The first time I read this book I couldn't put it down until I had finished the book. I wouldn't say I enjoyed the book, unless you are using the word “enjoy” as in “I enjoy Vogon poetry.” But I can say that the book was nourishing – nourishing in a deep non-verbal way.

I couldn't explain to friends why I liked the book. In fact I couldn't even say that I like it. However, I was extremely happy to have read the book and grateful that it was written.

The book contained a kind of tutorial designed to train a guide in the method of reading for someone in transit, and it contained the transit instructions. The transit instructions are meant to be clues, hints (general guidance) on how to deal with the adventures and mis-adventures that popup while mucking one's way through the afterlife experience known as the bardos.

I definitely appreciated the fact that finally there was someone that shared my view that the afterlife was not white puffy clouds, wings, and harps. I tried reading the Tibetan Book of the Dead many times, but alas I didn't get the cultural context. Somehow being a white suburban kid did not prepare me for understanding the nuances of the Tibetan Book. The American Book of the Dead was…. well… American. I could get the references. The description of an unfriendly guide sitting around watching dog food commercials and scenes of war on the television made sense to me. I got the underlying context.

The part that really grabbed my attention was the tutorial on how to be a reader which appeared in the front of the book. Here was someone telling that I could help beings in transit, giving me exact instructions on how to do this, along with exercises on how to improve the skills necessary for the job. Having bodhisattva inclinations by nature, stumbling across a how-to book of this sort was a breath of fresh air and something meaty to sink my astral teeth into.

Looking back over this review, it doesn't look like I've mentioned much about the actual contents of the book. Consider this more of a testimonial than a review. I found this book a most welcome read at a time when I needed something that could help me jump to the next level of service. As far as content goes, maybe it's best if you give the book a try yourself.