Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance: An Inquiry Into Values

Amazon.com

Arguably one of the most profoundly important essays ever written on the nature and significance of "quality" and definitely a necessary anodyne to the consequences of a modern world pathologically obsessed with quantity. Although set as a story of a cross-country trip on a motorcycle by a father and son, it is more nearly a journey through 2,000 years of Western philosophy. For some people, this has been a truly life-changing book.

Book Description

One of the most important and influential books written in the past half-century, Robert M. Pirsig's Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance is a powerful, moving, and penetrating examination of how we live . . . and a breathtaking meditation on how to live better. Here is the book that transformed a generation: an unforgettable narration of a summer motorcycle trip across America's Northwest, undertaken by a father and his young son. A story of love and fear -- of growth, discovery, and acceptance -- that becomes a profound personal and philosophical odyssey into life's fundamental questions, this uniquely exhilarating modern classic is both touching and transcendent, resonant with the myriad confusions of existence . . . and the small, essential triumphs that propel us forward.

Customer Reviews:

Giving 'Quality' a new depth........2007-10-15

I read this book first when I was interested in the Quality movement in the early 1990's, and then again much later when I was more interested in philosophy. And that gave my feelings about quality a depth that I reckon has influenced greatly my approach to performance measurement today.

Plus I like motorcycles, even if only the off-road kind, and have spent many hours grazing my knuckles and bruising my shins as I've maintained them too (this will make more sense when you've read the part in the book that introduces Gumption Traps)!

Read under the author's name. . . .......2007-09-24

I had heard of "Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance" by Robert Pirsig long before I read it. But when someone compared some of my emails on Postfix mail servers to this book, I had to read it. I am glad I did.

The one mistake people make with this book is thinking it has to deal with zen and motorcycle maintenance. It has little to do with either, but under the author's name, in the sub title, the truth is exposed.

Pirsig's work is not some giant philosophical leap forward. In fact, there are many earlier works that cover the same material as Pirsig's with far more detail and accuracy! But where they fail to make things digestible to a layman, Pirsig succeeds.

That is perhaps the one bad thing in "Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance." He has made some mistaken quotes by simple mis-remembering, and hands them out as accurate information. But even this is not terrible when you look at the overall goal of the book, to inspire people to examine quality in their lives.

I think that this book should be required reading in every high school. There is a lot in there that people coming of age need to learn, and so rarely do. The allegorical examination of quality through the tools of Zen and Motorcycles is very wonderfully written. And with a teacher to correct the few misquotes, even the down side can be eliminated.

Now while I feel that Pirsig's viewpoint is somewhat polarized, I do not find that hinders the learning process or enjoyment involved in reading this book.

So please, read this book, even if you are interested in philosophy, zen, motorcycles, or quality. You may be surprised about the other parts of your life that it touches on.

How..... Zen........2007-09-01

This is one of those books I always thought I should read and when I finally got around to it I was blown away. I am reminded of catcher in the rye and one... cuckoos nest. This book was not what I expected. It is not about motorcycles or philosophy, it is about people. The story is skillfully woven between these elements. This is not a book you read once. This is not a book though, to escape from thinking. If that's what you need try Matthew Riley.

Quality without six sigma.......2007-08-24

I have probably purchased over 25 copies if Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance for friends, family and customers. Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance (ZAMM) is about finding quality through "being the job" instead of 25 pages of process documentation for a 55 second operation.

Implied in this is identifying yourself with the job and finding satisfaction in a job well done. Being the job.

Like it.......2007-07-28

I love it that I can find used books at a great price, fair shipping price, plus they show up in a timely manner in wonderful shape! Thanks!

Average customer rating:

great book
Inspirational, Positive, Motivational.....Full of Budo Wisdom
The Way of...
Zen in the Martial Arts - by Joe Hyams
zen in the martial arts

Zen in the Martial Arts
Joe Hyams
Manufacturer: Bantam
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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ASIN: 0553275593
Release Date: 1982-06-01

Book Description

"A man who has attained mastery of an art reveals it in his every action."--Samurai Maximum.

