Full review:
This pocket-size volume has a brief inspirational quotation (30-80 words) at the top of each page with blank space for recording your personal spiritual diary or reflections for each of the 365 days of the year. The inspirationals move through different themes through the year (devotion, peace, discipline, freedom, thankfulness, spiritual courage etc.), tying in with the season. Most are thoughts from Yogananda himself; a few are from his closest disciples.

I find that people adopt several uses for the book: 1) random opening of the book when you need a thought of spiritual guidance; 2) using a thought to start one's day right; 3) introspective focus for self-analysis in reviewing the day; 4) inspirational thought at close of a yoga class. Often it is uncanny how the thought of the day is exactly what one needed to hear: for reassurance, inspiration, prod to personal work, etc.

A few of the thoughts seem specifically tailored to students committed to a yogic spiritual path, but most are highly applicable to any spiritual seeker. If you valued reading any of Yogananda's classics such as Autobiography of a Yogi, Journey to Self-Realization, or The Divine Romance, you will enjoy this daily sampling of enlightenment.

Because it starts with January 1 and has no year attached to the days you can start tapping it any time of the year. It does, of course, make a wonderful gift during the December holidays because someone can start off their New Years resolutions spiritually with it. . [ —RP, 11/08/2002 ]