Zen Soup (Arkana) (Paperback)

by Laurence G. Boldt (Author) "If Zen is telling us anything, it is to be here now, to live in this moment..." (more)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
More than 250,000 copies of Boldt's book in print. If, as the I Ching says, thoughts are spirits, then this collection of highly distilled thoughts from history's greatest philosophers and religious figures will certainly put you in good spirits. Laurence Boldt has long made a practice of applying Zen principles to everyday life. Here he applies wisdom from all corners of the world to twenty-five aspects, or qualities, associated with the Zen tradition. The result is a soup of the most hearty and wholesome kind, well-seasoned with age, and filled with delicious surprises: Where your talents and the needs of the world cross, thence lies your vocation.

--Aristotle A man with outward courage dares to die: A man with inward courage dares to live.

--Lao Tzu You'll also find Flip Wilson on living in the moment; Will Rogers on the beginner's mind; Helen Keller on courage; Checkov on self-confidence; and Colette on joy. Each chapter includes an entertaining and informative essay that explains the principle and its application to Zen wisdom. The rest is up to you. Read it in one gulp or savor each morsel. Either way, Zen Soup is sure to whet your spiritual appetite as it nourishes your soul.

Product Details

• Paperback: 208 pages
• Publisher: Penguin (Non-Classics) (November 1, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0140195602
• ISBN-13: 978-0140195606
• Product Dimensions: 7.1 x 5 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #654,203 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An enlightening blow to the head!, April 1, 2002

By	Tim Burness (Brighton, England) - See all my reviews

Laurence G. Boldt has put together a first class selection of quotes from a wide range of famous men and women, each of them known for some kind of exceptional human achievement. As Boldt says, "the diversity of the sources highlights the timeless and universal nature of these principles", so there are many Westerners quoted aswell as more traditional Zen Eastern sources.

The book is divided into 25 different sections, each of them covering a quality associated with the Zen tradition e.g. Be Here Now, Beginner's Mind, Responsibility, Compassion, Joy, Discipline, The Game Of Life, Selfless Service, Letting Go, Everyday Zen. There is a brief introduction to each quality, then a selection of associated quotes.

Many readers of self-development books and spiritual ideas will be familiar with some of these sayings, but as befits the Zen emphasis, the quality and depth of these quotes really makes an impact. Some of the people quoted several times are Krishnamurti, Confucius, Mahatma Gandhi, Albert Einstein, Lao-Tzu, Goethe, Carl Jung, Albert Camus and texts from every major religion.

7 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Leftovers Again..., December 2, 2000

By A Customer

I was expecting something special after reading the review on "Zen Soup" but was sorely disappointed to recieve only another compilation of witty one-liners from apparently every man who ever felt he had something to say. (The usual six women also made the cut; Mother Theresa, Helen Keller, Amelia Earhart, Eleanor Roosevelt, etc.) Henry Ford is quoted almost as often as Buddha. (What does that tell you...) There is a summary at the beginning of each chapter telling how these quotes relate to a Zen concept but the relationships are simplistic and the majority of the quotes are worn thin (ie. "What you see is what you get"....Flip Wilson.)

Quotes are a wonderful, quick way of seeing the world from a new perspective, but labelling this book "Zen Soup" (instead of perhaps, "Yet More Cool Quotes From Smart People") seems like a quick way to make a buck.

4 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Zen 101: Zen made fun and easy, November 26, 2002

By A Customer

This book is all quotations from Seneca & Sun-Tzu to William Blake & Noel Coward and many more. This is one of my favorite books and I recommend it to anyone.