Project and content management for Contemporary Authors volumes
WORK TITLE: The Hidden School
WORK NOTES:
PSEUDONYM(S):
BIRTHDATE:
WEBSITE: http://www.peacefulwarrior.com/
CITY: Brooklyn
STATE:
COUNTRY:
NATIONALITY:
http://www.peacefulwarrior.com/about-dan-millman-and-his-work/ * https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dan_Millman * http://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/drive/the-way-of-the-peaceful-warrior/6345134
RESEARCHER NOTES:
LC control no.: n 79032804
LCCN Permalink: https://lccn.loc.gov/n79032804
HEADING: Millman, Dan
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670 __ |a His Inner athletics, c1979: |b CIP galley t.p. (Daniel Millman) book t.p. (Dan Millman)
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PERSONAL
Born 1946, in Los Angeles, CA; son of Herman and Vivian Millman; married, wife’s name Joy; children: three daughters.
EDUCATION:University of California Berkeley, B.A., 1968.
ADDRESS
CAREER
Writer, university sports coach, martial arts instructor, public speaker, and educator. Stanford University, director of gymnastics, 1968-72; Oberlin College, assistant professor of physical education, 1972. Speaker and presenter at meetings, conferences, and seminars.
AVOCATIONS:Aikido (holds a black belt); T’ai Chi, yoga.
WRITINGS
The Peaceful Warrior was adapted to film.
SIDELIGHTS
Dan Millman is a prolific writer, speaker, and educator, primarily in the self-help, spirituality, and personal development genres. He has previously served as a university-level sports coach and a martial arts instructor. He was the director of gymnastics as Stanford University and an assistant professor of physical education at Oberlin College.
Millman began his career as a spiritual and personal development writer after a motorcycle accident cut short what had been a promising career as an gymnast. His athletic abilities were at an Olympic level when the accident “shattered his right thigh into approximately forty pieces,” noted a writer on the Australian Broadcasting Corporation Radio National Website. A lengthy period of rehabilitation followed, during which Millman’s life took a different direction, toward a spiritual path that allowed him to look for answers to larger questions about life.
Since then, Millman has authored some twenty books on spiritual concepts and practice, on self development, and on physical training. These include the “Peaceful Warrior” series and eight books on subjects such as finding one’s purpose, improving spiritual development, and finding inspiration and motivation in the experiences of others. He cautions, however, that action will always be the key to personal transformation. “Reading about spiritual concepts is not enough to change a person, taking the concepts and applying them brings about true change in our lives,” Millman stated in an interview on the website Holistic Networker.
The idea behind the peaceful warrior is “an approach to living; living with a peaceful heart, but acknowledging that there are times when you need a warrior’s spirit,” Millman told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation Radio National Website interviewer. The first book in the series, Way of the Peaceful Warrior: A Basically True Story, is an “an autobiographical account structured around events from my life,” combined with ruminations on the spiritual life and the search for answers to questions on better living, Millman told interviewer Stephanie Chandler on the Nonfiction Authors Association Website. The book details Millman’s encounters with a man he calls a Socrates, an aged gas station attendant he met during his college days. Socrates’s wisdom, insights, and suggestions helped Millman along his path of spiritual development, and in the book, he recalls many of the lessons learned. In a blend of autobiography and narrative fiction, Millman shows how the search for spiritual meaning must often involve both darkness and light, along with a struggle to understand sometimes oblique concepts. Millman followed the book up with Wisdom of the Peaceful Warrior: A Companion to the Book That Changes Lives, a book that includes a hundred passages from sources of ancient wisdom, plus commentary and true-life stories of persons who sought and found their spiritual goals.
The Journeys of Socrates is a fictional account of the life of Millman’s spiritual mentor and advisor. In the book, Millman fills in details of the background of the wizened old man who started him on his spiritual odyssey. He portrays Socrates as a Russian orphan, Sergei Ivanov, who grew up in a military school. Tragedy plagues Socrates’s life as he flees the academy, loses the woman he loves, finds his Jewish grandfather, and struggles to find meaning in his life and the troubles he has endured. Millman provides ample background on a pivotal character in his Peaceful Warrior series. Library Journal reviewer Nanci Milone Hill called the book “Satisfying both in its execution and in its attempt to add another piece to the puzzle.”
The Hidden School: Return of the Peaceful Warrior is the last book in the “Peaceful Warrior” series, and concerns Millman’s search for a book written by his mentor, Socrates. The search takes him to a cave in the American Southwest and to a mysterious martial arts school in China. “I wrote The Hidden School to round-out the ‘peaceful warrior saga’ and explain what prepared me for the death, rebirth, and awakening I describe at the end of my first book,” Millman told Chandler on the Nonfiction Authors Association Website. “Fans of Millman will enjoy this rousing conclusion of the saga” commented a Publishers Weekly writer.
Apart from the “Peaceful Warrior” series, Millman has also written several of books on spiritual development and finding purpose in life. In Everyday Enlightenment: The Twelve Gateways to Personal Growth, Millman “offers an exuberantly optimistic, if simplistic, one-gateway-per-week crash course in the twelve components he contends are necessary for enlightened living,” noted a Publishers Weekly contributor. The Four Purposes of Life: Finding Meaning and Direction in a Changing World offers insight and advice on succeeding in four areas of life that, together, provide significant personal and spiritual benefits. “The four purposes are to learn life’s lessons; find our personal careers and callings; discover one’s life path; and to simply be present in one’s life,” noted Todd Mayville, writing on the website Elephant Journal. In this book, Millman “provides a pleasing mix of common-sense advice and profound wisdom,” along with anecdotes about people who have successfully applied the tenets he outlines, commented Booklist reviewer Susan DeGrane.
BIOCRIT
PERIODICALS
Booklist April 15, 2005, Whitney Scott, review of The Journeys of Socrates, p. 1433; March 15, 2011, Susan DeGrane, The Four Purposes of Life: Finding Meaning and Direction in a Changing World, p. 4.
California Bookwatch, May, 2007, review of Wisdom of the Peaceful Warrior; February, 2010, review of Way of the Peaceful Warrior Classic Edition.
Library Journal, August, 2001, Barbara Hoffert, review of Way of the Peaceful Warrior: A Book That Changes Lives, p. S76; April 15, 2005, Nanci Milone Hill, review of The Journeys of Socrates, p. 76.
Natural Health, January-February, 1993, Joseph Sutton, review of No Ordinary Moments: A Peaceful Warrior’s Guide to Daily Life, p. 120.
Publishers Weekly, March 2, 1998, review of Everyday Enlightenment: The Twelve Gateways to Personal Growth, p. 53; September 27, 1999, review of Divine Interventions: True Stories of Mystery and Miracles That Change Lives, p. 95; March 28, 2005, review of The Journeys of Socrates, p. 58; October 11, 2010, review of Peaceful Warrior: The Graphic Novel, p. 32; April 11, 2011, review of The Four Purposes of Life; April 10, 2017, review of The Hidden School: Return of the Peaceful Warrior. p. 60.
