Binding: Hardcover
Dewey Decimal Number: 291.448
EAN: 9780312909512
ISBN: 0312909519
Label: J P Tarcher
Manufacturer: J P Tarcher
Publication Date: 1980-06
Publisher: J P Tarcher
Studio: J P Tarcher

Way of the Peaceful Warrior is based on the story of Dan Millman, a world champion athlete, who journeys into realms of romance and magic, light and darkness, body, mind, and spirit. Guided by a powerful old warrior named Socrates, tempted by an elusive, playful woman named Joy, Dan is led toward a final confrontation that will deliver or destroy him. Join Dan as he learns to live as a peaceful warrior.

This international best-seller conveys piercing truths and humorous wisdom, speaking directly to the universal quest for happiness.
During his junior year at the University of California, Dan Millman first stumbled upon his mentor (nicknamed Socrates) at an all-night gas station. At the time, Millman hoped to become a world-champion gymnast. "To survive the lessons ahead, you're going to need far more energy than ever before," Socrates warned him that night. "You must cleanse your body of tension, free your mind of stagnant knowledge, and open your heart to the energy of true emotion." From there, the unpredictable Socrates proceeded to teach Millman the "way of the peaceful warrior." At first Socrates shattered every preconceived notion that Millman had about academics, athletics, and achievement. But eventually Millman stopped resisting the lessons, and began to try on a whole new ideology--one that valued being conscious over being smart, and strength in spirit over strength in body. Although the character of the cigarette-smoking Socrates seems like a fictional, modern-day Merlin, Millman asserts that he is based on an actual person. Certain male readers especially appreciate the coming-of-age theme, the haunting love story with the elusive woman Joy, and the challenging of Western beliefs about masculine power and success. --Gail Hudson

Customer Rating:
Summary: Will help you on your path
Comment: This book will help you find your place in life and help you discover a new perception of this world. Combine this book with the 7 habits of highly effective people and it will really open your eyes.

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Customer Rating:
Summary: Inspirational story
Comment: This book was recommended to me and I thought it very inspiring. It's a story that could be about anyone and the journey that we take in our lives to find our own path. Even when we stray from our destiny, somehow there is some force that sets us back on the path that was meant to be. A pretty good read.

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Customer Rating:
Summary: What time is it? Now. Where are we? Here.
Comment: Feeling the burn in this, our time-starved, fragmented, info-overloaded world? You might do well to adopt the warrior's path, that of freedom from ego, release from attachments, and finding happiness in the service of others. It's easy to see why this book has been changing lives for nearly 30 years.

Dan's break from training made for the most poignant part of the book for me. Sent away by Socrates, Dan lives 8 years of his life and wonders if he's just starting all over again. Who on the path to a better self hasn't felt that way? Learning the principles is one thing - living them is something else again. Daily practice takes the courage of a warrior.

That said, I have to be honest: the poor writing kept me from truly getting the most out of the experience of reading this book. Obviously it hasn't hurt the book's success in getting its message out into the world, and for that I'm glad, but it did make for some rough going in spots. I couldn't help but wonder what might have been had the book NOT read like an endless parade of "And then this happened, and then this happened, and then this happened..."

That the messages are as relevant as ever (if not more so) and this book's stature in field make it required reading for personal growth aficionados. But for lovers of the written word, it's a bit like eating your broccoli: great for you, but no picnic going down.

Lastly - do check out the movie! While there are differences, I was very impressed with how director Victor Salva captured the spirit of the book with gorgeous and effective visual storytelling (there's a scene where Dan meets himself on a rooftop that I'm thinking of in particular).

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Customer Rating:
Summary: Changed my life
Comment: This book is nothing short of amazing. This is a perfect book for anybody like me who is turned of by fundamentalism of any religious persuasion but knows there is a deep spiritual wisdom out there somewhere.

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Customer Rating:
Summary: Way of a Peaceful Warrior book
Comment: The book is a gift but I received it very quickly. And it was just what I wanted.

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