Rating: 
Summary: Very Inspirational Book
Review: This is one of the first books that I have ever read on Zen. Needless to say this started a whole new interest for me. I have now read quite a few and this book is still one of my favorites. For anyone interested in martial arts training or in particular Zens relationship to the Martial Arts and in life in general, you should read this book. I read this book probably once or twice a year. It helps keep things simple for me and remiond me of the things in life that are important.
Rating:
Summary: Something new every time
Review: I have read this book several times over the years. It is like any really good book you come across, each time you open to the first page it is like discovering a new book. This is a must for those looking for a more clear understanding of Zen and how it relates to the martial way.
Rating:
Summary: Wonderful
Review: This is a wonderful little book that you can pick up over and over again and take away something new and meaninful each time. Yes, it's simplistic, as some reviewers have said, but what's wrong with that?The anecdotes/lessons are quick and easy reads, but they leave you with something to ponder and something to apply to your own life. You don't have to be a martial artist to enjoy this book and take away something usable.
Rating: 
Summary: Let's make a comparison to other works related.
Review: First of all, I shall say I recommend this book, if you like its matter; but, to help you more, I must make a sincere and deeper analysis of this work and others related. There are people who write books on the Way of the Martial Arts (or the Way of the warrior) to TEACH... and there are masters who, not claiming to be teaching you anything, yet teach us a lot, just for telling us what's happened with them. In the first group I'd consider authors like Mr Hyams and Mr Morgan ("Living the Martial Way"), in the second, like Funakoshi Sensei and Mr Nicol ("Moving Zen"). I'm not trying to decrease the value of anyone, just to recognize the value of a master, as even Mr Hyams does in his chapter "Karate without Weapons". There he considers the famous work "Karate-Do: My Way of Life" the best book on Karate ever written by a master. This master was Funakoshi Gichin, who Hyams himself recognizes as the greatest of all masters... If you can, read them all... If not... Have you already read the classics? I thought "Moving Zen", by C. W. Nicol, similar to this; but there are important diferences: The chapters in Hyams are independent, they don't have a sequence, and, in each of them, he clearly has a central teaching he wants to give us... Chapters in "Moving Zen" reveal a sequence of a great adventure of gradual and profound mastery, and with a flavour of intimacy with the reader. I had the impression Mr Hyams studied a lot of Arts, but maybe he didn't dedicate deepestly to a main one... Mr Nicol did, and he tells us in his work that he was advised by one of his teachers he should!... Well, I've read this work, and, resuming, I thought it very interesting... The chapters are short and easy to read. The author tells us interesting experiences he had, including some with that great "Artist of Life" called Bruce Lee, whom we admire and who was one of Mr Hyams' teachers. If you like the matter and buy this book, I think you'll like it very much.
Rating: 
Summary: Zen in the Martial Arts: Assessing It's Worth
Review: This was an interesting read. However, I consider the title somewhat misleading given the author's stated purpose for the book as disclosed in chapter one: "...this is a book from which readers may learn to apply the principles of Zen, as reflected in the martial arts, to their lives and thus open up a potential source of inner strength they may never have dreamt they possessed" (pg. 3). It appears that he learned about Zen through his experience with the martial arts and, through this book, is attempting to give Zen a broader application so that one can reap some general metaphysical benefits from Zen without ever becoming a martial artist or even a Zen Buddhist. The author notifies the reader in chapter one that this book isn't for those who wish to master either Zen or the amazing physical feats of more advanced martial artists. The book is for those (martial artists or not) who want a simple, general introduction to the spiritual/mental side of the martial arts for broader applications. This approach has its critics since some may think that he superficially covers Zen's application to the martial arts in his attempt to give it a broader application. This book does not expound in detail the philosophy and/or religion of Zen Buddhism although it does contain some practical concepts related to Zen and life in general. One doesn't have to be a Buddhist or martial artist to appreciate the practical wisdom he shares, but if one wants more details regarding either Zen Buddhism or the martial arts, one is better served looking elsewhere.
Rating: 
Summary: Apart from the cliches and the name-dropping, Mrs. Lincoln..
Review: The better parts of this book are a Reader's Digest Condensed version of martial arts philosophy; the rest of it does not rise even to that unambitious level. It is to the original works that it apes as a Superman comic is to Shakespeare. Generously larded with name-dropping, the book represents some of the more profound ideas and principles that have been associated with martial arts in a trivialized, sound-bite form that shortchanges both the reader and the ideas themselves. Despite these deficiences, the book is often praised -- not a surprise, perhaps, given that a sound-bite view of a philosophy may represent much more than the average reader has yet encountered. Is the book easy? Yes. Is the book accessible? Yes. But you need to ask yourself exactly what it is you're getting easy access to. You can do much, much better than this.
Rating:
Summary: A fun book to read
Review: I first thought this book was going to tell more about zen. But instead Joe Hyams has written a book with stories from his life connected to zen. Each chapter is about 2-3 pages and teaches the reader a piece of zen and martial arts. Joe Hyams writes a lot about his trainings with martial arts masters and their dialogs, among them Bruce Lee. I think that this book is not a good one if you want any deeper knowledge about zen. But it sure is fun to read and gives a lot of inspiration. Although this book wasn't exactly what I'd expected, it gave me some ideas on how to extend my ju-jutsu practice.
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Summary: Great subject . . . but better books give answers
Review: This is an interesting read, but more because it's an interesting subject rather than it is an interesting book. Thin volume, which you might expect if the Zen is distilled, if in one brushstroke the essence is shown. Instead we have a lot of name-dropping and ego filling. That's not any Zen. Covers the subject ground, includes many great quotes, but lacks anything new, anything really Zen. Do we really believe that you can hear about "mind over matter" and then "some days" later go the dentist and have work done without anesthetic? Really? It's that easy? It all has a quick, superficial Hollywood feel. Search for 'Zen' and 'Martial' to find some of the many better books in these subjects.
Rating:
Summary: An essential read for understanding Zen
Review: The most difficult thing to do is to try to explain Zen. In this "how to" age everybody seems to want specific answers to what something is and how to do it. Unfortunately, Zen cannot be explained in a simple step-by-step fashion. Zen must be experienced. To help with identifying Zen experiences, Joe Hyams shares his insights into Zen through the invaluable lessons he has learned through training with great martial artists like Ed Parker Jr., Bruce Lee, and Grand Master Bong Soo Han. Contextually this is a very simple and entertaining read. From a conceptual aspect, you will find yourself rereading this book many times to fully understand the simply stated lessons learned by Joe Hyams. This is a must read for anyone seeking a more balanced perspective on their shelf or anyone looking to enhance their martial arts training.
Rating:
Summary: Are you kidding?
Review: I can't understand how anyone could give this book a good review. It's nothing more than a series two page explanation of some very difficult concepts, and most of the explanations are either slightly off or just plain wrong. The author makes it sound like all you need is for someone to explain what Mushin means and "poof" you can now attain "no mind". It doesn't work thatway folks. His anecdotes are ridiculous! I especially like the one where he is told that pain doesn't hurt if you simply put your mind elsewhere, and then he claims to have simply performed this feat next time has oral surgery. LOL...right! People that can pull off this kind of feat work at it for years. It doesn't just happen! I happen to be a big believer in the Zen/Martial arts connection. That's why I bought this book. The mental aspects of the martial arts are every bit as important as the physical ones. But read something instead like "The Zen Way to the Martial Arts", which is a much better book IMHO.
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