ONLINE
Australian Broadcasting Corporation Radio National Website, http://www.abc.net.au/radionational/ (March 24, 2015), “Motorcycle Accident Transforms Gymnast into ‘Peaceful Warrior,'” profile of Dan Millman.
Breaking Muscle, https://www.breakingmuscle.com/ (January 15, 2018), Valerie Worthington, review of Way of the Peaceful Warrior.
Cygnus Review, https://www.cygnusreview.com/ (January 15, 2018), review of The Hidden School
Dan Millman Website, http://www.peacefulwarrior.com (January 15, 2018).
Elephant Journal, https://www.elephantjournal.com/ (May 7, 2011), Todd Mayville, review of The Four Purposes Of Life.
Historical Novel Society, https://www.historicalnovelsociety.org/ (January 15, 2018), review of The Journeys of Socrates.
Holistic Networker, http://www.holisticnetworker.com/ (January 15, 2018), “A Conversation with Dan Millman.”
New York Journal of Books, https://www.nyjournalofbooks.com/ (January 15, 2018), Carol Fragale Brill, review of The Creative Compass: Writing Your Way from Inspiration to Publication.
Nonfiction Authors Association Website, http://www.nonfictionauthorsassociation.com/ (November 9, 2016), Stephanie Chandler, “Expert Interview with Dan Millman, Author of the Peaceful Warrior Trilogy.”
Project Life Mastery, http://www.projectlifemastery.com/ (January 15, 2018), Stefan James, review of Way of the Peaceful Warrior.
Shelf Abuse, http://www.shelfabuse.com/ (January 15, 2018), Carl Doherty, review of Peaceful Warrior: The Graphic Novel.
Spirituality and Practice, http://www.spiritualityandpractice.com/ (January 15, 2018), Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat, review of The Four Purposes Of Life.
Dan Millman is a former world champion athlete, university coach, martial arts instructor, and college professor.
After an intensive, twenty-year spiritual quest, Dan’s teaching found its form as the Peaceful Warrior’s Way, expressed fully in his books and lectures. His work continues to evolve over time, to meet the needs of a changing world.
Dan’s seventeen books, including Way of the Peaceful Warrior, have inspired and informed millions of readers in 29 languages worldwide. The feature film, “Peaceful Warrior,” starring Nick Nolte, was adapted from Dan’s first book, based upon incidents from his life.
Much of Dan’s time is devoted to writing and speaking. His keynotes, seminars, and workshops span the generations to influence men and women from all walks of life, including leaders in the fields of health, psychology, education, business, politics, sports, entertainment, and the arts.
Dan and his wife Joy live in Brooklyn, NY. They have three grown daughters and four grandchildren.
Dan Millman Books: Selective Timeline
1980 Way of the Peaceful Warrior: A Book that Changes Lives
1990 Sacred Journey of the Peaceful Warrior
1991 Secret of the Peaceful Warrior (for children, illustrated by Taylor Bruce)
1992 No Ordinary Moments: A Peaceful Warrior’s Guide to Daily Life
1993 Quest for the Crystal Castle (for children, illustrated by Taylor Bruce)
1994 The Life You Were Born to Live: A Guide to Finding Your Life Purpose
1995 The Laws of Spirit: A Tale of Transformation
1998 Everyday Enlightenment: The Twelve Gateways to Personal Growth
1999 Living on Purpose: Straight Answers to Life’s Tough Questions
2006 The Journeys of Socrates
2007 Wisdom of the Peaceful Warrior: A Companion to the Book that Changes Lives
2010 Peaceful Warrior: The Graphic Novel (illustrated by Andrew Winegarner)
2011 The Four Purposes of Life: Finding Meaning and Direction in a Changing World
2013 The Creative Compass: Writing Your Way from Inspiration to Publication (with co-author Sierra Prasada)
2017 The Hidden School
Motorcycle accident transforms gymnast into 'peaceful warrior'
Download audio
Tuesday 24 March 2015 6:41PM (view full episode)
Dan Millman IMAGE: US SELF-HELP AUTHOR AND MOTIVATIONAL SPEAKER DAN MILLMAN WAS ONCE A SUCCESSFUL GYMNAST AT BERKLEY UNIVERSITY.
Dan Millman was a successful gymnast at Berkley University, until a motorcycle accident forced him to rethink his entire reason for existing. As RN Drive reports, his concept of 'The Peaceful Warrior' has since inspired millions around the world.
Dan Millman might talk almost exclusively in self-help, New Age mantras, but that's easy to forgive.
We never have to handle more than this moment. If we focus on 'what do I need to do right now?' life comes more under our control.
DAN MILLMAN
Once an acclaimed gymnast with Olympic potential, Millman's life changed forever after a motorcycle accident shattered his right thigh into approximately 40 pieces.
He would ultimately recover through a long process of determined rehabilitation, but the experience prompted a much bigger internal change.
'It shook me up in the sense that I started asking bigger questions about life,' says Millman.
'It sent me on a different direction.'
That direction would lead him to write 13 books, among them The Peaceful Warrior, which sold millions of copies and was adapted for the screen.
More than a title for a book, the concept of the peaceful warrior is a something of a central tenant that Millman returns to all the time.
'It's an approach to living; living with a peaceful heart, but acknowledging that there are times when you need a warrior's spirit.
Even before his accident, Millman found that despite his physical prowess, during moments of emotional adversity he was not nearly as equipped.
'I realised that being able to do handstands and summersaults didn't help me when I went out on a date, or dealt with financial issues, and those issues of everyday life that challenge us all,' he says.
'That's when I began to ask, "How can we develop talent, not for sport but for living?"'
He rejects the idea that such concepts are purely the domain of the affluent suffering an identity crisis.
VIDEO: DAN MILLMAN AT TEDXBERKELEY
'I've been to places that are having much more difficulties and our tasks may be different, but I believe those fundamental human capacities—wanting to have connection with other people and a sense of meaning and purpose—remain the same.'
He also believes that the approach has never been more relevant, with many people finding it difficult to separate themselves from their phones, ongoing noise and the stresses of day to day life.
'It's good to step back from the everyday tunnel vision of our work and our home,' he says. 'We only have to turn off our phone, take a deep breath, and walk in the park.'
'We never have to handle more than this moment. Life is a series of moments.
'If we focus on 'what do I need to do right now?' life comes more under our control.'
RN Drive takes you behind the day’s headlines, with an engaging mix of current affairs, analysis, arts and culture from across Australia and around the world.
Dan Millman
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Dan Millman
Born February 22, 1946 (age 71)
Los Angeles, California
Residence Brooklyn, New York:[1]
Nationality American
Occupation Author, speaker
Spouse(s) Joy Millman
Children Three daughters
Parent(s) Herman and Vivian Millman
Website peacefulwarrior.com
Daniel Jay Millman (born February 22, 1946) is an American author and lecturer in the personal development field.