Under the guidance of such celebrated masters as Ed Parker and the immortal Bruce Lee, Joe Hyams vividly recounts his more than 25 years of experience in the martial arts. In his illuminating story, Hyams reveals to you how the daily application of Zen principles not only developed his physical expertise but gave him the mental discipline to control his personal problems-self-image, work pressure, competition. Indeed, mastering the spiritual goals in martial arts can dramatically alter the quality of your life-enriching your relationships with people, as well as helping you make use of all your abilities.

Customer Reviews:

great book .......2007-07-25

i read this book 20 years ago and is totally applicable to life in the modern world .it will help you in many ways even before you finish reading it.short and to the point

Inspirational, Positive, Motivational.....Full of Budo Wisdom.......2007-07-22

Must be a classic already? I can't add much too all the positive reviews listed here already, but, despite being a small book and a quick and easy read, it's one of those books that should be read and its contents digested several times, to make sure the important messages have sunk into your sub-consciousness.

Joe gives several accounts of when he trained with Bruce Lee and there are many witty and funny stories in the book. The book covers many Budo secrets and is a fantastic summary of many of the great samurai classics. No matter what Martial Art you study, there will be plenty of material here to improve your performance and help you with the important aspects of breathing, timing and Kime.

Try and get the Bantam July 1982 edition as it is nice and small and can fit in your pocket. Keep it by your bedside to give you something to meditate on before you go to sleep and refer to it often to help you absorb the important techniques within the book. If followed with some persistence, I am certain it could help anyone increase their longevity though the various practices in the book.

The Way of..........2007-03-01

ZEN IN THE MARTIAL ARTS is one of the more seminal "Zen in the Art of..."-type titles. Karateka Joe Hyams (FKA Mr. Elke Sommer) is a martial arts generalist who studied under, among many others, Bruce Lee.

Within the covers of this slim volume, Hyams' approach to Zen seems a bit haphazard and informal. Although epigrams from various Zen masters pepper the pages, Hyams seems to have only the most limited grasp of structured Zen practice, such as koans and shikantaza.

Hyams' exposure to Zen seems to have occurred less in the zendo than in the dojo, a fact which does not detract from the pragmatic lessons he illustrates but does give the reader a foreshortened view of Zen as a way of life. But Hyams does provide a path to understanding Zen as the critical underpinning of the serious study of any martial art.

Hyams shows us that Zen imbues the martial arts with a deeper philosophical meaning, so that what would otherwise be just a way to war becomes a just warrior's way.

Zen in the Martial Arts - by Joe Hyams.......2007-01-19

Great book, easy reading and keeps you interested all the way through the book... good writer.

Get the book!!

zen in the martial arts.......2007-01-01

the title was a bit misleading but overall i was very happy with the book and recommend it to anyone looking for a quick reading book.

Zen in the Art of Writing: Releasing the Creative Genius Within You

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Write Here, Write Now.
Joy of writing
a gift that keeps on giving...
A Must For Any Aspiring Writer
A gift from a master

Zen in the Art of Writing: Releasing the Creative Genius Within You
Ray Bradbury
Manufacturer: Bantam
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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ASIN: 0553296345
Release Date: 1992-03-01

Book Description

"Every morning I jump out of bed and step on a land mine. The land mine is me. After the explosion, I spend the rest of the day putting the pieces back together. Now, it's your turn. Jump!" Zest. Gusto. Curiosity. These are the qualities every writer must have, as well as a spirit of adventure. In this exuberant book, the incomparable Ray Bradbury shares the wisdom, experience, and excitement of a lifetime of writing. Here are practical tips on the art of writing from a master of the craft-everything from finding original ideas to developing your own voice and style-as well as the inside story of Bradbury's own remarkable career as a prolific author of novels, stories, poems, films, and plays. Zen In The Art Of Writing is more than just a how-to manual for the would-be writer: it is a celebration of the act of writing itself that will delight, impassion, and inspire the writer in you. In it, Bradbury encourages us to follow the unique path of our instincts and enthusiasms to the place where our inner genius dwells, and he shows that success as a writer depends on how well you know one subject: your own life.

Customer Reviews:

Write Here, Write Now........2007-10-22

Zen. The practice of living fully in the now, paying full attention to being, and to doing.

Is this possible with writing? It is if you follow Bradbury's lead, and immerse yourself first in what he tells you about how HE writes, and then, put the book aside, and immerse yourself in your own daily writing practice.

