Way of the Peaceful Warrior: A Book That Changes Lives (Paperback)

~ Dan Millman (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

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 --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

"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. -- Association for Humanistic Psychology Newsletter, July, 1984

Remarkably wise, provocatively humorous, and hauntingly beautiful. It may even change the lives of many who peruse its pages. -- Dr. Stanley Krippner --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 240 pages
• Publisher: HJ Kramer; Revised edition (April 13, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1932073205
• ISBN-13: 978-1932073201
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.5 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (290 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #36,183 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

78 of 84 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars My two cents, July 7, 2000

By	"[e-mail]" (By the left big puddle) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Way of the Peaceful Warrior: A Book That Changes Lives (Paperback)

So here's my experience with the book: I first purchased this book when I was 15. And to tell you the truth I don't recall why. And I read it in one sitting. I came away from the reading with a sense of "Wow, that's really amazing. That was a really cool book." However I did NOT feel that the book lived up to it's subtitle "The Book that Changes Lives" In fact I thought it was a practice in pretension to label it as Millman did. And I put the book away and forgot about it...(dramatic pause)... or so I thought (BUM BUM BUM). You see it wasn't until I was 17 or so that I began to realize that the book had made a grand impact on my life. I realized that I was seeing the world in a completely different way... that I was learning to "let things go" to have fewer expectations from life and enjoying more what life was giving me. And through practice (which probably will continue for the rest of my life, these changes have continued and refined themselves in the years following this revelation. Of course a portion of these changes are due to me simply maturing and evolving as a person from age 15 to present. The book however set me on the right path for who I am and who I am to become as time goes on. My path may be differnt than yours- and I think that's the point and the reason that the reviews on this site are either very high or very low. For some this book resonates on a deep level and for others they see only the words. This is not to put value judgements on "getting it" or "not getting it". This bok is only one of the paths that leads to wherever it is that we are all headed as humanity. Each of us, (if i may be allowed a new age moment), is a person "becoming" and at different rates. It is not a question of is this book is right or wrong, it is a question of whether this book is right or wrong for whom. In this case that "whom" is you... and there is only one way to find out and that is to read it for yourself.

94 of 110 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Everything Has a Purpose, October 27, 2000

By	Stacie L. Henehan (New Albany, IN USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Way of the Peaceful Warrior: A Book That Changes Lives (Paperback)

I cannot give any book that gives useful life messages less than five stars, because I don't want to discourage anyone from reading it, however, the story in this book can drag at times. Although, the messages that it contains are necessary for the journey of the soul and it is definitely on my list of must reads. What I personally got out of the book is the importance of living in the NOW, not the past or future. What am I doing with myself right now? If you ask yourself this question often, you will find yourself being more productive. There are plenty of wonderful and inspiring passages in this book that will change your life, for example, "There are no accidents, everything has a purpose." Another key message from the warrior may be: Don't ever think you have learned enough - or life will throw you some hard lessons. Just when you think the character understands something, he gets thrown a hardball, similar to the course of life. At times you feel sorry for him, but he can be so cocky! Learning to be humble is one of life's greatest lessons as well.

24 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Way of the Peaceful Warrior: Review, November 24, 2002

By	Clayton Maderia (Amherst, MA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Way of the Peaceful Warrior: A Book That Changes Lives (Paperback)

For my independent book project I read the book Way of the Peaceful Warrior, by Dan
Millman. Set in Berkeley California, a young college student, Dan Millman, struggles to find the
part of himself that has always been missing. One night while out walking from his dorm, Dan
comes across a gas station and a strange man that is soon to turn his life upside down. This man,
known as Socrates, shows Dan a side of existence that only few people had ever seen. To
become a warrior like Socrates and have the mind to not allow the regular struggles of life to
control a single part of you. Socrates takes Dan in and tries to create a warrior from a young star
athlete with the ignorance of every other human on this earth. Through his teachings Dan comes
across an elusive women named Joy. This spiritual journey shows Dan a side of life never seen by
his own eyes before, and guides him to his final conflict that hopefully will help him reach his
destination he has always yearned for. The missing piece of the puzzle that is Dan Millman.
This book shows life in a way you may have never thought of before. It shows the many
steps it takes to become, "a warrior." The biggest strength of this book is the way these steps are
portrayed. In most cases it is Socrates showing the ignorant Dan the differences between their
lives. Socrates shows Dan how a warrior looks at several simple aspects of life unlike the normal
human. In one section, Socrates shows Dan the difference between the brain and the mind. Dan
questions the positive uses for the mind and the great minds in history. Socrates shows him that
there aren't any great minds, that there are only great brains. "Mind is one of those slippery terms
like love. The proper definition relates to your level of consciousness." Socrates states and
continues to explain how the brain has abstract processes of dealing with information called, "the
intellect." He adds, "Nowhere have I mentioned mind. The brain and mind are not the same.
The brain is real; the mind isn't." He later explains how the mind is all the random uncontrolled
thoughts that cloud your brain, and how the mind is a useless tool. This way of separating these
two simples words allows the reader to think about what the book is saying, and to figure out if
there is truth to what the book says.
Another strength of this book, is obviously the way it makes you think about the steps it
shows. The difference between the mind and brain is not something most think about in their
regular lives. But as I read each word I found truth to what Socrates was saying. You read this
book and try to realize the hidden messages being put across. The message between the mind and
brain is to not let your brain be attacked by random useless thoughts. In other words, to not let
your, `mind', get in the way of your brain. People think millions of useless thoughts each day.
Without these thoughts a persons brain would be clear and their emotions would be easier to
control. Dan tries to explain to Socrates that he will control his `mind' and change himself in the
process. "That is one of your biggest illusions. You've been willing to change clothes, hairstyles,
women, apartment, and jobs. You are willing to change anything, except yourself." Socrates
states. This again enables the reader to reflect on their life and brain. And to put themselves in
the shoes of the main character Dan.
This book allows you to relate to the main character. The main character is a young man
who has been set to see the world the way most have. He is ignorant when it comes to seeing the
other side of the picture. Readers can relate to him because they share a lot of the same qualities
and ignorance. As Socrates teaches Dan about the mind, he also teaches the reader. As I read
this book I found myself thinking the same questions as Dan asked in the book. It made me
realize how little most humans know and how unwelcome they are to change.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It allowed me to relate to the main character, reflect on
my life, and try to change myself in the process of reading it. I was able to see the parts of my life
that had not been even fathomed before. Through Dan's journey I was able to see the part of
myself that I had been missing. This book is not a challenging book and allows for every reader
to have their own interpretation of it. It is sad for me to say but this book definitely affected my
life and made me see the parts of myself that were in need of change. I recommend this book for
anyone struggling to find them self like most humans are, or anyone in general who would like to
read something that causes them to live through the motions of the main character. This book
creates a world similar to ours where, though he is not real, there is a `Socrates' in each in every
person's life. I recommend it to anyone, and later in life I will read it again to see my growth and
the things in my life I have left to change.

By,
Clayton
Maderia