subjects such as success, well being, relationships, and God. The book is at its best when Chopra is explaining his spiritual philosophy, one that transcends organized religion and focuses on the underlying connectedness in the world and on the everyday miracles pervading life. Less successful are Chopra's efforts to give teens social advice. For instance, to make friends, he suggests, "Walk right up and say, 'I'd like to be friends, '" though in the next sentence he acknowledges that this might be too bold for some (ya think?). The ink artwork dotting the pages is rather crude; a more interesting format would have helped. Still, kids interested in the topic may be drawn by Chopra's name.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2006, American Library Association.)