Do it fearlessly, consistently, and mindfully, and allow your best to surface. You'll stop being so quick to judge what you write, and just let the writing flow (editing and rewriting come later)!

So go ahead, pick up the book and read a little. Then, pick up the pen, and follow your Zen.

Joy of writing.......2007-07-20

This book may be more for the word than the Zen practitioner, but it is for anyone wanting affirmation and inspiration for the craft of writing. Herein Bradbury provides us with the techniques and processes he used since the age of 12 to bring life to words; his deep love of writing and incredible memory, pour from each page making the reader almost drunk (on Dandelion Wine.) After reading this book you too will feel like you can and should write anything albeit with patience and practice.

Whether Bradbury realizes it or not, the discipline of writing is akin to the discipline of Zen as seen in consistent practice of that which we want to achieve, be it a novel or enlightenment. He shows us his method of confronting his childhood fears and shadows while also recommending that not thinking is essential to the creative flow of words that becomes a written product and how wonderful to read of his experiencing the sacred muse.

This book seemed like it would make great high school reading material to encourage young people who so need to express themselves, and it made me feel like using an old fashioned typewriter again, his pre-word-processing tool of hand to paper. It is short and easy to read, full of zest for life and of course the thrill of writing!

a gift that keeps on giving..........2007-04-04

how well do you know your own life? this might just determine how well of a writer that you are..this celebration of writing..a gem of a book..it's a gift from a great writer to all us wannabees, or trying to be's or writers breaking free of the mental blocks..or successful writers..this is a gift that just keeps on giving..inspiring..encouraging..

A Must For Any Aspiring Writer.......2005-12-15

Written by one of the truly great writers of our time, Ray Bradbury encourages and imparts some solid tips for writing well. Definitely a must for any aspiring writer, Bradbury gives advice on how to come up with marketable story ideas and how to approach writing them. It's like being guided along by a great writer who you would never meet any other way. One of the tips he offers is that quantity leads to quality. So his advice: keep writing. He also tells us that fiction can be more truthful than nonfiction. Then he shows us how to write down meaningful words in our lives that could possibly lead to compelling stories. It's definitely worth your time to spend a few hours with a fiction master. You never know what you may take away from it. Great book!

A gift from a master.......2005-11-17

Zen in the Art of Writing is a collection of essays written over the long career of Ray Bradbury. Each essay is like a little gift to the reader. He teaches us about writing on what we love, and what we hate and to always stay drunk on writing, because it saves us from reality.

Bradbury's single best piece of advice concerns, well, writing. He devotes a chapter on the mechanics of writing, the way he learned it. To become a successful writer according to Bradbury, one must write at least a thousand words a day until the process becomes automatic and the hand is no different from what it writes. It is simply fascinating to delve into the mind of one of the greatest science fiction writers on how the craft is done. This chapter alone is worth buying the book which seems to be quite cheap.

I am using this book as a reference for my research essay on fiction at Oklahoma State. It contains anecdotes and wisdom which will make you want to go out and write about everything you see. I couldn't recommend anything better for a beginning writer.

Cloud-hidden, Whereabouts Unknown: A Mountain Journal

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Writing about the Unknowable
rebel with a cause
just marvelous
A concise summary of Watts' enlightening lectures.

Cloud-hidden, Whereabouts Unknown: A Mountain Journal
Alan W. Watts
Manufacturer: Vintage
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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ASIN: 0394719999
Release Date: 1974-03-12

Book Description

These ruminations, assembled in the form of a journal and here published in paperback for the first time, were written at Alan Watts' retreat in the foothills of Mount Tamalpais, California. Many current themes are discussed, including meditation, nature, established religion, race relations, karma and reincarnation, astrology and tantric yoga, and the nature of ecstasy, but the underlying motif is the art of feeling out and following the watercourse way of nature, known in Chinese as the Tao. Watts suggests a way of contemplative meditation in which we temporarily stop naming and classifying all that we experience, and simply feel it as it is.

Customer Reviews:

Writing about the Unknowable.......2004-10-20

It's a little hard to write about something that can't be written about, but Watts gives it his best shot, and he seems to pull it off.