Contents [hide]
1 Early life
2 Career
3 Personal life
4 Works
5 References
6 External links
Early life[edit]
Millman was born in Los Angeles, California, to Herman and Vivian Millman (both deceased), and he has an older sister Diane. Much of his early life included active pursuits such as modern dance and martial arts, and then trampoline, tumbling, and gymnastics.
During his senior year at John Marshall High School in Los Angeles, Millman won the United States Gymnastics Federation (USGF) national title on the trampoline and was voted Senior Athlete of the Year.
In 1964, while a freshman at U.C. Berkeley, he won the 1964 Trampoline World Championships in London, and earned All-American honors and won an NCAA Championship in vaulting
In 1966 he won the USGF championship in floor exercise. He represented the United States in the 1966 Maccabiah Games, winning four Gold Medals in Gymnastics.[2]
In September of that year, just prior to his senior year at U.C. Berkeley, Millman's motorcycle collided with a car. He suffered a shattered right femur, requiring surgical repair and bone marrow transplant with a steel nail inserted in his femur (which was removed a year later after the leg was healed). Millman actively pursued rehabilitation and was able to return to gymnastics as co-captain of his team which won the 1968 NCAA Gymnastics Championships in Tucson, Arizona. He was the last man to perform for U.C. on the high bar, and a best-ever routine and perfect landing clinched the team title. (This true event was later changed and fictionalized in his first book, Way of the Peaceful Warrior, and its film adaptation Peaceful Warrior, which depicted him instead competing in the Olympic Trials).
In 1968 he was voted Senior U.C. Berkeley Athlete of the Year, and graduated with a B.A. degree in Psychology.
Career[edit]
In 1968, Millman served as director of gymnastics at Stanford University, where he coached U.S. Olympian Steve Hug and brought the Stanford team to national prominence. During Millman's tenure at Stanford, he trained in Aikido, eventually earning a shodan (black belt) ranking, and studied T'ai chi (Taiji) and other martial arts.
In 1972, Millman joined the faculty at Oberlin College in Oberlin, Ohio as an assistant professor of physical education. At Oberlin, on a travel-research grant from the college, Millman traveled to San Francisco, where he completed the Arica 40-Day Intensive Training, then to Hawaii, India, Hong Kong, and Japan, where he studied various disciplines including yoga and martial arts.
In 1985, Millman began to produce audio and video programs, and to present seminars and professional keynotes.[3] His work is generally connected to the "human potential movement".[4]
Millman has authored 17[5] books as of 2015 which together have been published in 29 languages.[6] In 2006, his first book, Way of the Peaceful Warrior, was adapted to a film, Peaceful Warrior, with Nick Nolte, distributed by Lionsgate Films and re-released by Universal Pictures in 2007.[7] Dan credits the inspiration for his first book to a gas station attendant he met who reminded him of Socrates and to whom he gave that name.[8]
Personal life[edit]
Dan Millman and his wife Joy live in Brooklyn, New York.[1] They have three grown daughters.
Works[edit]
Works by Millman include the following:[9]
1979: Whole Body Fitness
1980: Way of the Peaceful Warrior: A Book That Changes Lives
1985: The Warrior Athlete (revised edition of Whole Body Fitness)
1990: Sacred Journey of the Peaceful Warrior
1991: Secret of the Peaceful Warrior (for children, illustrated by Taylor Bruce)
1992: No Ordinary Moments: A Peaceful Warrior's Guide to Daily Life
1993: Quest for the Crystal Castle (for children, illustrated by Taylor Bruce)
1994: The Life You Were Born to Live: A Guide to Finding Your Life Purpose
1995: The Laws of Spirit: A Tale of Transformation
1998: Everyday Enlightenment: The Twelve Gateways to Personal Growth
1999: Body Mind Mastery (revised edition of The Warrior Athlete)
2000: Living on Purpose: Straight Answers to Life's Tough Questions
2006: The Journeys of Socrates: The Way Begins
2007: Wisdom of the Peaceful Warrior: A Companion to the Book that Changes Lives
2009: Bridge Between Worlds: Extraordinary Experiences that Changed Lives (with co-author Doug Childers)
2010: Peaceful Warrior: The Graphic Novel (illustrated by Andrew Winegarner)
2011: The Four Purposes of Life: Finding Meaning and Direction in a Changing World
2013: The Creative Compass: Writing Your Way from Inspiration to Publication (with co-author Sierra Prasada)
2017: The Hidden School: Return of the Peaceful Warrior
References[edit]
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Home » Expert Interview with Dan Millman, author of the Peaceful Warrior Trilogy
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Expert Interview with Dan Millman, author of the Peaceful Warrior Trilogy
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Dan Millman
Dan Millman
Name: Dan Millman
Book Titles:
Way of the Peaceful Warrior – autobiographical novel
Sacred Journey of the Peaceful Warrior – novel
No Ordinary Moments: A Peaceful Warrior’s Guide to Daily Life – nonfiction
The Life You Were Born to Live – nonfiction
The Laws of Spirit – novel / parable
Secret of the Peaceful Warrior – illustrated children’s book
Quest for the Crystal Castle – illustrated children’s book
Everyday Enlightenment – nonfiction
The Journeys of Socrates – novel
Living on Purpose – nonfiction
Body Mind Mastery – nonfiction
Wisdom of the Peaceful Warrior – nonfiction
The Four Purposes of Life – nonfiction
The Creative Compass (with Sierra Prasada) – nonfiction
Website URL: PeacefulWarrior.com
Social Media Links:
FB: www.facebook.com/dm.fanpage/
Twitter: @pwdan
Your latest project, The Hidden School, is the final in the Peaceful Warrior trilogy you’re probably best-known for. Can you describe what this book is about, and when it will be published?
I expect to complete a readable draft by year end 2015. Difficult to predict a publication date since “almost done” is often not even close to “truly done.” Likely autumn 2016 or spring 2017. Each of my books has its own reason for being. I wrote The Hidden School to round-out the “peaceful warrior saga” and explain what prepared me for the death, rebirth, and awakening I describe at the end of my first book. As usual, this new adventure takes on a life of its own and continues to surprise me.
Your last nonfiction project before The Hidden School was The Creative Compass, a collaborative project with Sierra Prasada—who also happens to be your daughter. What was the inspiration behind the project? How did the creative process work between you two?
After nearly thirty years as a professional writer and teaching at various writing conferences, I felt a call to give something back and make my own contribution to the field of writing guidance. I asked my author-daughter to collaborate with me out of respect for her exceptional background, ability, and insight. It was a true collaboration, with each of us contributing our own memoir sections and each drafting about half of the topics.
Sierra made the most significant contribution to the work. I had written a rambling, memoir-ish first draft. She salvaged some workable parts and material, completely re-structured the book around the universal, five-stage creative process, came up with the topics. And while we shared the initial writing, she edited and improved much of my work. Hers needed only minor edits. It turned out to be a stronger book than either of us might have written on our own. (The publisher put my name first on the cover for marketing reasons, which didn’t seem fair given our respective contributions, but I understood their rationale.) Currently, Sierra has written a splendid screenplay adaption for my novel, The Journeys of Socrates.
