Gear Reviews

REVIEW: Dan Millman’s “Wisdom of the Peaceful Warrior”

In early November, I received a copy of Dan Millman’s latest book, “Wisdom of the Peaceful Warrior: A Companion to the Book That Changes Lives,” to review. I’ll be upfront and say that I’m a fan of Millman’s work and found a lot of common sense in his writings, in spite of the fact that he is often labeled as a “New Age” author. The curse of such labels is the preconceived notions that accompany them.If I were to tell you that I was a Republican, many of you think you could predict my position on religion, the war in Iraq, abortion, the Right to Bear Arms, etc.

Many of you would be wrong.

That’s the problem with labels.

I believe if it weren’t for the New Age label associated with Millman’s volume of work, he would put Dr. Phil’s fat ass out of business.

But, enough of that. On to the book.

At first glance, this book, which is billed as the companion to the classic “Way of the Peaceful Warrior,” just seems to be a re-hash of original. Filled with pithy quotes and excerpts, it can come across as a lazy author’s attempt to recapture the glory of a book that is more than 25 years old.

Once I got past the first few pages, my initial labels were blown out the door. This book is a masterpiece in disguise as a Reader’s Digest novella.

Millman has taken more than 100 of the original book’s most intriguing passages and has dissected them in detail to showcase the core ideas behind them. As a testament to the author’s talent, he adds new takes on his original perspectives and provides practical lessons on how one can directly apply them to everyday life.

This is no pop-culture “Chicken Soup for the Soul” nor is it call to go back to the Stone Age and follow the 15th generation interpretation of teachings of some dead guy. It’s not even the Zen-type hippy bullshit where everyone must dance through flowery meadows singing Enya songs. No, this about the marriage of the two seemingly contradictory terms of “Peaceful” and “Warrior” and how one can use these concepts together. It’s the classic yin/yang brought forward to modern times.

I’ll leave you with an excerpt of one of many passages that touched me:

“When we improve or refine one of our habits or behaviors, we may find that friends, colleagues, loved ones, and peers take notice and offer comments or opinions. When one part of a system changes, it creates a pressure for another part to change, so it’s natural for others to react to our changes.

More concretely, let’s say Joe and Sally, a married couple, have both gotten out of shape from too much eating and too little exercise. Then let’s say one of them decides to start a regular exercise routine and to eat less. Do you think the other spouse is going to cheer the first on and follow this good example? …

” … Walking a different path, no longer fitting in, can be a test of character. It may entail finding new friends who share our values. We have to deal with the fear that our changes in behavior or lifestyle may distance us from our spouses, partners, or friends. When moving into new and unfamiliar territory, explorers typically face the fear of separation, being cut off from the group. At times like these, we need to remember that we’re not all here to fit in; some of us are here to lead.”

I recommend this book for any serious multisport athlete looking at the bigger picture to examine how their passion for sport is currently integrated into his or her life.

Find your edge and dance upon it.

hak

P.S. I interviewed Dan a couple months ago. To find out more about this fascinating author, click here to read the full interview.

© 2008 The Outdoor Journey.