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Geri Larkin – The Chocolate Cake Sutra – Ingredients for a Sweet Life Chock full of moving and enlightening stories, The Chocolate Cake Sutra will help you let go of perfectionism and celebrate the sacred nature of the life you already have. ReviewsThe title of this book is great, and the premise is lovely since it rests on the Flower Ornament Sutra. It made for a very relaxing lunch-break read.However, this book just didn’t speak to me. In my view, it runs high on fluff and low on substance. (Admittedly, the fluff is very *pleasant* fluff.)I’m a Buddhist, but not a Western Zen Buddhist. That doesn’t seem enough to explain why I didn’t love this book. Well, there’s also a partial cultural divide between the author and myself, and some have posited that white Western feminist Buddhists inadvertently marginalize Asian female Buddhists.There may also be a bit of a professional divide, as well, because I thought this book was written in “consultant-speak.” Lo and behold, somewhere in the final chapters, the reader learns that Ms. Larkin is a former management consultant.Ms. Larkin encourages the reader to let go of self-absorption, let go of the self. Unfortunately, this advice begins to seem increasingly ridiculous as the book delves into–among other topics–how the author was elected school captain by popular vote of the nuns and students at her Australian boarding school.In the context of “not-self,” it just seemed like there was some oversharing.ReviewsThe Chocolate Cake Sutra offers valuable life lessons with humor and wisdom! The writer is a former consultant, who understands real issues and opportunities. It’s perfect if you are looking for a light but useful approach to Buddhist teachings.ReviewsThis was the first book I read by Geri Larkin. I am a fledgling student on the long winding arduous joyful road to enlightenment. Geri makes you want to get up when you stumble, when you fall, when you’re tired and don’t want to keep trying anymore. Her book puts out a hand, gives you encouragement, and more often than not, makes you laugh your head off. You can’t help but stand up, dust yourself off, and keep trying. Her compassionate, realistic view of the road to spiritual tranquility despite the setbacks, is just the encouragement everyone needs to keep going. Her other book Stumbling Toward Enlightenment is great too.ReviewsI read this in the paperback edition. It is is a (sometimes)funny, always practical, easy-to-read book. Yet, it does cover the primary principles of Buddhism.ReviewsChocolate Cake Sutra, felt like sitting at a coffee shop having the most perfect talk on the most perfect day. Up lifting and inspiring, without being overwhelming, Geri Larkin brought a renewed sense of self with every word urging each of us, to find passion and inspiration in the most unexpected places.EPIGR APH iiiPROL O G U E viiINTR O D U CTI O N : Ode to a Hollywood Crush 1Preheating the Oven 13CH A P T E R O N E : The First Ingredient: Joy 35CH A P T E R T WO : The Second Ingredient: Extreme Ethics 51C H A P TER THR EE : The Third Ingredient: Tolerance 77CH A P T E R F O U R : The Fourth Ingredient: A Capacity to Keep Going—with Gusto 95C H AP T E R F IVE : The Fifth Ingredient: Clearheadedness 111CH A P T E R S I X : The Sixth Ingredient: A Penchant for Surprise 125CH A P T E R S EV EN : The Seventh Ingredient: Adventuring 139CH A P T E R E IG H T : The Eighth Ingredient: Yoda’s Wisdom 155Baking the Cake 167A Sweet Life 175