As previously discussed, your book Way of the Peaceful Warrior is your best-known work. You’ve stated that it began as a nonfiction book and evolved into one of only 1980s “semi-fictional autobiographies”—neither pure novel, nor memoir, but a blend of fact with fictional elements for the sake of the narrative. One of the sticky issues with memoir is that sort of gray line between memory/fact and memory/imagination. Can you describe how you as a writer navigate the complexities between fact and fiction in your Peaceful Warrior series?
In my younger years, I aspired to teach. I began as an athletic coach until my interests expanded out of the gymnasium and into everyday life. My first (memoir) chapter in The Creative Compass details my evolution into the field of writing. When it came time to tackle my first book, my purpose and focus was conveying perspectives on life’s bigger picture — so Way of the Peaceful Warrior began as non-fiction work presenting principles for living. Only after an agent agreed to take on the work, and it was acquired by Jeremy Tarcher, and I received some brilliant editorial queries and feedback, did it turn into a narrative — an autobiographical account structured around events from my life, beginning with a true encounter with a cosmic, old service-station mechanic I called “Socrates” when I was a student-athlete at U.C. Berkeley, beginning in 1966.
Way of the Peaceful Warrior blends autobiography and fiction — autobiography embellished with elements from my imagination for the sake of the narrative. (As Picasso said, “Art is a lie that helps us to see the truth.”) I suppose it’s unusual to produce a book that it is neither pure fiction nor pure memoir, but a “semi-fictional autobiography.” As to the mystery of which parts are true and which fictional — I respond to those questions in the Q&A section of my website, www.peacefulwarrior.com — including a short video about “Who is Socrates?”
Can you describe a “typical” day in your life?
To provide a context, since I’ve been writing professionally for thirty years, I might just mention that when I began my career, I spent my mornings absorbed in writing from 8 a.m. to noon, and then coached gymnastics in the afternoon, which felt like the ideal balance of writing in solitude and working with others; with sedentary work as a scribe followed by active physical teaching.
In contrast, today my schedule is far less organized — fractured by other demands — interviews, phone call, emails, social media, and miscellany. So I write most mornings, but sometimes more in the afternoon. But even such a disjointed effort, over time, can produce a book manuscript. There is no perfect schedule; only what works for each writer. As I remind aspiring authors: one page a day becomes a 365-page manuscript in a year. It doesn’t matter how you get there, as long as you move forward. And as my daughter and I both advise, “Allow yourself to write badly so that later you can write well.” That’s true in my experience, anyway.
Can you share something that people may be surprised to learn about you?
Some acquaintances are surprised that I have two adult grandsons (and a two-year-old granddaughter); or that I was selected as the “posture king” of my middle school; or that I won a world trampoline championship in London and still do somersaults — or that, encouraged by my daughter, I’m learning to play the piano a little.
What’s next for you?
Once I complete The Hidden School, I have one more major writing project waiting in the wings — my first true memoir about a lifelong spiritual quest and the unusual mentors who have helped to shape my life and work.
After that, I’ll continue to travel and speak where I’m invited, and maybe write shorter-form material or create an audio blog-cast. Or I may just wander the streets of New York City where my wife and I now live, and see what each day brings.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
Here’s a favorite quotation that your readers may appreciate, by a man named Stanislaw Lec, author of an old book titled Unkempt Thoughts: “I wanted to tell the world just one word. Unable to do that, I became a writer.”
If you like this interview, you’ll love our weekly teleseminars! See upcoming teleseminar events here.
A Conversation with Dan Millman
In 1980, a book was published that introduced a generation of seekers to everyday spirituality and authentic living. That book, Way of the Peaceful Warrior by Dan Millman, sold over a million copies worldwide. This work of "true fiction" describes the author's encounter with a shaman, a peaceful warrior he calls Socrates, who shares a saner approach to living with the young gymnast. As we follow Dan's encounters with Socrates, we're pulled into a lively and fascinating adventure. The story moves in such a way that brings alive the spiritual messages without being "preachy" or dogmatic. For the 20th anniversary of this book, a new softcover, with additional comments by Millman has been released. I chatted with Dan during his recent visit to Dallas.
Tony: What practical lessons have helped you most in life?
Dan: I've found that the basic spiritual truths are simple and easy to know. However, the trick is turning what we know into what we DO. When we apply our knowledge, we turn it into wisdom. Reading about spiritual concepts is not enough to change a person, taking the concepts and applying them brings about true change in our lives.
Tony: What is the most basic element to enlightened living?
Dan: Free attention is the key to enlightenment. Without free attention a person cannot benefit from spiritual teachings. When a person can slow their mental chatter and concentrate on the present moment, they open up the possibility for experiencing what is real. Life is actually very simple--it is a series of moments. I've learned to deal with life "one thing at a time." This alone is a valuable tool that makes any situation more manageable.
Tony: What are some of the most basic things a person can put into practice to live a better life?
Dan: Having compassion for others is a simple, transformational way to improve your life immediately. Simply try to be a little kinder. Mother Teresa points out that "We cannot all do great things, but we can do small things with great love."
Tony: You've written a children's version of Way of the Peaceful Warrior. What kind of spiritual teaching do you recommend for children?
Dan: Children don't need spiritual teachings, they are already in touch with Spirit. They need affection and sandwiches, attention and stories, and lots of hugs. Expose your children to a variety of pursuits, keep them safe, and teach them the value of commitment--how to push through the slumps to the realm of excellence. Most importantly, children learn by example, don't worry about their spirituality, just cultivate your own and you'll have a profound effect on their moral character.
Tony: You've published a new book, Living on Purpose, how is this book different from your others?
Dan: Living on Purpose is a distillation of spiritual teachings into a series of twenty-five key principles. The book can be read in bite-size chunks that can be absorbed and applied in any order.
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Print Marked Items
The Hidden School: Return of the Peaceful
Warrior
Publishers Weekly.
264.15 (Apr. 10, 2017): p60.