He writes, for example, "Yet the intention of the guru himself is simply to exhaust the energy of the illusion by bringing his disciples again and again to experiences of the absurdity of trying to transform mind with mind."

Watts, as his readers know, started as an Anglican (Episcopalian) priest, and then studied at a Zen monastery in Kyoto, Japan. His metamorphosis is evident in these writings (he died in 1973, right after this book was published).

Watts has little sympathy for the established Christian churches and instead finds sustenance in Zen, Taoism, and Hinduism.

Personally, I found sustenance in his writings here. He doesn't give a whole lot of what we might call "practical" advice, except to meditate, but that's the point of his teachings: "So long, then, as we are concerned with powers, we are still aiming at increased control of nature and aggravating our frustrations." The "Western" efforts to control nature, Watts feels, are self-defeating.

"You, as ego, cannot change what you are feeling, and you cannot, effectively, try not to change it."

You may get the dichotomous drift of what he is saying in these few quotations. When you read the book, you'll get much more. Like other books with a spiritual theme, but moreso, this book will fulfill and feed your spirit. Diximus.

rebel with a cause.......2002-10-21

Timeless wisdom wrapped in beautiful language that soothes the soul. Alan Watts was a brilliant storyteller who managed to stir things up a bit before leaving on an optimistic note.

This work is edgier than his others and will satisfy the more rebellious new agers.

just marvelous.......1998-12-27

This is perhaps the best of the half dozen or so Watts books I've read. Watts is a brilliant philosopher of the "Big Picture", and it is all wonderfully laid out here: Cosmic consciousness, Tantric Buddhism, the Hippies, Tao... he nails them all in splendid fashion. Highly recommendable.

A concise summary of Watts' enlightening lectures........1998-08-24

Unlike "The Book", one of my favorite books of Watts, "Cloud-Hidden..." is a collection of short essays that can be digested in a brief sitting. Some of these essays are direct transcriptions of his lectures. Yet, I find myself returning to this book quite often for a quick "Watts fix".

True Love: A Practice for Awakening the Heart

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Loving and Happy Relationships 101
Good Book
Practice True Love!
Life Used to be so hard.....
Be Love

True Love: A Practice for Awakening the Heart
Thich Nhat Hanh
Manufacturer: Shambhala
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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ASIN: 1590304047
Release Date: 2006-09-12

Book Description

In this little treasure, Thich Nhat Hanh, the renowned Zen monk, offers timeless insight into the nature of real love. With simplicity, warmth, and directness, he explores the four key aspects of love as described in the Buddhist tradition: lovingkindness, compassion, joy, and freedom—explaining how to experience them in our day-to-day lives. He also emphasizes that in order to love in a real way, we must first learn how to be fully present in our lives, and he offers simple techniques from the Buddhist tradition that anyone can use to establish the conditions of love.

Thich Nhat Hanh, a Vietnamese Zen Buddhist monk, is an internationally known author, poet, scholar, and peace activist who was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize by Martin Luther King Jr.

Customer Reviews:

Loving and Happy Relationships 101.......2007-07-24

The essence of true love is understanding, says Thich Nhat Hanh. This is not a dry thesis. Hanh shows how this truth can be practiced in concise, clear, and helpful ways. The practice begins now. He gives specific strategies for relating to others in ways that eliminate pain and allow one to fully experience 'the other'.

If you believe in buying only the books that you can keep re-visiting, this is definitely a great deal.

Good Book.......2007-06-11

Good Book, check it out. it should help anyone with their daily life (not just love).

Practice True Love!.......2007-01-06

I agree with another reviewer of this book that it is a little piece of poetry. However, this book is not meant to be just for information or for its teachings to be turned into belief or to be idealized, but instead the teachings in this book were meant to be practiced. Become love for your spouse, your children and everyone around you, and see life blossom...for you and all of those touched by true love!

