Amazon Reviews

Charming and enlightening

By	MotherLodeBeth (Sierras of California)

One doesn’t have to be Buddhist or even ‘zen’ to love this book. Heck I think any cat lover (as I am) would love this book. If you have a cat lover in your life consider the book as a gift. I own the hardback edition.

The Cat’s Meow

By	D. Carpenter “Peak Performance Scholar” (Atlanta, GA) –

Kat Tansey has written an absolutely delightful book. The story of how her two cats helped her battle back from severe physical and emotional problems is both captivating and heartwarming. And, the writing is superb. In a day and age where so much writing is only worthy of fast reads, the author’s powerful writing had me savoring each and every sentence.

As well written as the book is, the underlying message is even better yet. Those of us who are driven to always be “doing,” should heed the author’s message to learn to “just be.” Certainly not the first author with such a message. But, truly one of the most enjoyable books making that very important point.

Challenging lessons for 21st-centurians

By	Corinne H. Smith (Athol, MA USA) –

Successful businesswoman Kat Tansey is attempting to recover from chronic fatigue syndrome and depression by practicing Buddhist meditation. But as she grows frustrated with the progress of her sittings, she shares her disappointment with her Maine Coon cat companion, Poohbear Degoonacoon. Pooh can speak English, of course, and he’s also adept at dispensing philosophical advice. He regularly points Kat in directions that allow her to discover more about herself and to accept the special healing that techniques of Eastern introspection can offer. He also encourages her to be more attentive to her human teachers. At the same time, another Maine Coon is added to the family: a kitten named Catzenbear. Witnessing his antics and his innocence provides further instruction.

Obviously, readers are expected to suspend their disbelief to accept the teachings here, since most of the information is presented by a cat. Pet owners should have no problem doing so. Science fiction aficionados who accept proclamations by Mr. Spock or Yoda should be open to this style of writing as well. Otherwise: nay-sayers could very well pooh-pooh (!) the entire premise of the book. But the author’s use of a fictional device to explore the refinements of the meditation process does not diminish its ultimate truth. Individuals who are looking for a unique self-improvement book, even if they have no inclinations toward Buddhist meditation, can find illustrations of helpful life lessons here. Most difficult of all is the transformation of choosing to BE instead of choosing to DO. That’s an exercise we busy 21st-centurians should all take a stab at.

There are many ways to cope with depression, here is an unusual one

By	Charles Ashbacher (Marion, Iowa)

There are many ways to beat depression; it is reasonable to believe that each technique successfully used by someone will not work as well for others. It is also a documented fact that elderly people given an opportunity to interact with a pet tend to have better mental performance. Therefore, while the author’s technique of having a two-way communication with her cat helping her overcome depression may seem odd, it probably isn’t. At least as long as it is not taken to the extreme of seriousness.

Whatever the source of the words attributed to her eldest and wisest cat Poohbear, you cannot deny the wisdom of the message. It is the reality of the human experience that all of us experience the loss of the death of loved ones, “catastrophes” such as flat tires, dead batteries and losing our jobs. Buddhism is not a religion in the western sense of a supreme being capable of intervening in our lives if we find the right channel on the radio of prayer; it is a way of life. One of the key principles is this common experience of loss and personal “catastrophes.” As she points out, Tansey also has some unresolved issues with her father that is rooted in the past. Furthermore, now that her mother is suffering from Alzheimer’s, those problems are resurfacing in how she views her father’s treatment of her mother. No specifics are given, but the triad of her chronic illness, her mother’s Alzheimer’s and her relationship with her father and it is easy to see how depression could result.

Having a serious two-way conversation with your cat may not be the cure for your bout with depression. Nevertheless, it might just work as well as it did for Tansey and of course a cuddly cat will never fail to make your life interesting. I know of what I speak, having had over ten pet cats in my life. Adopting some of the basic principles of Buddhism, which accepts the problems of life, also did a great deal to help Tansey cope.