COPYRIGHT 2017 PWxyz, LLC
http://www.publishersweekly.com/
Full Text:
The Hidden School:
Return of the Peaceful Warrior
Dan Millman. North StarWay, $24.99 (288p)
ISBN 978-1-5011-6967-0
Millman completes his Peaceful Warrior Saga in this autobiographical novel combining intercontinental
travel, colorful guides, stunning coincidences, and deep-sounding snippets. In the late 1970s, Dan, backed
by a grant from Oberlin College to traverse the world researching mind-body disciplines, finds himself
drawn to the American Southwest in search of a journal his mentor, a mystical gas station attendant he calls
Socrates, may or may not have lost years before. With the help of a blind man who pops up everywhere, he
manages to locate its mountainous hiding place and discovers he must fill in its blank pages. His next,
abrupt journey takes him deep into China, to a secluded and secretive farm and martial arts school where a
planned one-week stay morphs into several months of learning, working, and crafting his accumulated
wisdom into brief, paradoxical statements. While the story is fun and engaging, the few nuggets of New
Age spiritual wisdom are awkwardly shoehorned in and disrupt the flow of the story. Fans of Millman will
enjoy this rousing conclusion of the saga, but others might come away feeling shortchanged. (June)
Source Citation (MLA 8th
Edition)
"The Hidden School: Return of the Peaceful Warrior." Publishers Weekly, 10 Apr. 2017, p. 60. General
OneFile, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A490319284/ITOF?
u=schlager&sid=ITOF&xid=786ecb45. Accessed 16 Dec. 2017.
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Millman, Dan. The Journeys of Socrates
Whitney Scott
Booklist.
101.16 (Apr. 15, 2005): p1433.
COPYRIGHT 2005 American Library Association
http://www.ala.org/ala/aboutala/offices/publishing/booklist_publications/booklist/booklist.cfm
Full Text:
Millman, Dan. The Journeys of Socrates. Apr. 2005. 322p. HarperSanFrancisco, $23.95 (0-06-075023-5).
Millman's autobiographical Way of the Peaceful Warrior (1980) and 94-year-old gas-pump-jockey Socrates,
the young Millman's guru in it, are fixtures in the canon of New Age self-actualization literature, thanks to
2.5 million copies sold. This prequel provides an adventurous backstory for Socrates. It begins in czarist
Russia with orphaned Sergei fleeing the Nevskiy military academy. He survives in the mountainous
wilderness by fashioning a lean-to against the face of a cave near a waterfall on a stream that hosts salmon,
trout, and a beaver dam, and by hunting and drying food for the winter. By his second year as a mountain
man (1890), he has turned 18 and become part of the wild, high country. A close call with a hungry bear in
1891 drives him to St. Petersburg, where he hopes to verify his grandfather's promise of buried treasure and
use it to escape to America. Millman's smoothly written text recounts a spiritual journey while it tells a
creditable survival-adventure-coming-of-age story. Way-farers will want to join the journey.
Scott, Whitney
Source Citation (MLA 8th
Edition)
Scott, Whitney. "Millman, Dan. The Journeys of Socrates." Booklist, 15 Apr. 2005, p. 1433. General
OneFile, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A137502481/ITOF?
u=schlager&sid=ITOF&xid=24120290. Accessed 16 Dec. 2017.
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Millman, Dan. The Journeys of Socrates
Nanci Milone Hill
Library Journal.
130.7 (Apr. 15, 2005): p76.
COPYRIGHT 2005 Library Journals, LLC. A wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No
redistribution permitted.
http://www.libraryjournal.com/
Full Text:
Millman, Dan. The Journeys of Socrates. HarperSanFrancisco: HarperCollins. Apr. 2005. c.336p. ISBN 0-
06-075023-5. $23.95. F
Millman's 1980 novel, Way of the Peaceful Warrior, first introduced the character of Socrates, the all-night
gas station attendant who first sets the author on his journey toward self-enlightenment. In this third series
installment (after Sacred Journey of the Peaceful Warrior), readers learn about the elusive philosopher's
upbringing in tsarist Russia. Born Sergei Ivanov, Socrates goes from being an orphan to struggling as a
cadet at the military academy, from knowing nothing of his past to meeting his grandfather, learning that he
is part Jewish and part Cossack, suffering a devastating loss, and fleeing the academy on a quest. Fans of
the other books will be pleased with this prequel to the word-of-mouth best seller they have come to know
and love. Satisfying both in its execution and in its attempt to add another piece to the puzzle, Millman's
latest is recommended for popular and New Age fiction collections.--Nanci Milone Hill, Cary Memorial
Lib., Lexington, MA
Hill, Nanci Milone
Source Citation (MLA 8th
Edition)
Hill, Nanci Milone. "Millman, Dan. The Journeys of Socrates." Library Journal, 15 Apr. 2005, p. 76.
General OneFile, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A131904318/ITOF?
u=schlager&sid=ITOF&xid=9ef47c21. Accessed 16 Dec. 2017.
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No Ordinary Moments: A Peaceful Warrior's
Guide to Daily Life
Joseph Sutton
Natural Health.
23.1 (January-February 1993): p120+.
COPYRIGHT 1993 Weider Publications LLC
http://www.naturalhealthmag.com/
Full Text:
No Ordinary Moments is the third book in Dan Millman's peaceful warrior series. A peaceful warrior is
compassionate and patient, as well as courageous and strong. Mahatma Gandhi, Harriet Tubman, Mother
Teresa, and Martin Luther King, Jr. are examples of peaceful warriors.
Millman says that after publication of Way of the Peaceful Warrior (H. J. Kramer, Inc., 1984), he received
thousands of requests from people all over the world asking to know more about the peaceful warrior's
approach to life. He wrote No Ordinary Moments to answer these requests. Using parables, folktales,
poems, his own experiences, and more than 50 suggested exercises, Millman spells out what he perceives a
peaceful warrior's life to be. He enters seemingly every arena of human affairs--from marriage and birth to
divorce and death, from "eating as sacred activity" to balancing the body to self-massage, meditation,
compassionate action, and orgasms.
One trait of the peaceful warrior is to be entirely absorbed by what he or she is engaged in at the moment.
The title and tone of the book come from an incident in Millman's life that drove home the importance of
this. One day he was doing a slow motion t'ai chi routine in a Berkeley park. "I became the movements,
swaying like seaweed, floating to and fro on gentle ocean currents." Millman barely noticed a few high
school students observing him until he finished his routine and started pulling on his sweatpants. As one
student caught his eye, Millman was distracted from what he was doing and inadvertently put both legs into
one pant leg and fell on his fanny.
He had given his full attention to t'ai chi, but when his attention lapsed, he literally collapsed. Millman
writes, "I had treated one moment as special and the other as ordinary." He vowed from that moment on to
treat no moment as ordinary.
No Ordinary Moments won't lecture you. It will charm you with tales, like the one about the ant that was
crawling across a roll of toilet paper that Millman had reached for. "With a puff of air, I blew the ant off the
paper. From the ant's viewpoint this may have seemed like a big misfortune, unless it considered the
alternative." We find that adversity is often not adversity at all. It is a lesson, an opportunity. "In the midst
of winter I discovered within me an invincible summer," Millman quotes Camus.
I'm not certain whether or not I have learned to give my full attention to every moment. But I am sure that
this book captured my attention--I highly recommend it.
Source Citation (MLA 8th
Edition)
Sutton, Joseph. "No Ordinary Moments: A Peaceful Warrior's Guide to Daily Life." Natural Health, Jan.-
Feb. 1993, p. 120+. General OneFile, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A13480786/ITOF?
u=schlager&sid=ITOF&xid=3f255a80. Accessed 16 Dec. 2017.