Life Used to be so hard............2006-11-17

I was feeling rather ill, going through a night of errands, dizziness, concern, days stress combined with hard fights for breath and at the end of a journey looking for things for my daughter to forward her love of physics for she needs this right now, this book revealed itself. So it came home with me. It is a lovely meditative piece informing me of the way love operates for this Buddhist monk. I am too tired to relate all the sections and they are so very good, what I wanted to say was how I've allowed myself over the time since having cancer surgeries and illness to more than ever try to practice what I teach , to employ love in the daily life, to feel and extend love, to find the wonder in another, to notice the blossoming, the opening of heart one to another, to share and accept as well as hear and move through time and space in another way. I found this to coincide with my spiritual or really personal acceptance of my situation and my humanness.. This book even addressed the harder spots, the negatives , the restraints, doubts, foibles of my human situation. He must sit writing these books in a state of contemplation that is like an eye open to others being as the world's days are shaped....sorting and distilling down to core pieces. Truly a very moving read, a slender piece of poetry.

Be Love.......2006-11-11

This is a little book you can read within a couple of sittings, and if you are open to it, it will open your heart.
It's not a book about relationships or about fixing problems -- it's about changing your perspective, becoming still and present to your experience. You don't need to search for love elsewhere -- if you can consistently practice what Thich Nhat Hanh calls "mindfulness", you will *be* love and you will see it everywhere. When I was done reading this book, I felt a sense of peace and presence and a wonderful knowing that all the love I ever need is right here in my own heart.

This Is It: and Other Essays on Zen and Spiritual Experience

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Spiritual can mean Everyday
It is this
Short but Good
Great explanation of the non-dual
Just do it...

This Is It: and Other Essays on Zen and Spiritual Experience
Alan W. Watts
Manufacturer: Vintage
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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ASIN: 0394719042
Release Date: 1973-03-12

Book Description

The six essays in this volume all deal with the relationship of mystical experience to ordinary life. The title essay on "cosmic consciousness" includes the author's account of his own ventures into this inward realm. "Instinct, Intelligence, and Anxiety" is a study of the paradoxes of self-consciousness; "Spiritually and Sensuality," a lively discussion of the false opposition of spirit and matter; and "The New Alchemy," a balanced account of states of consciousness akin to spiritual experience induced by the aid of lysergic acid. The collection also includes the text of Watts' celebrated pamphlet, "Beat Zen, Square Zen, and Zen."

Customer Reviews:

Spiritual can mean Everyday.......2005-07-12

The apparent simplicity of a statement like "This is it" is beautiful, and at the same time it is clear and equivocal. Why would we be dissatisfied with "This is it" as an explanation, proclamation, or celebration? Perhaps because we have been conditioned to expect more before ever being given the chance to appreciate the immanent.

Aside from theology, no field is more guilty of overlooking the "here and now" than philosophy - overlooking it, or simply missing it. But Alan Watts believes in a philosophy that is true to its spirit, the love of wisdom. "Such philosophy will not preach or advocate practices leading to improvement." As he understands it "the work of the philosopher as artist is to reveal and celebrate the eternal and purposeless background of human life." It may seem presumptuous for Watts to use the word purposeless, but if fact it's the opposite. To begin with, in relationships that involve observation, appreciation, celebration, or interaction with the "here and now," (life) there should be no assumptions made regarding a purpose. Assuming a purpose is already removing oneself from the "here and now" by imposing an impression that only could have been established through time, in the past. In truth, the purpose or lack thereof is not important.

We don't realize how many of these assumptions form the base for all that we experience. Watts pulls a wonderful line from Dostoyevsky: "Man is unhappy because he doesn't know he's happy. It's only that...If anyone finds out he'll become happy at once, that minute." Watts isn't trying to imply that happiness is easy. But we don't make things easier on ourselves by entangling ourselves in webs of assumption, dogma, and rigidity.

Alan Watts is very intelligent, and very interesting - a combination not found in too many philosophers at all, let alone in the twentieth century. Though he would never claim to be offering any type of assistance or prescription, it is likely that this book will inspire you to see the world from another angle or two.

It is this.......2004-05-25

kind of writing and insight, from someone I consider a mentor to this day, which helped me to deepen my understanding of Christianity as I was recovering from a period of Jesus enthusiasm in the mid-70s. I am only now reading this particular work by Watts, but it just confirms for me how helpful were his words for me then, and for so many others who came of age during the 60s and early 70s.

