This book ticked lots of boxes for me. I enjoyed learning about Taoism and energy healing. It was an enjoyable book to read with good examples of how to integrate practices into daily life. I would possibly have got more out of this if I had read The Urban Monk prior to this book however it wasn’t an absolute necessity.

A well recommended book.

Thank you Sounds True Publishing and Netgalley for this ARC.

This book ticked lots of boxes for me. I enjoyed learning about Taoism and energy healing. It was an enjoyable book to read with good examples of how to integrate practices into daily life. I would possibly have got more out of this if I had read The Urban Monk prior to this book however it wasn’t an absolute necessity.

A well recommended book.

Inner Alchemy is by the author of the Urban Monk. In both books, Taoist principles are explained and used to reduce the reader’s stress and challenges with modern life and free their minds for more spiritual thoughts. The Urban Monk is a more user-friendly book. True beginners will be able to quickly learn the exercises and improve their thinking. Inner Alchemy is the more advanced book and is better for either people already familiar with some Taoist principles or at least read the Urban Monk first.

Therefore, I recommend Inner Alchemy only for readers already familiar with the core principles of the Urban Monk. Read that book first and then this book will make much more sense. For those ready for more advanced topics, this book gets 4 stars.

Thanks to Sounds True Publishing for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

Had I known that the author considers Atlantis to be the source of much of the material he shares in this book, I would probably not have chosen to read this. If that doesn’t bother you, then you may appreciate this book more than I did.

I was curious about Taoism and qi gong, and this book does offer a decent introduction to these topics. I think my understanding was hindered in certain sections because the figures and tables didn’t show up correctly in my unproofed ARC, but that issue is likely to be resolved in the published version. However, I thought the health and lifestyle suggestions made sense and I liked some of the recommended exercises.

Where I struggled most is when the author started discussing vampires, zombies, ghosts, demons, and entities from other planets and dimensions. Some of this language seemed clearly metaphorical, and that’s fine, but in some places, it sounded like the author was being literal. I find it hard to trust health advice from someone who believes in the need for exorcisms.

References are provided in endnotes, and a glossary is included at the end.

I was clearly not the intended audience for this book. I think this book is most likely to appeal to those with a strong interest in New Age spirituality as well as Taoism and Traditional Chinese Medicine.

I was provided an unproofed ARC through NetGalley that I volunteered to review. Because I have not seen the final published version, I cannot comment on the final editing and formatting.

Once again Pedram Shojai does not disappoint. It is clear just from his style of writing, coupled with his experience as a doctor, monk, and more, that he is writing from a place of genuine care and compassion. "Inner Alchemy" is the essential next step to his widely successful hit, "Urban Monk". With "Inner Alchemy", readers alike will appreciate the clear and concise methods of spiritual attainment for the everyday individual - the parent, the working class, youth, and more, all of which are somewhat disenfranchised with current religion paradigms. Shojai aims to fill the gap of spirituality missing from today's neoliberalistic society that pervades our everyday world.

This book is an ideal companion for fans of THE URBAN MONK, especially if you want to learn about Taoism. I appreciated the deep dive into yin and yang, understanding energy from Taoist perspectives, and learning more about the five elements (wood, metal, air, earth, and fire) and how they're applicable to everyday life. The practices are accessible for everyone and explained clearly. The companion videos will be helpful for visual learners.

The key takeaways for me included frequent reminders to create lifelong habits that clear my energy, set the right intentions, and remain authentic. I enjoyed the various practices, and although it's not comfortable for anyone to face their shadow, it's a necessary and healing process. This book serves as the perfect reminder to make sure your daily actions and thoughts are in line with your highest good. It's also a great book for readers interested in learning more about the Tao and how to cultivate their own practice.

I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

This was my first introduction into the ideas of "inner alchemy" and I am stunned as a newbie to it how easy Pedram makes it for a reader to gain knowledge of this healing art. Pedram takes time to get past the misconceptions and get the reader to what can really be done if you start to harness your own inner self, that knowledge that will unlock and harness a peace and calm that in our current busy always on the go world doesn't seem to allow for, or has fully forgotten about.

A useful, easy-to-follow guide to daily energy work that draws on a long lineage. The book comes with links to helpful videos that demonstrate some of the energy practices. This book will be of interest to students and energy workers.