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DIVINE INTERVENTIONS: True Stories of
Mystery and Miracles That Change Lives
Publishers Weekly.
246.39 (Sept. 27, 1999): p95.
COPYRIGHT 1999 PWxyz, LLC
http://www.publishersweekly.com/
Full Text:
Dan Millman and Doug Childers. Daybreak Books, $21.95 (308p) ISBN 157954-100-3
(Spirituality/Inspiration)
Millman, author of Way of the Peaceful Warrior and Everyday Enlightenment, and editor Childers have
gathered about 50 eclectic stories of miraculous events that altered the lives of those who experienced them,
each story comprising a brief chapter. The volume includes the stories of diverse prophets (Muhammad, the
Ba'al Shem Toy and Joseph Smith) as well as of other famous persons, including Joan of Arc, Peace
pilgrim, Carl Jung and Bill Wilson, the cofounder of Alcoholics Anonymous. The authors do not espouse
any particular faith and provide examples of miracles from many traditions. Accounts of apparitions of the
Virgin Mary at Fatima, Lourdes and Guadalupe alternate with the enlightenment of a Buddhist emperor in
India and a Japanese soldier's development of the martial art aikido. (Some of the details of these public
figures' lives seem poorly researched; for example, Joseph Smith's wife is incorrectly identified and the
LDS church he founded is listed as having four million instead of ten million members .) Many of the
stories are about ordinary, 20th-century individuals, both authors among them. The key to almost all the
stories is not necessarily the spectacular nature of the miracle hut its life-changing effect: in the authors'
view, a miracle's effect is evidence of its validity. After the last story, several blank pages offer readers a
place to write about their own "divine interventions' accounts they are encouraged to submit to the authors
for another book. (Oct.)
Source Citation (MLA 8th
Edition)
"DIVINE INTERVENTIONS: True Stories of Mystery and Miracles That Change Lives." Publishers
Weekly, 27 Sept. 1999, p. 95. General OneFile, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A56029565/ITOF?
u=schlager&sid=ITOF&xid=564de05f. Accessed 16 Dec. 2017.
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Everyday Enlightenment: The Twelve
Gateways to Personal Growth
Publishers Weekly.
245.9 (Mar. 2, 1998): p53.
COPYRIGHT 1998 PWxyz, LLC
http://www.publishersweekly.com/
Full Text:
Dan Millman. Warner, $22 (384p) ISBN 0-446-52279-1
Contending that human spiritual evolution is a passage through 12 "gateways," Millman (The Way of the
Peaceful Warrior) offers an exuberantly optimistic, if simplistic, one-gateway-per-week crash course in the
12 components he contends are necessary for enlightened living. Not one to drive away casual readers,
Millman asserts that "simply reading this book begins an irreversible learning process." He advises that, by
reading through chapters covering self-worth, willpower, body care, money management, mental focus,
intuitive guidance, emotional acceptance, love, service to others, the facing of fears and "shadow" aspects
of self and the freeing of sexuality, "the light of awareness creates an alchemical change within your
psyche." While it's debatable whether any book can evoke such a change, Millman's hearty, athletic
approach (he trained as a gymnast) focuses on external changes. Claiming that "you don't have to think or
feel enlightened. You only have to behave that way," he all but ignores important psychological,
philosophical and political issues, encouraging addicts to "just stop," for example, without recommending
that they enter a treatment program. Millman's voice is pleasant and encouraging, and his 12 gateways are
well chosen, but as readers try to apply his recommendations for a "whole-life make-over," they may
discover that real enlightenment is in the details that are not covered here. One Spirit Book Club main
selection; BOMC and QPB alternates, simultaneous Time Warner audio, author tour. (Apr.)
Source Citation (MLA 8th
Edition)
"Everyday Enlightenment: The Twelve Gateways to Personal Growth." Publishers Weekly, 2 Mar. 1998, p.
53. General OneFile, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A20343751/ITOF?
u=schlager&sid=ITOF&xid=a3f33fc2. Accessed 16 Dec. 2017.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A20343751
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The Journeys of Socrates
Publishers Weekly.
252.13 (Mar. 28, 2005): p58.
COPYRIGHT 2005 PWxyz, LLC
http://www.publishersweekly.com/
Full Text:
THE JOURNEYS OF SOCRATES DAN MILLMAN. Harper San Francisco, $23.95 (336p) ISBN 0-06-
075023-5
In his landmark 1980 novel, Way of the Peaceful Warrior, Millman blended fact and fiction to tell the story
of a young man whose life is transformed by his encounter with a mysterious sage named Socrates. In this
intriguing follow-up, Socrates takes center stage. It's late 19th-century Russia, and young Sergei Ivanov has
been drafted into training to become one of the czar's elite guards. When Sergei saves the life of a brutal
fellow student, Dmitri Zakolyev, during a difficult training exercise, he knows this act has actually made
him an enemy. Dmitri humiliated by his weakness, gets back at Sergei years later when he becomes part of a
pogrom to hunt down Jews; during a chance encounter, Dmitri wounds Sergei, who is part Jewish, and kills
his pregnant wife, Anya. After a suicide attempt that leads to a kind of vengeance-oriented enlightenment,
Sergei studies with a series of masters to perfect his warrior skills. Millman's narration clips along, and he
does a fine job with period flourishes. But the extended training chapters suffer from clich6s of character
and narrative, and dampen the suspense. A shocking surprise about the fate of Sergei's unborn child and a
ham-fisted meeting between Sergei and his rival strain credibility, but Millman's fluid storytelling makes
this an easy read. Agent, Candice Fuhrman. (Apr.)
Source Citation (MLA 8th
Edition)
"The Journeys of Socrates." Publishers Weekly, 28 Mar. 2005, p. 58. General OneFile,
http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A131129160/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=ITOF&xid=f0bf858c.
Accessed 16 Dec. 2017.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A131129160
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Peaceful Warrior: The Graphic Novel
Publishers Weekly.
257.40 (Oct. 11, 2010): p32.
COPYRIGHT 2010 PWxyz, LLC
http://www.publishersweekly.com/
Full Text:
Peaceful Warrior: The Graphic Novel
Dan Millman and Andrew Winegarner. New World Library (PGW, dist.), $14.95 trade paper (192p) ISBN
978-1-932073-48-5
Millman's self-improvement franchise gets a graphic novel treatment in this adaptation of his 1980
autobiographical novel, Way of the Peaceful Warrior. UC Berkeley gymnast Millman is the star of the team
as they prepare for the NCAA national competition until his father's death causes him to lose focus. A
strange dream leads him to a rundown gas station where he meets an enigmatic man he dubs Socrates,
someone Dan swears he recognizes from a recent dream. Socrates urges Dan to consider his purpose in life
and soon becomes the young man's spiritual teacher and mentor, with the help of a mysterious young
woman named Joy. When an accident threatens to destroy Dan's gymnastics career, he must decide if he
trusts Socrates and his unorthodox methods, which include fasts and mental, as well as physical, endurance
tests. Socrates guides Dan on a journey to discover within himself not only his strengths as a gymnast but
also as the Peaceful Warrior of the title. First time illustrator Winegarner capably brings Millman's age-old
story of master and pupil to life on the page with a style that won't win any awards but tells the story
cleanly. (Nov.)