Short but Good.......2003-05-14

_This Is It_ by Alan Watts is a good solid work, but is too short to provide the rigorous instruction needed to achieve any appreciable amount of enlightenment or Zen Satori. That said, it is a wonderful, enjoyable, and profound book page for page, and is essential to round out your collection of Alan Watts' more recent and well-known works. _This Is It_ is also perfect for someone who does not want a megadose of strenuous philosophy and theology; it is ideal for those who are new to psychological-religious non-fiction, or who do not have the time to hack through some kind of magnum-opus epic of philosophy. If, however, you want to read one of the more comprehensive books by Alan Watts, I would recommend _Psychotherapy East and West_, which is his best work.

Great explanation of the non-dual.......2003-01-19

Alan Watts explains what unity/non-dual consciousness or nothingness really is and explains how it may be different from what many people think it is. He uses various interesting examples to make his case and I thought they were very effective. Ken Wilber has elaborated on this error that people tend to make as well but I think Toru Sato's "The Ever-Transcending Spirit" really explains it the best. Although it is impossible to explain this distinction in words, it is the only medium writers have and Sato uses this meduim in a very nice way to help us understand this concept (or shall we say "non-concept"). Anyways all of these author's books are well worth reading. They are all brilliant! We are very fortunate that these people write books.

Just do it..........2002-09-14

Yes, the Nike ads have captured the essence of Zen. As Alan Watts puts it, This Is It.

Logical paradoxes aside, the "just shut up and get on with it" approach to Life is one of the key elements in Zen. The 'kill the Buddha' psychology of avoiding the pitfalls of externally arising enlightenment is well in line with Watt's own philosophy.

Completeness comes from within and from a place of non-duality, which the koans of Zen are designed to lead you towards. One of the key human errors and the cause of immense suffering is the belief that Life must make sense. Who ever said that? And make sense to whom?

The Techno Bible in The Hitch Hiker's Guide bore the words "Dont Panic" on the cover. That's a good starting point. Add to that Just Do It and This Is It, and you're going to be just fine.

Customer Reviews:

A terrific book about a terrific man and ballplayer.......2006-10-01

I had always admired Sadaharu Oh from afar as a kid, simply because I knew that he put up incredible home run totals every year while playing only 130 games a season in Japan. After I read this book, I became a huge fan...both of Oh the ballplayer and Oh the man.

If you're a baseball fan, you'll find what you like. He was, after all a ballplayer, and a great one who deserves to be in Cooperstown. His is a great story, and there's a single chapter devoted to the unique batting style that changed him from disappointment to superstar. I've monkeyed around using his flamingo-style batting stance, and I can tell you it added 25-50 feet to my own hits...and I'm no ballplayer. It works.

More important, though, is that this book shows what a truly class act Oh-san is. Although he became the greatest home run hitter in world baseball history, he remained very humble and gave credit to hard work and the guidance of others for his success. There is no Barry Bonds in this man. He is truly worthy of being called a "hero," and that's a word I almost never use.

Get this book!!! I have three copies of it myself, and would never part with any of them. It is one of the best and most uplifting autobiographies I've ever read on anyone, in or out of sports.

Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance

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Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance
Robert Pirsig
Manufacturer: Bantam
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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If you can find this book, buy it! You won't be disappointed!

Zen Combat
Jay Gluck
Manufacturer: Ballantine Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
ASIN: 0345250303
Release Date: 1976-05-12

Customer Reviews:

If you can find this book, buy it! You won't be disappointed!.......2007-03-19

Being the author of several books on the martial arts and fighting, I am always looking for books of exceptional quality to add to my library. If I have a book in my library, it's definitely worth owning. One such book is Jay Gluck's, "Zen Combat."

This is a very well written book and one that I don't believe is in print anymore. The copy I have I ended up finding in an old book store several years ago. This book gives you some outstanding information on the history of primarily the Japanese martial arts and their philosophy.

1. The Bull Story; Masutatsu "Mas" Oyama and Kyokushin-kai Karate:

This section covers a lot of, although brief, biography of Masutatsu "Mas" Oyama and how he came to learn the art of Karate. Included in this biography are stories about his training style or technique, his first U.S. tour in the early 1950's, which was also the first time that the art of Karate had been demonstrated in the U.S. There is also a story about how Mas and the author visited with another famous Karate master, Gogen "Cat" Yamaguchi.

This section of the book concludes with some basic information from Mas on training techniques and methods, etiquette and principles of karate, descriptions on various punches, blocks and kicks, kata or forms with Heian or Pinan Nidan being described and illustrated. There is also a very good section on belt rank and the importance of it.

