From "144 Aphorisms". (40) Bondage can be fun to play with, but real bondage is crippling. The worst bondage is when you have done it to yourself and you don’t even know it. Stop looking for the key and look closely at the chains. They are made of air. 捆绑可以是好玩的，但真正的束缚是伤人的。 最糟糕的束缚 是当你对自己束缚时...

Not everyone lives for safety (Maslow's hierarchy of needs). Some people aspire to something less structured, yet more refined, such as Spirit. The founder of one of the world's great religions repeatedly taught that the spirit of the Law was superior to the letter of the Law. So at least one major ...

from "144 Aphorisms" (17) Noises rise and fall, lights brighten and dim. Let them. Lovers come and go, bosses reward and punish. Let them. Odors drift in and out, the weather warms and cools. Let them. Balloons float. Ships float. Clouds float. 噪杂起伏，灯光明亮了又黯淡 由它 情人来去，上司奖惩 由它 气味飘来又移去，天气暖了又冷 ...

From the book "144 Aphorisms" (3) If your heart is open, dust may enter into it. If you are afraid of dust, you are afraid of Tao. 如果你将心敞开，尘埃或许会进入。 如果你害怕尘埃，你也害怕前进 。 (18) Fire the gatekeeper of your castle. Open the gates to all who are interested. Trade cannot happen without give and take....

Thanks Stacey. Continue to be bold.

Thank you. That is helpful information.

Hi, Tiffany. Welcome to booktalk. I am also new here. The people here seem very helpful. I expect you will enjoy your time here.

Douglas R Pitts
author of "144 Aphorisms"

What are the most effective free or near-free marketing strategies for self-published books?

Douglas R Pitts
author of "144 Aphorisms"

Createspace will help with publishing a Kindle e-Book, and Lulu will help with publishing a Nook e-Book. As long as you don't claim exclusivity with either, you can use both.

Douglas R Pitts
author of "144 Aphorisms"

Perfection is not, never making a mistake, nor having no flaws. Perfection is maximal learning from mistakes. Maximal learning happens when there is zero resistance to learning. Thus, perfection is a matter of choice, and within every person's grasp. We all may be imperfect, but none of us are a &qu...