The Tao of Womanhood: Ten Lessons for Power and Peace

by Diane Dreher

The Tao of Womanhood is for every woman who is searching for both external power and internal peace. It's for the woman who wants to be tough but nice, who wants to take care of things and everyone else but needs to be reminded to look after herself, who feels pulled in too many directions and yearns to live a full, balanced life. It's for the woman who wants to be a strong, proactive leader at work and at home, and lead a life of harmony and inner peace. A spiritual resource that combines the wisdom of the Tao Te Ching with straightforward advice and illuminating anecdotes, The Tao of Womanhood is a prescriptive, practical road map. Using Taoist principles, teacher and spiritualist Dreher explains how any woman can learn to incorporate calm into her busy modern life by learning how to Calm and reassuring, The Tao of Womanhood imparts the invigorating message to all women -- whether stay-at-home moms or corporate executives -- that leading a balanced and fulfilling life does not mean surrendering peace of mind.

Genres: Nonfiction, Spirituality, Self Help

256 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1998

About the author

Diane Dreher, Ph.D., is the author of the best-selling The Tao of Inner Peace and her newest book, Pathways to Inner Peace. She has a doctorate in Renaissance literature from UCLA and a Master's degree in Counseling from Santa Clara University. She is professor emeritus at Santa Clara University and lecturer in the Positive Psychology Academy in the UK. A positive psychology and creativity coach, researcher, teacher and writer, Diane lives in the San Francisco Bay area."

Reviews

[Renee M · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great book to read when you're going through a tough time or feeling scattered. Very positive and accessible.

[Cassandra C. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Simple yet profound. I had just moved to a new community and did not know many people at all...just made a few acquaintances...when someone mentioned this book to me. As I started reading it, I was inspired to invite a few ladies to form a book group and read this book together. It was pivotal in helping me connect and become a part of this new community! I am so grateful this book came into my life and transformed me and my new-found community.

[Em · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lovely book. Recently purchased on Kindle. Letting go of my yellowed paper copy - publishers - do better.

Published in 1998, this book uses the Tao to cover 10 concepts for any person of any culture.

The Yin of Inner Peace:
Oneness
Centering
Compassion
Simplicity (I read this chapter first, and it's great.)
Natural Cycles

The Yang of Personal Power:
Timing
Courage
Strength
Agency
Harmony

[SusanO · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent, thought provoking, organizes your brain and provides strength and hope for my universe. Unifying, good for examining in book club. Thank you! Lifesaving information.

[Erica Carina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Es un muy buen libro para arrancar a "reacomodarse" en la vida pero ya está muy desactualizado.

[Grace Olfindo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very imformative and practical. Highly recommended for woman like me. This is not famous here in the Philippines, but this is a very good book.

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a book that pages spoke to me. I know I'll pick it up and read it again.

[Tulara · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'd call this the nice path to the idea of women's lib - back in the 60s and 70s, a book such as this would have been written in a more radical prose - Don't do this anymore. This book makes a good case, leading women to the same path, although more polite and maybe the reader can start in small way to get back her individuality and her freedom. Although having lived through the "awakening" early on in my life, this book reinforced some habits that have been creeping back into my life. Also, as a retiree, the chapters on work + family + friends + social life were not an applicable to me personally (I have NNOOO trouble saying no to things I don't want to do.), I still enjoyed the tactics posed.
The references to the Tao were enjoyable.
My favorites:
Misogi - simplify our lives, clearing away clutter to create more space for contemplation and peace of mind.
Musubi - good luck - practive good timing in our lives - remaining centered while blending our energies with other -people and events
Hara - act with courage, have heart - face our fears and move forward in life with courage.

[Allison · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was filled with practical, calming advice for the anxious, overextended nut in all of us. None of the information is earth-shattering, but I found it beneficial to read and remind myself that it's okay to say no to things, to not spread myself too thin, to stand up for what I believe in, and to be more compassionate. The overall message of the book was to be the best person you can be authentically, which is sometimes hard when faced with various challenges and pressures of daily life and interpersonal relationships, and also further complicated by societal expectations of women in general. This is a book I will refer to often when I need a reminder to chill out and trust my feelings.

Thank you, Grete, for giving me this book!

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a quick read and offered some great insights and suggestions. I felt like the main message was to be kind to yourself, and it just tweaked that main concept in all the chapters. Especially good ideas for we multi-taskers to slow down. Also resonates with a lot of yoga philosophy like yin/yang and nonviolence toward the self. Thanks for lending it to me, Stacey!

[Elena · Rating 4 out of 5]

I plan on reading this book again because it will take multiple readings and practice to really internalize the teachings. The points are deep, but written in a way that is easy to understand. I believe the chapter, especially on conflict resolution will be rewarding to put into use.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Had trouble getting into this on my first attempt but actually ended up really liking it when I tried again. Some good advice in there, not all of which applied to my life, but made me think about better ways to take care of myself.

[Jennifer Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

A well written and very practical book. Dreher has also penned several other books based on the Tao te Ching, but this one is more specific to the issues and struggles faced by busy women. A quick read!

[Suzanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is for every woman who to lead a life of harmony and inner peace.

[Connie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. There are lots of great morsels in the book in living the Tao. I highly recommend this book to any woman.

[Pegmark · Rating 4 out of 5]

I look back at this book frequently to find peace!

[Jennifer Amundson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really liked this book and took extra time to read and re-read the contents. Very good concepts and practices to put in place.

[Lesley Mcmullen]

should be compulsory reading. I keep it by my bed

[Kathia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well written and reesearched, easy read.