The Way of Zen (CD-Audio)

from dh-writer

Skimmed it, so four stars is based on overall impression. Looks like a good book for looking at Zen, beginner or advanced practitioner. I wasn't ready for this at this time.

from wrmjr66

A very good historical overview of the development of Zen Buddhism. It is not so much a description of beliefs and practices for someone who wishes to practice Zen Buddhism as it is a scholarly description of thos beliefs and practices. So if you are looking for a handbook to Zen, look elsewhere....

from Arctic-Stranger

Even though Watts was very early on the Zen bandwagon, he recogized that Americans needed a)a good historical introduction to the subject and b)a way to bring that history into their context. He does both.

from TheCriticalTimes

Be prepared to read this 'instruction' manual a few times. There is great wisdom to be had here but it is a little bit like listening to Bertrand Russel teach about common sense. What starts out as a historical overview of Zen ends up becoming a philosophical explanation and investigation into th...

from Bidwell-Glaze

The Way of Zen, by Alan W. Watts is a scholarly popularization of Zen Buddhism, written in 1957. It has the bibliography, notes and index of a scholarly book, but the looser style of a book written for real people. In the author's opinion, Zen cannot be understood in a purely literary or scholarl...