Of particular note, there is a terrific section on how to form a proper Shuto or knifehand strike, and on how to condition your hands for delivering powerful blows.

2. Why the Zen of Zen Combat; Martial Arts Philosophy:

This section is primarily devoted to the early history of the martial arts and their philosophy, and how Zen compliments them. This is really a very good although brief section on the history of martial arts.

3. Kendo; The Way of the Sword:

In this section, the author talks briefly about Miyamoto Musashi who was Japan's greatest samurai swordsman. In addition to Musashi, he also talks about the art of Kendo and the samurai sword, and the basic techniques that are used when yielding a samurai sword. These techniques include; the proper grip, en-garde, touché, and the I-ai or "quick draw."

The rest of this particular section is devoted to various weapons used by the samurai such as; the naginata, bo staff, spears, etc.

4. Kyudo; The Way of Archery:

This section starts out with a brief history of the bow in Japanese history and then quickly dives right in to how Zen became incorporated with Japanese archery and why it is still practiced that way even today.

The author gives a very detailed explanation on the equipment, ritual, and techniques associated with Japanese archery. This is a very thorough and well presented, yet basic, analysis of this very impressive art form.

5. Dancing; Dervishes of Strength:

We begin this section with a trip to Iran and its traditional dance at their House of Strength. This was very informative and was totally new to me, although the ideas expressed weren't. The author also discusses the importance of dance and music to the martial arts if one truly wants to master them.

There is a terrific section included here that deals with how to breath and training your body through the use of certain breathing techniques. It also has a section devoted to the purifying of the body through the use of "cold training." This section finishes with a brief history on the art of ninjitsu.

6. Aiki; Luke: 4-28:

This is perhaps the best section in this book and covers the art of Aikido and its master, Morihei Ueshiba. This section is quite detailed and recounts several exploits of the Aikido master. It also briefly explains some of the techniques and principles associated with this amazing art form.

This book was originally written and printed back in the early 1960's, and therefore I don't know if it is still available or not. You may have to get on the internet, or search your local used book stores to find it, but if you do, definitely pick it up. You won't regret it.

Average customer rating:

page turner with errors
Love Her or Hate Her, but You Can't Put the Book Down
Cultural Interest Has No Borders
Simply Captivating
OK, but...

Zen Attitude
Sujata Massey
Manufacturer: HarperTorch
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

General | Mystery | Mystery & Thrillers | Subjects | Books

Series | Mystery | Mystery & Thrillers | Subjects | Books

Women Sleuths | Mystery | Mystery & Thrillers | Subjects | Books

General | Mystery & Thrillers | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 006104444X
Release Date: 2000-04-04

Book Description

It's Tough to Keep Cool When the Heat Is On

Japanese-American Rei Shimura finally has a life to be proud of in Tokyo: running her own antiques business and living with her Scottish lawyer boyfreind. But when Rei overpays for a beautiful chest of drawers, she's in for the worst deal of her life. The con man who sold her the Tansu is found dead, and like it or not Rei's opened a pandora's box of mystery, theft, and murder.

Only Rei sees the Tansu as the key. It will take a quick wit, fast feet, and above all a Zen Attitude for Rei to discover what a young monk, a judo star, and an ancient scroll have in common, and why her own life hangs in the balance.

Sujata Massey is an exciting new author published by HarperPaperbacks. Massey's first novel, The Salaryman's Wife, has just been nominated for the prestigious Anthony Award. Massey's second novel, Zen Attitude, also featuring Rei Shimura, a 27 year-old Japanese American English teaching living in Tokyo, will be out in June 1998.

Customer Reviews:

page turner with errors.......2006-11-03

I like all of Sujata Massey's books I have read (so far have read the first 3) - they are all quick moving and good escapist reading. She has quite a few improbable scenes and a plot line that stretches credibility, but the overall enjoyment she offers outweighs these difficulties. I was surprised by this one though that she has so many glaring errors. She states that in Japanese Buddhism women are not allowed to be priests - I personally have met 3 women Buddhist priests in Japan. One is the heir to the title of abbot of a family-run Buddhist temple. This means that one of the central devices of her plot is incorrect - that the young woman Akemi can't inherit the title of abbot of her family's temple.