Choosing to Be Offers More Lessons Than Anticipated

By	Ellen H. Brown (Ohio, USA)

When I first purchased Kat Tansey’s Choosing To Be, I thought the book might be a helpful resource for some of my coaching clients who often feel stressed out and overwhelmed. As a life coach and wellness coach, I believe meditation can go a long way toward helping people de-stress and become more aware of their patterns of thinking. But “selling” the notion of meditation to people in our fast-paced culture can be a challenge. So I hoped this book, narrated by Poohbear, the wise Feline Zen Master, might inspire them to give meditation a try.

Ironically, it turned out that I needed to read the book as much as I thought my clients did! While I’ve been practicing meditation for many years, lately it’s felt like I’ve been going through the motions rather than connecting in a deep way. The book was the perfect antidote for what I was feeling, helping me awaken me out of my sleepy state and inspiring ME to re-commit myself to the practice of meditation.

Choosing to Be is an easy read, sprinkled with bits of humor and sadness, that made me laugh and smile, groan and cry. It is one of those rare books, rich in wisdom, that I’ve found myself returning to again and again to deepen my learning and my spiritual practice. I highly recommend the book to anyone who is curious about meditation, or who wants to intensify their practice. And if you happen to be a cat lover, even better!

Cats & Zen – a delightful combination!

By	Alice Berger “Bergers Book Reviews“ (North Carolina, USA)

During a rough spell in her life, author Kat Tansey picks up a copy of The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying. Her cat, Poohbear, a Zen Master himself, offers to show her the way to her Buddha nature if she is willing to learn from him. But first she needs a kitten to observe, which leads to Catzenbear joining the family.

As the author works on her practice, Poohbear shares his wisdom with her. An expert at sitting, he offers his thoughts on why Tansey struggles at times. When she clings, he suggests she let go. And when she starts to feel successful, he reminds her that she still has a long way to go. Always gentle and loving, he pushes her to go farther along than she believes possible.

Choosing to Be was classified as fiction because of the author’s conversations with Poohbear. But this was simply the style she used to get her ideas across in a friendly and easily accessible manner.

If you’ve ever thought you’d like to get in touch with your own Buddha nature, this enjoyable and enlightening book will start you on your journey. And if you can, find a cat who’s willing to join you.

A Must Read

By Lizette P “LC” (Greenville SC)
Choosing to Be is one of those little books that one treasures and sets aside to re-read many times. I identify with the writer and her struggle with missing the person she used to be. As we transform and peel our layers we need to learn to let go of who we used to be, otherwise we can’t find the joy and peace that our transformation has to offer. This can be difficult. Yet, we learn how we too can do this from Poohbear and Catzenbear, Kat’s Maine Coon cats.

There are many wonderful lessons to take from this little book. For me one of the most important ones is finally “getting” that meditation takes time and perseverance to master. We must train our minds to surrender and this can be quite difficult. Like my yoga teacher says: “this is a 10 year project.” This long term perspective is what I needed to not give up so easily as I have in the past.

I love the personal relationship Kat has with her cats. It is very touching and made me feel I am not totally crazy

Truly charismatic

By M. K. Porter

I don’t normally write reviews, but this author receives special kudos for a book that is not only terribly insightful but is also a book that has tremendous healing potential for those among us who are depressed, healing from a chronic illness, or just trying to get along day to day in a stressful world. The photograph of the young coon cat watching (with great fascination) the water swirl down the bathtub will stay with me always. I am also a great cat lover and appreciate the author’s divine connection to the essence of being, as demonstrated to us by these wonderful animals.

Poohbear Degoonacoon tells it like it is!

By Brett George “battlinjack” (Spokane, WA United States)
As a cat lover I have always known that cats were founts of wisdom whenever they chose to be. Kat Tansey and her personal buddha-cat, Poohbear Degoonacoon (a Maine Coon) share the wisdom as a conversation throughout this book.

Chapter by chapter Poohbear doles out slivers of knowledge for those with a desire to learn and to find inner peace.

Choosing To Be truly is an entertaining read written with love and a nice dose of humor along the way. I found that I liked it best when I read one chapter at a time with a break in between, sometimes of a week or more. The conversation was just as fresh when I came back as it was when I left. The young kitten, Catzenbear, is the perfect character who acts and lives out the lessons as only a young kitten can.