Source Citation (MLA 8th
Edition)
"Peaceful Warrior: The Graphic Novel." Publishers Weekly, 11 Oct. 2010, p. 32. General OneFile,
http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A239530174/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=ITOF&xid=65522643.
Accessed 16 Dec. 2017.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A239530174
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The Four Purposes of Life: Finding Meaning
and Direction in a Changing World
Susan DeGrane
Booklist.
107.14 (Mar. 15, 2011): p4.
COPYRIGHT 2011 American Library Association
http://www.ala.org/ala/aboutala/offices/publishing/booklist_publications/booklist/booklist.cfm
Full Text:
The Four Purposes of life: Finding
Meaning and Direction in a Changing
World.
By Dan Millman.
Apr. 2011. 144p. New World Library, $17
(9781932073492). 128.
Appreciating life's lessons as opportunities to build important strengths is just one of four distinct purposes
in life, according to Millman, best-selling author of The Way of the Peaceful Warrior (1980) and other selfhelp
books. Getting to know ourselves and determining our unique calling is the second purpose,
discovering our life path is third, and living each moment to the fullest is the fourth. This title provides a
pleasing mix of common-sense advice and profound wisdom along with several entertaining stories about
people who have flourished by recognizing that purpose can arise within challenges and ordinary moments.
Offering a somewhat novel approach for determining one's life path, this former world-champion gymnast
suggests that adding up birthdates can yield numbers that reveal our inner natures, an ancient practice touted
in another of his previous works, The Life You Were Born to Live (1993). Here, he skillfully distills
wisdom from some of the world's greatest mystics and masters and provides helpful insights for navigating
modern life.--Susan DeGrane
DeGrane, Susan
Source Citation (MLA 8th
Edition)
DeGrane, Susan. "The Four Purposes of Life: Finding Meaning and Direction in a Changing World."
Booklist, 15 Mar. 2011, p. 4. General OneFile, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A252847157/ITOF?
u=schlager&sid=ITOF&xid=ab4d9a5e. Accessed 16 Dec. 2017.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A252847157
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Trampoline Training for Body, Mind, and
Spirit
Ellen Druda
Library Journal.
123.12 (July 1998): p151.
COPYRIGHT 1998 Library Journals, LLC. A wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No
redistribution permitted.
http://www.libraryjournal.com/
Full Text:
Trampoline Training for Body, Mind & Spirit
color. 90 min. Astraea, Inc. 1901 W. Main St., St. Charles, IL 60174-1635; 630-584-2535. 1997. $39.95 +
$3 s&h. RECREATION
This video opens with the longest warning crawl this reviewer has ever seen--a good indication of the
potential danger involved in bouncing on your backyard trampoline without proper instruction. If you're still
not scared off, host and world champion Dan Millman makes a convincing case for the fitness benefits and
fun of trampoline jumping. Excellent camera work and direction make it easy to watch the various twists,
tucks, straddles, and drops as Millman narrates along, describing the correct form needed for proper
execution. This would be tough to watch while doing; luckily, the tape is divided into sections and practice
routines that can be memorized. Millman is a terrific host and instructor, and with the burgeoning of home
trampoline sales, this tape makes a unique and welcome addition to public library collections.
Source Citation (MLA 8th
Edition)
Druda, Ellen. "Trampoline Training for Body, Mind, and Spirit." Library Journal, July 1998, p. 151.
General OneFile, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A20967433/ITOF?
u=schlager&sid=ITOF&xid=022f8826. Accessed 16 Dec. 2017.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A20967433
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Way of the Peaceful Warrior: A Book That
Changes Lives
Barbara Hoffert
Library Journal.
126.13 (Aug. 2001): pS76.
COPYRIGHT 2001 Library Journals, LLC. A wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No
redistribution permitted.
http://www.libraryjournal.com/
Full Text:
Millman, Dan. El guerrero pacifico: Un libro de epifania personal. (Way of the Peaceful Warrior: A Book
That Changes Lives) Novato, CA: New World Library. 2001. 269p. ISBN 0-915811-90-1. pap. $12.95.
This fable sets up an encounter between confused student athlete Dan (the author himself is a former
champion gymnast) and a crusty old character named Socrates, who guides our hero on his quest for
spiritual fulfillment.
Hoffert is editor of Library Journal's Book Review.
Hoffert, Barbara
Source Citation (MLA 8th
Edition)
Hoffert, Barbara. "Way of the Peaceful Warrior: A Book That Changes Lives." Library Journal, Aug. 2001,
p. S76. General OneFile, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A77703624/ITOF?
u=schlager&sid=ITOF&xid=aa1aaf9d. Accessed 16 Dec. 2017.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A77703624
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Wisdom of the Peaceful Warrior
California Bookwatch.
(May 2007):
COPYRIGHT 2007 Midwest Book Review
http://www.midwestbookreview.com
Full Text:
Wisdom of the Peaceful Warrior
Dan Millman
New World Library
14 Pamaron Way, Novato, CA 94949
1832973213, $12.95 www.newworldlibrary.com
This companion to WAY OF THE PEACEFUL WARRIOR will best be appreciated by prior fans but even
newcomers will find it a powerful piece which stands well alone, with a hundred key passages of ancient
wisdom spiced with commentaries to display case histories and insights on the spiritual changes affecting
the hearts of mankind. WISDOM OF THE PEACEFUL WARRIOR continues the lessons in WAY OF THE
PEACEFUL WARRIOR: together the two books provide powerful insights perfect for both new age and
general-interest collections.
Source Citation (MLA 8th
Edition)
"Wisdom of the Peaceful Warrior." California Bookwatch, May 2007. General OneFile,
http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A163336100/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=ITOF&xid=f9bc64a5.
Accessed 16 Dec. 2017.
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Way of the Peaceful Warrior Classic Edition
California Bookwatch.
(Feb. 2010):
COPYRIGHT 2010 Midwest Book Review
http://www.midwestbookreview.com
Full Text:
Way of the Peaceful Warrior Classic Edition
Dan Millman
New World Library
14 Pamaron Way, Novato, CA 94949
9781932073256, $24.95 www.newworldlibrary.com
The Classic Edition of WAY OF THE PEACEFUL WARRIOR: A BOOK THAT CHANGES LIVES
appears in a lovely hardcover for the first time since the book's initial publication in 1980, offering readers a
fine spiritual odyssey telling of the author's own journey. His path to happiness offers many possibilities and
reflections for others and this new gift edition will make a solid pick for libraries and individual giving
alike.