Other than that there are some basic flaws in her explanation of Buddhism (what a sutra is, what Pali is, etc..) These things should have been caught by the editors.

Still I do recommend this as a fun read, if you don't believe it as actual Japanese culture.

Love Her or Hate Her, but You Can't Put the Book Down.......2005-11-13

Rei Shimura has moved up in the world, now she lives in luxury with her lover, Scottish Lawyer Hugh Glendenning, and she's selling antiques, her lifelong dream. This is a big change for the Rei we met in "The Salaryman's Wife." She has been hired by a major player in the antiques world, the formidable Nana Mihori. The right deal with Mihori can set Rei up for life, so when she finds a ceremonial chest of drawers worth millions of yen, she is overjoyed. She spends way too much on behalf of Mihori, has the priceless piece delivered to her apartment, then finds to her horror that it's a fake.

Once again Sujata Massey takes us on a wild Japanese ride and along the way we meet a female judo champion, Hugh's spoiled brother Angus who will smoke anything in sight, a hip young car salesman who may or may not be a serial killer, a buddhist temple run by the Mihoris, and the very scary daughter of the Mihori clan and of course there's Rei Shimura herself, who seems so exasperating as she gets involved in murder.

Rei Shimura is a character that you'll either love or hate as you flip though the pages as fast as you can read, because love her or hate her, you won't be able to put the book down.

Review submitted by Captain Katie Osborne

Cultural Interest Has No Borders.......2003-10-23

Massey's goal is to explore and teach about culture. Born in England to Indian and German parents, she's fascinated by Japan, so she sets her novels in that country and makes her main character Japanese-American. (I understand the strategy completely; I'm Italian-American, but my protagonists are Hispanic or Greek.) Zen Attitude is a worthy contribution to her series. It's an amiable mystery that allows Rei Shimura to continue her Japanese odyssey. Shimura's identity makes her a logical, trustworthy narrator. I like the anitquities angle. Since I know nothing about Japanese furniture, it's easy enough for Massey to plant clues I miss, yet I don't feel cheated that I missed them. I enjoyed reading about Shimura's boyfriend problems, especially when the problematic kid brother arrives, since this is the kind of familiar mess we all dread. The end of the book is a little too dramatic to be completely effective, but it doesn't mar the overall experience.

Simply Captivating.......2003-05-24

This second in the utterly charming Rei Shimura series is even more delightful--and more addictive--than its wonderful predecessor, "The Salaryman's Wife."

In this story, Ms. Shimura has taken some giant strides. She now lives in luxury with her lover, Hugh Glendenning, the Scots lawyer--but as always, her simple Japanese side is at war with her American side over the opulence of their apartment. She has given up her lowly job, and is now selling antiques, her lifelong dream. Her Japanese side allows her entree into the most conservative of Japanese homes, while her American side allows her to bargan cannily for the best price.

Such is the situation when we happily meet Ms. Shimura again in "Zen Attitude." She has been hired on consignment by a major player in the antiques world, the formidable Nana Mihori. One antiquing coup with Mihori can set Shimura up for life. Therefore, when she finds the quintessential "tansu," a ceremonial chest of drawers worth millions of yen, Ms. Shimura is overjoyed. She spends way too much on behalf of her client, has the priceless piece delivered to her own apartment--and then finds out to her horror that it is a fake.

And that's just the beginning. Throw in Hugh's majorly cool but spoiled rotten brother Angus, who will smoke anything and everything in sight; a hip young car salesman who may or may not be a serial killer; a buddhist temple run by the Mihoris but seemingly fraught with evil; and the overly macho, very scary daughter of the Mihori clan, and you have but a taste of the adventures to come. All I will say here is...all is NOT what it seems.

This series is a find. An absolute treasure. I cannot wait to ready the next, and recommend Ms. Massey's unique, deceptively zenlike series to anybody who likes the truly different.

OK, but..........2003-03-17

Sujata Massey's books are entertaining but in this book she gave too much free reign to Angus, Hugh's vile brother. Of course, the audience isn't supposed to emphathise with Angus but his rantings against the Japanese, et al were tedious and racist. I almost expected him to declare his membership of the British National Front!

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