Do yourself (and your cats) a favor, pick up Choosing To Be by Kat Tansey today and read it for a long time. Then read it again.

An Inspirational Read

By Colin Lewis “WisdomNote” (Europe)
Choosing To Be is, as the subtitle suggests, a book on the “Lessons in Living”. In fact it walks you through the author’s journey of learning, self-development, self-discovery, overcoming obstacles and healing.

For personal development, Choosing To Be offers much wisdom on learning the importance of why we should stop just “doing” and shift over to “being” mode. It’s about learning how to make time for yourself, how to slow down and nurture calmness and self-acceptance in yourself, learning to observe what your mind is up to, how to watch your thoughts and how to let go of them without
getting so caught up and `controlled’ by them, how to make room for new ways of seeing old problems, and how to overcome the inevitable obstacles of life.

A great read that can benefit many.

A Spectacular Read!

By Janet Roper (Minneapolis, USA)
For the past few weeks, I have been reading “Choosing to Be: Lessons in Living from a Feline Zen Master,” by Kat Tansey. It is such a great book. This novel is about Kat’s struggles with chronic fatigue and depression, and how she learns to use meditation to cope and eventually heal herself. She learns a lot by studying meditation under a few different teachers, finally deciding upon a husband and wife team, but she learns most from her cat Poohbear. Poohbear is a Maine Coon with a lot of wisdom to share. Under Poohbear’s instruction, she decides to bring another cat into their loft in California: a Maine Coon kitten, whom she names Catzenbear. If you look at the name, you can see the words cat, zen, and bear (an homage to Poohbear). Most of the novel is focused on how Kat uses meditation to cope with what is going on in her life, but this is a journey filled with drama, action, and a little comedy too. Poohbear’s dry humor is enough to get anyone to chuckle a little. Reading this book even made me calmer, so that I was compelled to read especially when I was feeling a little agitated or anxious.

“Choosing to Be” is definitely a book that one could sit and read in an afternoon, but with wonderful books like this, it is sometimes nice just to savor it and take time to really read every word. Tansey’s wonderful and engaging narrative is held together by meaningful quotes by various people and lovely black and white photographs of the cats. I highly recommend this book.

Choosing to Be may help you “to be” as well

By Elizabeth A. Kimbell (Pittsburgh, PA)
A wonderful book, and a good read. Choosing to Be is the kind of book that you can curl up with in a chair, read and relax – which is perfect, because that is what the book is about. I too have dealt with anxiety for most of my young adult life, and Kat Tansey’s journey helped me start my own path of simply “to be.”

I highly recommend this book for those with anxiety, who love meditation or are cat lovers in general. And even if you don’t appreciate cats or what they can bring into your life, I think that Tansey’s journey can help you, too.

A must for the spiritual cat lover

By Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA)
What lies in the minds of the common house pet? “Choosing to Be: Lessons in Living from a Feline Zen Master” is a fictional look into spirituality using the housecat as a model for coming to terms with the lessons of Eastern philosophies like Zen. Charming, warm, and carrying a solid message, “Choosing to Be” is a must for the spiritual cat lover.

Cats Are the Zen Yoga Masters of the Animal World!

By Suza Francina “Yoga Teacher, Author, Animal… (Ojai, California)
My cats gathered around and purred their approval as I read “Choosing to Be,” by Kat Tansey. I was a bit under the weather when a friend gave me this book for Christmas, so mostly I read in bed, under the covers, usually with one cat settled at the top of my head, one curled around my feet and one against my chest. I am certain that both the healing energy of my nice warm cats and the reading of this calming, quieting book, hastened my recovery.

“Choosing to Be” revolves around a wise Maine Coon cat named Poohbear Degoonacoon, his kitten muse Catzenbear, and author Kat Tansey. These three characters take the reader on a journey from the depths of depression to the freedom of Buddha mind.

Kat Tansey is a writer and life coach for women at midlife (and beyond) who want to transform and re-energize their lives. She has been a meditation practitioner for fifteen years and has enjoyed a unique relationship with cats since she was a little girl. It is no coincidence that her name is Kat!

