I'm 50 female and heard about the Barefoot Dr after a neighbour bought me Return of the Urban Warrior – I related to so much of it and immediately embraced his breathing techniques since they resonate with my hatha yoga training, i have recommended him to clients and students and bought two other books by him. Sue

I came across BD April last year, how, I cannot remember, but it was via his book, Manifesto; I use BD's materials because they put me in touch with the empowered, magical, ok me; I have read Pure, Handbook For The Urban Warrior, Return of the UW, Manifesto, Liberation, Invincibility Training and Dear Barefoot, and also have his 6 cd set. How has Barefoot changed my life? Well, I've been consciously working on the 'spiritual path' for the last 30-35 years, but only last year did I cotton on to conscious creation, or manifestation. I feel that one of the reasons this information is pouring through us at this particular time in history is as a means with which to avert disaster, turning us on to the fact that we are the creators, so we can create it any way we choose - for example, if we all (or enough of us) chose it to be so, nuclear waste would be harmless. BD has woken me up to the fact that visualisation and intention are the realities of the pre-atomic field, from whence all manifests, and what we visualise and intend there, comes to pass (yippee!).

I would say that BD has plugged me back in to the magic of being alive, and has shown me how powerful I am. He has shown me how I have created the reality I've got, and how to create anything I choose from here. Through his materials, I live so much more in Tao-consciousness; I'm happier, more loving, more compassionate, more healed, healthier, so much more positive - my life has unwavering direction and purpose; I feel so, so much lighter, I trust life and know that it supports me, I have much, much less fear. Life has become an epic adventure, and my future is indescribably marvellous. Steve

I came across the Barefoot Doctor two years ago when I was in hospital being treated for cancer. A friend bought me his book Manifesto, the Internal Revolution. I hadn't read any of his books before but was intrigued.

I had also recently lost a good friend to cancer and, as I was myself very ill and surrounded by the sick and dying, I was curious as to how you could get what you want without trying, if what you wanted more than anything was to live. I couldn't get it out of my mind and kept thinking how could that book help people who have been told they've got weeks to live (as my friend had been) so I decided to email him. I never expected a reply, but as I recall, that very day, he contacted me with a reply, furthermore, he also provided suggestions about how I might be able to deal with my own illness - suggestions which proved to be very helpful.

From then on we kept up email contact. He made it clear he was there for me as and when I needed his help. And he expected nothing in return.

My main concern was that the Barefoot Doctor would turn out to be a charlatan, giving people false hope. On the contrary I discovered him to be deeply compassionate, loving and passionate about helping his fellow humans. He was a huge help to me during my illness (I was given the all clear last August!) and, as I take tentative steps back out into the world, post-cancer, he continues to provide support with his books and teachings. Eileen

After a strict Baptist upbringing, I elected to study other religions and philosophies to see how others viewed mankind's search for purpose. I found so much truth in Taoism because of it's practical wisdom in a crazy world.

Being a cop in Los Angeles County, I have a front row seat to the drama of life. I have seen the best in people and the worst in people. People have shot at me and I have shot back. I have been in countless fights and pursuits, yet I have managed to maintain a high level of emotional health and vitality, largely in part to Taoist wisdom and specifically, the knowledge and skills passed down through Barefoot.

He has provided me life-sustaining affirmations, which play like a recorder in my mind. I perform the chi exercises daily such as "scooping the loop" and " the psychic shield". I feel these exercises have kept me grounded when everyone around me has been in absolute turmoil. Recently I have been meditating with The Doc's podcasts which are profoundly beneficial to me.

He has inspired me to always be of service and to see the greatness in everyone I meet, even those who are hell bent intent on trying to do harm.

The Doc's wisdom, humor and selfless devotion to making Earth a better place has inspired me beyond measure.

He is my greatest mentor and truly is a hero. John

I think the main thing for me is the Doc's stuff has gave me a framework for viewing reality which I didn't have before. I see things more in terms of divine will as opposed to fear based stuff and I know that even though fear exists, the whole idea is to navigate it, acknowledging that the fear's there not to stop you from doing what you want with your life but to keep you safe and grounded in the process. Ryan


I used to read Barefoot's column in the Observer, quite a few years ago now and that got me interested in this work.

I've had one informal session with Barefoot because I was struggling with some things at medical school and in my personal life. One of the things is being single and learning to be ok with it. Sometimes this is still an issue but as he points out I have to take more care of me and my life and then someone will come along. This might sound like obvious advice that you can read anywhere, but he is very warm and personable, he didn't charge me for the session and he also answers emails as I am a member of his website community.

I have been a member of the website community for more than a year now. It's a great source of advice and help for living.

Barefoot helps you to pick out what exactly is troubling you. Sometimes one just gets overwhelmed and feels that everything is wrong. He has great insight and knows how to ask the right questions to pinpoint what the problem is. He also gives you an alternative way to view things so they are less negative and easier to live with. Vanessa

By using the techniques in Manifesto, along with some my wife did for me, I worked very hard writing a novel, and visualising a massive book deal for myself, as well as seeing my book on the shelves in Waterstones etc. In August 2007, after a bidding war between 6 major publishers, my book was sold to Preface, part of Random House, the biggest publisher in the UK, for a six figure deal. I am busy writing the second novel now (it's a trilogy) and am planning to start manifesting the film deal soon.

Thanks to the Barefoot Doc for helping me to learn how to manifest! Ben

I am an addictions counsellor and NLP Practitioner. I have gained a lot of inspiration from the Doc and have received help through a couple of tricky situations via e mail. As regards him changing my life. I
see it rather that I have changed my own life with a little help from the Doc, as well as from many other sources. I find his website a daily inspiration and its quite strange sometimes how his advice seems to come at the right time. As far as books are concerned the first and in my view the best has to be Handbook for the Urban Warrior.  Phil