Customer Reviews

101 Zen Stories

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

All of the reviewers have commented on the type, and I will too. It's more than that it was typed with an old typewriter. A better description would be that it was typed with an old typewriter and then photocopied several times on an old photocopier before being printed. I have old typewriters (I actually collect them) and their type, while old-fashioned, is easy to read. This type is blurry and smeared.

On top of that, page 59 looks like the page was folded backwards at the inside corner when it was photocopied (I have no doubt it was photocopied at some point), and probably 4-5 words are missing from the text. The next page (in a modern typeset like any other book, I might add) states: "Sorry: The defect on the previous page was that way in the original book we produced." So.... you should continue to print an error you know about? I don't really understand that. At least they could have reprinted that one story with the missing words underneath their apology so that the reader would have all the words. There's plenty of room there - two pages with only that one sentence on them. I specifically mention this because each story is so short that missing 5 words out of one is not insignificant.

The stories are certainly great (which is why I gave the book 3 stars) but I wouldn't recommend that anyone buy this particular version of them. After I ordered the book, I found that all of the stories are available online for free (just type in the title of this book - using numbers for 101 - and add a dot com at the end). The online version is in a clear font and has no missing words.

The book has authentic print, as if it was made on a typewriter. Nonetheless this makes it more attractive too. The text is authentic Japanese English and the content is very authentic too. A good addition to people interested in the Japanese mind and culture and off course Zen.

Yes, the type is from an old manual typewriter, but it's not a problem. This is a great, insightful little book that my 18 year-old daughter took & won't give back, so I have to get another one for myself! Nice to keep on my bedside table and re-read from time to time.

nice little book but the typo is appauling its from an old type writer, makes the reading not so pleasant.