Zen in the American Grain: Discovering the Teachings at Home

Rating:
Summary: Carlson brings ZEN to an understandable level
Review: Carlson touches on the origins of our sarcasm and need to be superior to one another. He has explained our innate fears and brings practical solutions to our search for ourselves. An essential book for anyone searching for the ability to live in the moment and experience life as it happens.

Rating:
Summary: Practical and profound - a good read
Review: I think most Americans think of Zen as being some highly weird and esoteric pagan cult practiced by pretentious people with attitude problems. Actually, when you get right down to it there is probably nothing more practical, and even mundane, then Zen approached as an everyday way-to-live-your-life practice. This excellent book provides a series of short essays on the topic of Zen and real life problems of living in American society. Nothing particularly weird or startling about it - just some thought provoking guidance on incorporating buddhist practice in everyday life. Charlotte Beck's books (Everyday Zen and Nothing Special) are similar - both are excellent and concentrate on Zen as a guide to living a fulfilling and useful everyday life. Highly recommended.

Rating:
Summary: Practical and profound - a good read
Review: I think most Americans think of Zen as being some highly weird and esoteric pagan cult practiced by pretentious people with attitude problems. Actually, when you get right down to it there is probably nothing more practical, and even mundane, then Zen approached as an everyday way-to-live-your-life practice. This excellent book provides a series of short essays on the topic of Zen and real life problems of living in American society. Nothing particularly weird or startling about it - just some thought provoking guidance on incorporating buddhist practice in everyday life. Charlotte Beck's books (Everyday Zen and Nothing Special) are similar - both are excellent and concentrate on Zen as a guide to living a fulfilling and useful everyday life. Highly recommended.