Customer Reviews

Long Quiet Highway: Waking Up in America

5 star:		(19)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

Waking up in America. Natalie Goldberg weaves a wonderful book based on the details of her life and times. At the same time, this book is perhaps the most interesting explanation of Zen practice that I've read in a long time. By weaving her own story of Zen practice with the principles of writing and giving vision to how each is connected to the other, Goldberg draws the reader into an appreciation of both disciplines.

I found myself mourning just as she described herself to be at the loss of Kitigari Roshi. Somehow, Goldberg had gotten me to be as much in love with Roshi as she, and so the loss was real when she described the events leading up to and then his actual death. But that is exactly what she tries to explain in the Long Quiet Highway, that we have to experience now, and be open to the present fully, unconditionally. The beauty of this book is that it not only explains in mere words the principles she espouses, but it elicits those feelings directly through the very words we are reading.

Easy insight comes also from her teaching experiences. That is not to imply that the lessons learned were easy for Ms. Goldberg, but rather that her word pictures make it easy for the reader to understand and visualize what actually happened, what lights went on with the students, and how she managed to make that happen. I thought that I would perhaps be a bit bored with this, her fourth book for me, but I could not have been more incorrect.

This book has inspired me to go back and re-read some of the Zen texts I've collected. At the same time, it has encouraged me to make time for my own writing practice - no excuses, no postponing, just do it.

I recently read this book as part of the required reading for a university course on Zen. Understand that I'm no stranger to Zen philosophy, have sat and talked with monks, and have studied Buddhism for years. However, for me, this book provided a wonderful and necessary insight: practical application. It lets the reader see precisely how Zen can be incorporated into the lives of an "everyday individual" such as Natalie Goldberg. One might think of it as a case study on the practical application of Zen. I did.

I was also sad that the book ended. Then I recognized the sadness and laughed: All things are impermanent. Therefore it is fitting that the story came to an end. However, the lesson which this book embarks upon need not end with the closing of its covers...

Why should one read this book? If one is interested in Zen, read it. If one is interested in New Mexico, read it. If one is interest in writing, read it. If one is interested in the cultural transformation of America, read it. More importantly, if one is interested in life, READ IT.

This little book is big.

This is the spiritual journey of the author, Natalie Goldberg. Natalie goes from high school teaching, to a commune in Taos, to a Zen center in Minnesota. She learns how to write, and teach others to write. The book focuses on a relationship that develops between Natilie and her spiritual teacher, a Zen monk. Natalie questions her spirituality, as a student of Zen, a member of the Jewish faith, and a grieving writer. Her attention to minute details, her description of her spiritual dilemnas, and her grief for a man who gave her his love leave the reader with an understanding of what makes life special and worth living. I was left with an overwhelming feeling of Natalie's loss, and the illumination of what it means to be alive, and present. Natalie's prose is beautiful, that alone is worth the read.

Natalie Goldberg's Writing Down the Bones became a handbook fortaking another look at writing about our own lives. Just abouteveryone I knew had a copy. Now she's written about her own life: from her profound sleep of a suburban childhood, thru the first time she heard the rain, to her years as a student of Zen Buddhism. With moments of illumination, long discipline of daily practice, hilarious errors & stumbling over the grief resistance to change brings, Natalie Goldberg, wanders along the highway of her life, so far. A very satisfying read...

I first read Long Quiet Highway 3 years ago. It changed my life forever. Natalie offered me my first introduction to zen, which was profound enough, but it was the way in which she shared her growth that inspired me to reach beyond the world I knew then. I am eternally grateful for this book.

