Rating: 
Summary: changed my way of thinkin
Review: I read this book after advice from a friend who was at the time a brown-advanced belt in Karate. I was told to read it with an open mind not knowing what the book was about. I found it quite easy to get into but some bits were a bit laborious, never the less I carried on and finished the tale. There were times when reading this book that sparked emotions and feelings that I can only describe as not felt since I was a child. The end of the tale was utterly inspiring and I felt so different by the time I put it down, it deffinitly had an affect on my life and thinking and I would reccomend it be read by all. Take what you want from this book, I read it as a work of fiction and didn't expect to feel the way I did. I read the book in 1997 and want to read it again because I know that it changes my whole outlook on life.
Rating: 
Summary: Shockingly bad
Review: I was looking forward to reading this book, after hearing many good things about it. After reading about 25 pages, I had to stop, because it is so badly written. The setting with the old guru at the gas station is completely contrived, and not enough detail is provided to give the story any credibility. For instance, in one early scene,the old guru is sitting in a chair. Then, when our trampoline-champion hero looks again a moment later, the old guy is up on the roof looking at the stars. No way! How did he get up there! Then, the guy keeps asking the old guy, for several pages, "how did you get on the roof?" The old guy just laughs, ans basically asks mysterious questions that suggest, "you really don't know anything that you think you know." This is real drivel, that might be considered precocious if written by a 12-year old. Stories which have supernatural characters are effective only when the setting is made to seem realistic. The attempt at realism is lost when the writing itself is poor, and the details are contrived. "The Greatest Miracle in the World" by Og Mandino and "Illusions" by Richard Bach come to mind as successful well-written examples of this genre. But in this book by Millman, there is no such believability established. The guy comes upon this gas station, and this old guru simply starts teaching him the meaning of life. For this to be a reasonably well-known book that has a "20th Anniversary" edition is rather shocking. Simply put, this guy is not a good writer. His sentence structure and word choice is awful, and his scenes have a wooden falseness that renders the whole thing unreadable. And don't tell me "it's the message, not the medium" which is important. The message--that we are all too self-absorbed, that we need to embrace the universe, awaken to reality, etc.-- has been forcefully transmitted by so many great written works, that we don't need second rate stuff like this to tell us what we already know. Admittedly, succeeding in this "wise-old-guy-who-teaches-regular-guy-mysteries of-life" genre is not so easy; but this effort is an appalling wreck that cannot seriously be considered as literature. I have nothing against the author. More power to him for his success with this book. I have never had anything published, so I am not looking down on him. It's just very surprising to me that people think this book is good.
Rating: 
Summary: Disappointed
Review: I heard of this book from a friend and saw many positive reviews of it here, so I really wanted to like this book. I like the idea behind the concept of a 'peaceful warrior.' The book tells a story similar to Fight Club, where you're not real sure if Socrates is real or imaginary. The book offers some interesting concepts, but also defies logic and reasoning in several instances. For example, this guy can touch his hands to your temples and you blackout and go on a 'hallocinogenic trip.' When you awaken, he knows what you've seen and experienced while you were passed out. How? The guy can jump from the ground to the roof of a building. How? It's never truly explained and defies the laws of gravity and common sense.One story in the book that bothered me was towards the end that read 'A saintly woman was walking along the edge of a cliff. Several hundred feet below her, she saw a dead mother lion, surrounded by crying cubs. Without hesitation, she leaped off the cliff so that they would have something to eat.' This is logic? What do they eat next? Maybe mom lion wasn't really dead? Why not just feed them? Over all, if you enjoy self-help books that are written like a novel, such as the Celestine Prophecy, then you may like this book. If I wanted to read a fictional novel, I would've purchased one. I was looking for new age self-help and this book fell very short of that. Besides the fact that these events take place in the late 60's, so much of society behaves differently today then what is described in the book. Also, the author must have one heck of a memory to recall dreams and converations that happened 30 years prior to writing the book. Over all, it seems very fabricated. As a novel, it's fine. But for self-help, it doesn't offer much.
Rating:
Summary: Way of the Peaceful Slave
Review: The online reviewer who compared the pattern of thinking espoused by this poorly written, thinly disguised brainwashing how-to-book to the value system of cult leaders is absolutely correct. This book really should not even be offered by Amazon. This book is an infamous tool used by people who are into S&M to destroy their victims' free will. Reading this book is boring at best; but dangerous at worst. The protagonist IS a willing slave to Socrates...who uses physical abuse and mind control in order to destroy Dan's ability to think for himself. Perhaps Millman isn't aware that this is what happened to him. He should check himself in for some help. There are programs to help de-program victims of psychological torture.
Rating: 
Summary: Way of the Peaceful Warrior, A Book that Changed My Life
Review: Way of the Peaceful Warrior is one of the most incredible books I have ever read. I've read it multiple times. And every time it reminds me of important things and helps me in my life. It chronicles the journey of a man struggling to find himself, something most people I know can relate to, not to mention myself. It tells of his discovery of what he was looking for, his purpose, it helps you to do so also. This book changes the way you think and affects your life in many ways, it teaches you about moral and purpose and the realities of life. Although it isn't one of the most extravagantly written books, Dan Millman does an incredible job of conveying his message through his medium. This book is truly a work of art. I would recommend Way of the Peaceful Warrior to anyone. Period. No matter who you are I believe you can find something for yourself in this book.
Rating:
Summary: Common sense plus more!
Review: The way of the peaceful Warrior is a very good book. it has much practical wisdom for everyday living. Some of it is simply common sense with a sprinkling of fun and a vivid imagination. Some of it gets a little, "woo"woo". For exaple the main character is frequently called "jackass" by his mentor and on one occasion as this is happening, Dan looks into the mirror and sees himself with ears like a donkey accented with a bright yellow ribbon!Even with the odd-ball parts I would still reccommend it highly.
Rating:
Summary: Total waste of time, ninja boloney!
Review: Do not waste your time on this book, there might be *some* lessons to be learnt here, but they are few and far apart. Whatever philosophical meaning millman intended to impart is lost between senseless dialogues and beat about the bush writing style.
I would give it no star if i could.
I found "Tuesdays with Morrie" a much much better read for lessons in life.
Rating:
Summary: Commentary on rattemauses review
Review: This is for reveiwer (rattemause) who ranted that he/she did not and could not find the time to try some of recommendation in this book? And yet has the time to submitt a total of 200 reviews to amamzon.com ("We always find time and have enough time, for the things, that we put first.")
Rating:
Summary: Wonderful!
Review: Way of the Peaceful Warrior is a great story, with great lessons. Nothing less. I highly recommend it!
Rating:
Summary: Way of the Peaceful Warrior: Review
Review: 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
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