In 1993, Kat was struck down by Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS). “Choosing to Be” begins with a note about how she descended from her executive office on the top floor of a sleek high-rise tower into the underworld of depression. In the opening chapter she describes how she considered ending her life rather than fighting her exhaustion and debilitating depression.

When Kat began writing Choosing to Be fifteen years ago, chronic fatigue, sensitivity to environmental pollutants, and other symptoms, were thought to be “all in your head.” Anyone who has ever gotten a headache from sitting in a room with the smell of a new carpet, will relate to Kat’s challenges to function in the day-to-day world.

When she first began writing her story, it’s safe to say that the world was not ready for a book about a successful business woman who became deeply depressed and asked her Buddha master cat to help her learn how to meditate and find the will to live.

Now the world recognizes the reality of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. Drugs for depression are advertised like candy. Buddhist meditation and all things Buddha are mainstream. Books about mystical dogs, magical cats, animal communication, talking to God and other spiritual guides, are enormously popular. In this climate, a book about a talking Buddha Master cat seems perfectly natural and makes a friendly spiritual guide.

In “choosing to be” Kat made the wise choice to remove herself from the business world she had known for twenty years. Her inner journey to regain her physical, emotional and spiritual health marked the beginning of a very different life, one in which she had to learn to be a human being rather than a human doing. Thanks to her Buddha Master cat and her other guides and supporters, Kat emerged from this phase in her life with renewed energy. For practical reasons, she returned to the corporate world for several years, until she ultimately realized that her path was leading her elsewhere.

Eventually Kat returned to her real love, writing the book that has become “Choosing to Be.” This book reminds us to be fully present and experience the freedom of enjoying life just as it is. Kat introduces the reader to Buddhist meditation and presents it in a way that anyone can relate to.

– Suza Francina, author of “The New Yoga for People Over 50,” and other books, all written in the relaxing presence of flexible felines.

Amazing Wisdom on 4 Paws

By Linda Hollander “Wealthy Bag Lady” (Los Angeles, CA USA)
Kat Tansey’s book, Choosing to Be, is brilliant! The author makes the principles of Buddhism and meditation accessible to everyone by using her cat, Poohbear, as the Zen master.

I have been adopted by many cats in my lifetime (yes, they do adopt you) and always believed in their wisdom and spirituality.

Poohbear, the cat, actually talks and takes the author, Kat Tansey, through her journey from the abyss of chronic fatigue and depression, to her ultimate triumph of rejoining the world.

The beauty of Choosing to Be is that you can give it to anyone, even people who are not into Buddhism and meditation. The stories are wrappers for deeper truths that everyone can relate to.

I loved Choosing to Be and I can’t wait to buy the audio book read by Poohbear himself!

Best Self-Help Book for Depression I’ve Read!

By Glenda A Bixler “Glenda” (Pennsylvania)
What a Beautiful Book! Patricia Heller, in the Foreword, notes that she thought it was odd that the book was classified as fiction. I wholeheartedly agree! Choosing to be: Lessons in Living from a Feline Zen Master by Kat Tansey just may be the self-help book you are looking for!

It is clear that the book was written based upon the personal experience of the author. That she chose to use her cats as characters in telling her story does not detract, but rather enhances its effect, in my opinion. Admittedly, most people know that I love cats; however, the storyline itself is what I related to and learned from most. The cat tales, dialogue, and pictures were fun additions! And cat lovers will enjoy it just for the joy of reading about these two Maine Coons!

Let me first point out that, while the author is presenting information regarding Buddhism, she in no way is suggesting that readers must follow these principles to benefit from her story. What I found interesting was that I personally can attest to much she writes about. Her diagnosis was Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/Depression…my own diagnosis was Job Burnout/Depression. Both of us faced exhaustion on the job; both of us found it necessary to give up our former professional careers. While I never reached the point where I considered suicide, I did sit, many days, thinking that it would be all right if I just died… Given the high numbers of individuals in the United States now taking medications for clinical depression, as the author says in her free tape…now must be the time for this book to be published!

Believe me, there is much to learn from her book, with or without the meditation activity being a part of your process. She does use the philosophical teachings she learned from her trainers; what readers will see is that there are few new words and the words used are important words to be considered “in living.”