This book is unique in so many ways. The reason for the title is very telling: when asked how Buddhism will spread through America, the author's spiritual master replied: "It will spread through the U.S. like a 'long quiet highway'". What a perfect characterization of this country! Goldberg does a great job revealing how she is attracted to Buddhism. One passage I will never forget is her description of the first time she met her spiritual leader (Roshi); she reveals to her readers, in perfect detail, how the Roshi was watering a flower, and how every bit of his attention was focused on that action. Goldberg is truly a wonderful writer. I also was tremendously moved by her description of her relationship with Roshi, and how she grieved so deeply when he died. (I am going through something similar myself, and it is a uniquely emotional experience). I have never seen an author deal with this specific subject matter before. Natalie Goldberg, thank you so very much for this tremendous and deeply personal book.

As a child of one of those self-absorbed feminist lesbian therapy-goers of the seventies, yes, this book is a little more self-absorbed than I can handle at times-- HOWEVER, put into its historical perspective (which Natalie talks about, being a child of the indifferent suburbs), you understand why this baby boomer generation had to navel-gaze so much in order to figure out what the 1950s did to everyone. It's okay because in the end, you've got to admit that years later, they came out of all those retreats and communes with really good insights. Even the ones in SUVs.

Natalie's book, WRITING DOWN THE BONES, is a gift, New Age navel-gazing be damned, no matter what you say. And you've got to hand it to any one who's willing to then show you her flaws, as she does in this book, and how she got to such a place as to write BONES. Like some of those punk guys say, brilliant guitar playing never did anyone any good. It's inspiring to see that we're just as human as a well-edited artist who's been quietly refining herself for years. In this book she shows us years of work and conversations and thoughts it took to write her famous writing books.

You can say she's self-absorbed. Okay, fine. We all are. It's better than women going around feeling guilty and trying to read minds, or men drinking beer and talking about bombing Bin Laden. But this book is a gift that she's showing you all the work that it took to get where she is. Writing/art is a process and don't expect human beings to bang out WAR and PEACE every weekend! You only hurt and separate yourself from the art by making it intimidating and expecting too much. You give up.

I only give the book four stars because it's a sweet read, and I'd say an important part of her collection. It's raw and honest, sometimes like a journal or having lunch. Everything doesn't have to have a blasting five stars or whatever. I lost my mentor and found this book by accident. Because of her own relationship with her mentor, it spoke to me like a casual friend and it's sweet.

I'd have to reserve the five stars for her writing books. And don't put down teaching, either, whoever did that. I'm a writer and I'm too self-centered to actually teach. It's exhausting and generous to help others get over their hang ups. Those with patience are blessings.

All Natalie's ever talked about is a little compassion. Try a little tenderness... especially with yourselves.

When this book first came out, I remember reading it straight through three times. And I sent it to nearly every writer or spiritual seeker I knew.

Today, I was looking on my bookshelf hoping for inspiration on a book to send a new friend who is in the midst of a spiritual struggle (though I see it as an awakening). I picked up Ms. Goldberg's book and started thumbing through it. Before I knew it, the time had flown by and I'd completely forgotten about my work... yikes-my deadline! I just ordered a copy for my friend, and am going to reread the book myself.

This is what makes it so great: it is honest and authentic. It is like sitting in a room with someone and having them decribe a fascinating and compelling journey. It is the complications of zen practice made simple to understand. Reading it is exactly the experience the title suggests... it is a journey.

For anyone who understands the struggle to "wake up." This is a beautiful book to keep by your side.

This book documents Natalie's journey with Zen & writing. It is honest and straight forward. There are many valueable lessons to be learned from this book. It deals with life, death, divorce, personal growth & empowerment. This book is a discourse with life in simple clarity. As others have said this is a book you will read more than once.

I started reading this book about a year ago and I'd read a few pages and have to stop due to the sheer beauty of the writing, or sometimes just to cry. Goldberg writes in an achingly simple style that really captures the zen of writing. Although for me, the book isn't so much about zen as about an ordinary woman's honest account of her life, and the things she does to construct a meaningful life. The way she describes growing up in America will resonate with those of us -- writers or not -- who grew up feeling numb, isolated, unconnected and searching. I was moved, inspired and changed. A deep work from authentic artist.