Product Description

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1640 in Books
• Published on: 2006-04-13
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 240 pages

Amazon.com
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

From AudioFile
When he was a young man, Olympic athlete, gymnastic coach, and author Dan Millman met Socrates, an eccentric mentor who delivered him from a young man's hubris and heartless pursuit of victory. This moving, largely true, story, with details admittedly drawn from emotional rather than factual memory, is told here with loving respect for the old man and his timeless ideas. "The warrior's life is not about imagined perfection or victory; it's about love," the athlete is told by his mentor. Living in alignment with the heart in the moment, free of striving and performance pressure, is the valuable lesson that channels through this somewhat long but well-told story. T.W. © AudioFile 2004, Portland, Maine-- Copyright © AudioFile, Portland, Maine

Association for Humanistic Psychology Newsletter, July, 1984
"This book is so appealing," commented Virginia Satir, "because it provides an easy access for people to naturally identify, connect and be in touch with the spiritual part of themselves."

Indeed, Way of the Peaceful Warrior does just that with its piercing truths, lively narrative and humorous wisdom. Like Castaneda, it enables the reader to reflect on the deepest questions of life. Yet unlike Don Juan, it spotlights the path to a happy, uncomplicated life without dependency on drugs.

Told with drama and insight, the novel revolves around Dan, a world champion gymnast and student at the University of California at Berkeley. The story begins when Dan meets his powerful 96-year-old mentor Socrates, an all-night gas station attendant.

Guided by this wise old mentor and tempted by an elusive and playful woman named Joy, Dan journeys through everyday reality and metaphysical realms. He travels the paths of flesh and spirit, romance and terror, light and darkness, laughter and magic, learning new ways to see the world and live life fully.

Thematically, this tale of the eternal human quest for the meaning of life is the path of transformation and enlightenment. It uncovers concepts known deep inside but really allowed to wake up and be content with this knowledge. There is no need to search, so just be happy now! Love is the only reality of the world, because it is all One - and the only laws are paradox, humor and change.

After reading Way of the Peaceful Warrior don't tuck it away on a bookshelf to gather dust. Keep it close at hand, and recapture guidance from many of the metaphors sprinkled throughout the story. The secret of happiness, Socrates so aptly points out, is not found in seeking more, but in developing the capacity to enjoy less.

Customer Reviews

A Must Read and Read Again and Again
I have read Way of The Peaceful Warrior several times. I always
find new inspiration in it's pages. This is a must read, especially for
those like myself who are into fitness.
Richard Walters, author of The 16 Minute Body Sculpting Kit

The 16 Minute Body Sculpting Kit: Attain Your Dream Body in Just 16 Minutes a Day!
The NinJew

not for me
It was a gift for my mom and she loved it. It's a product that you can't find in Mexico so it's excellent to have Amazon that could bringh it for us LOVE YOU

Will Change Your Life and Others
Read this book about two years ago. Wow! It really is a life changer! I've read many books about life. This one is the best! It really creates a focus and balance on life. This book will open your mind and heart. I've given it as gifts to those I love and everyone who has read it has told me the same thing. A must buy! However, as good as Peaceful Warrior is don't read Millman's other books, Sacred Journey or Socrates. As most reviews have stated, they are a disappointment. My opinion is that Millman had one good book in him, and that was Peaceful Warrior. His only other book that was okay, was No Ordinary Moments. If you really want to read a book by Millman after Peaceful Warrior read No Ordinary Moments, but that's it! Lastly, another really good book is University for Success. Combined these two books are special!