I found my Catzenbear about a month ago. She was one of two litters that had arrived at my niece’s home when I was there for Thanksgiving. I picked up a little kitten about eight weeks old; she was shivering and I pulled her close to me, holding her in one arm, while I covered her with my hand. She immediately began to purr…and she never stopped, even while she was in the car with me, coming home. I could tell she was different (I have 15 outside cats and 3 inside cats) and even commented on it to my niece. I called her Cali, but you can read about her in this book, with the unique Catzenbear name!

“The Mind is much like a flea, hopping to and fro from one thought to the next, rarely pausing to reflect and learn from its wanderings.” (quoted by author on p. 1) Kat Tansey knew exactly what this meant–her mind was constantly moving from one subject to another. Some things caused her pain, others anger, others fear–but they always resulted in exhaustion. Kat’s choice was to start to study and practice meditation. Meditation is not easy; you can tell that by the frustration that Kat went through! But in each case, she explains the problem she was having and then how the problem was solved. The very first thing that will hit home for many people was that Kat “was brought up to feel a lull in the conversation embarrassing and silence unproductive.” As with the flea, Americans are extremely busy people and they jump from activity to activity…finding it also embarrassing not to. In her confusion, she was now told–”Good, confusion is an excellent place to begin…”

Consider the words: clinging, anger, sleepiness, restlessness, and doubt. Recognize them? I’m sure you do because we all share them to one extent or another. Five Hindrances is how they are discussed in this book. The exploration of each or all of these may be helpful to readers. For myself, I knew them all well!

Here’s a small example of how the author brings in her cats: Poohbear had developed an extreme liking for tuna. So Kat gave him nothing but tuna (feeding Pooh’s craving). It resulted in Pooh becoming allergic and his hair started to fall out. Moving from this illustration, Kat then proceeds to discuss how she was treating herself in the same manner!

Fortunately, for me, this book came as an affirmation for many of the things I had done to get through a similar experience. If you are there, then you will enjoy the book and may use it as closure to some extent. If you are not there, then this book may be your first step. I highly recommend this book to those who will know they need to begin living again…. As soon as I finished reading the book, I ordered a copy to be sent to my best friend!

And no, Virginia, this is NOT fiction…

Insightful and Delightful all in one!

By Tracey L. Miller “Maggie5565″ (Massachusetts)
I thought this book would be a light hearted tale of self improvement through the guidance of a cat, but “Choosing to Be” is so much more. Kat Tansey has taken the real life struggles of a woman in physical and emotional pain and transformed them into a story of inspiration and success. Her observations and impressions of Zen Master Pooh are heartwarming and thought provoking, as are her interpretations of the behavioral antics of the precocious Catzenbear.

Readers of “Choosing to Be” will feel the heartache of Kat’s struggles and experience the hope and motivation of her journey, as she tells her story of returning from the darker side of life in a way that takes them right along with her. I commend her courage, strength and insight during her journey and her wisdom to interpret the lessons of her Feline Zen Master. This is a life altering, mind enriching story that everyone who has ever felt even a glimpse of despair should read.

Delighful and Insightful

By LoriZ (Ojai, California)
I read this book in two sittings and will be going back to delve deeper. This deceptively simple story has a powerful message for all of us who are “over-do-ers.” The value of meditation is clearly demonstrated by Kat and her feline Zen master in a format that is so easy to digest that you might not realize how much you are learning.

At the very least, I’ll never look at my pets the same way again!

An insightful book about Zen meditation

By Robert G Yokoyama (Mililani, Hawaii) – See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)
I think that choosing to be means having the ability to enjoy the present moment. It is also the title of this easy to read and insightful book. I don’t have a cat, but I guess they can have a calming and reflective influence on people. Zen mediation can be applied to real life. This book is an account about how meditation helped Tansey work through her chronic fatigue and depression. It is difficult for me to quiet my mind, but I think it can be done with practice. The lesson of self acceptance is an important one for me. I should not cling to the person I used to be. Another important skill is having the ability to step back and understand what is making me angry. Another skill is to name any fears I have. This will help me in confronting whatever I am afraid of. This book will help anyone who is angry or searching for peace in their life. I really enjoyed it.