Source Citation (MLA 8th
Edition)
"Way of the Peaceful Warrior Classic Edition." California Bookwatch, Feb. 2010. General OneFile,
http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A219307724/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=ITOF&xid=4baaf748.
Accessed 16 Dec. 2017.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A219307724
The Four Purposes Of Life: Finding Meaning and Direction in a Changing World
Dan Millman. New World Library (PGW, dist.), $17 (144p) ISBN 978-1-932073-49-2
MORE BY AND ABOUT THIS AUTHOR
Millman, author of Way of the Peaceful Warrior, shares more of the ideas that are central to his way of life—and well being—in the hopes of leading others onto their true path. Millman's system ("Life-Purposes") is simple: self-examination; goal-making; decision-making; finding a passion; and conscious living. Relying on the words of philosophers both current and historical (Oprah and Kierkegaard both appear), the author finds a new twist for this addition to the genre he knows so well. The "School of Life" he argues, has only 12 subjects, among them self-worth, courage, sexuality, and service. He shares ways to earn a "Pass" grade from that great campus called Earth. Finding a calling is a more profound challenge than advancing career or finding "satisfying" work, and Millman doesn't make this distinction often enough. One purpose finds the author re-imagining the western horoscope; birth numbers can help us reach our life's purpose, he argues somewhat unpersuasively. And finally, despite all the talk of the subconscious mind and mental time leaps, Millman arrives at this chestnut: live in the moment. (Apr.)
DETAILS
Reviewed on: 04/11/2011
Release date: 04/01/2011
Paperback - 168 pages - 978-1-932073-73-7
Book Review: "Way Of The Peaceful Warrior" By Dan Millman
Valerie Worthington
Valerie Worthington
Coach
Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Sport Psychology
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When I was 12, my seventh grade English teacher told me I was “cynical.” I didn’t even know what the word meant, but after I looked it up, I nodded and thought to myself that she was right. I tended to have a sarcastic sense of humor and a little bit of an edge. (Give me a break; I’m from New Jersey, and if you knew my family, you’d understand.)
In the intervening decades, I have softened a bit, as I have learned more about myself and as I have come to realize how powerful my thoughts are in creating my experience. Among other things, I now am open to reading books and watching movies on self-help and positive thinking, books and movies that my 12-year-old self would have rolled her eyes at and made fun of in an effort to get the laugh. I see now that for me there is actually something to be said for self-help and positive thinking, because I have applied them to my own life and seen a return on my investment.
way of the peaceful warrior, dan millman, warrior book, book reviewsBut the edge hasn’t completely gone away, which I realized when I picked up Way of the Peaceful Warrior: A Book That Changes Lives by Dan Millman. The book tells the story of college student and world-class gymnast Dan, who is surprised to find his schoolwork and athletic pursuits do not fulfill him as he had expected they would. Early in his college career, he stumbles upon a filling station whose night shift is covered by an old man. Dan eventually befriends the old man and nicknames him Socrates, both because the man refuses to reveal his real name and because over time he ends up serving as Dan’s mentor and spiritual guide.
Set in the 1960s, the book takes the reader on Dan’s multi-year journey toward enlightenment. As he works with Socrates and tries to internalize messages about living in the moment and perceiving oneself as interconnected with all other living things, Dan finds more inner peace, more success in his athletic pursuits, and more fulfillment. Socrates presents Dan with a series of challenges ranging from fasting to meditation to controlling his breathing, slapping him about the head when he proves to be obstinate or dismissive. (Better him than me.)
He teaches Dan that the way of the peaceful warrior “is not about invulnerability but absolute vulnerability - to the world, to life…(A)warrior’s life is not about imagined perfection or victory; it is about love. Love is a warrior’s sword; wherever it cuts it gives life, not death.” Dan learns to be present, to experience himself as connected to the world and not apart from it. He controls his ego, learns to laugh at himself, and heightens his awareness rather than sleepwalking through life.
So far, so good, and not unlike many other books I’ve read that delve into self awareness, the quest for purpose in life, and a little bit of spirituality. Where the pre-teen in me has something to say is in some of the prose, in some of the more magically realistic images, and in some of the choices the protagonist makes that seem at odds with the central message of the story.
In terms of the prose, the book isn’t breaking any literary molds. Perhaps this is an issue inherent in writing about this kind of subject matter, but some of the rhetorical choices are a bit precious for my personal taste, and they drive home the nature of the book rather than enabling me to get lost in the story and make my own connections.
With respect to the magical realism, Socrates facilitates time travel for Dan and, we are led to believe, Dan either honestly engages or has a vision that he engages in mortal combat with his shadow side/evil, with his life actually hanging in the balance.
And finally, toward the end of the book, Dan completes the leg of his journey that involves Socrates by appearing to shirk his familial responsibilities and travel the world instead. As a firm believer myself in the educative and self-actualizing powers of travel (and as a semi-retired traveling dirtbag), I understand how rewarding it can be to chuck it all and allow the search for self to become a geographically diverse one. But as an adult, I also understand that doing so while leaving others to hold the bag is selfish and irresponsible.
None of these issues precludes a snarky reader like me from benefitting from the book, but it does require a bit of fancy footwork to distract my inner seventh grader. I recommend Way of the Peaceful Warrior both for its message and for its flaws. The message is a timeless one infinitely relevant to all those who are looking for a way to matter in their own lives, and the flaws are a good reminder that we all have work to do, even those whose work provides guidance to the rest of us.
"Way of the Peaceful Warrior" is available for $10.31 at Amazon.com.
DAN MILLMAN – WAY OF THE PEACEFUL WARRIOR BOOK REVIEW
by Stefan James 5
way of the peaceful warrior dan millmanA fantastic book that I recently finished readying and studying is the Way of the Peaceful Warrior by Dan Millman, which has really changed my way of thinking lately and I've been working on practicing the concepts in the book.
I originally watched the Peaceful Warrior movie years ago and it had a lot of powerful lessons and insights that I had used to improve my life. Around a month or so ago, I re-watched the movie and decided to pick up the book to learn more about Dan Millman's story and philosophy towards life.
I loved the book so much that I decided to read the follow-up book called Wisdom of the Peaceful Warrior, which goes deeper into the lessons and concepts from the Way of the Peaceful Warrior. In this Way of the Peaceful Warrior book review, I'm going to share some of the most powerful insights that I've had that really stuck out for me and has made a difference in my life. I highly recommend you pick up the book, or at least watch the movie. The Way of the Peaceful Warrior changes lives.
Way of the Peaceful Warrior is a true story, based on the life of Dan Millman. The book shares Dan's journey through university as a world-champion gymnast who has a passion to succeed and make it to the Olympics. On the surface, Dan has it all – he's good looking, popular, gets great grades, has women chasing him, his dad has plenty of money, great physical shape… yet, there's something missing.
It isn't until one night Dan wakes up in the middle of the night and decides to take a walk to a nearby gas station that he encounters an old man that he calls Socrates, who begins mentoring him and exposes how deeply unhappy Dan is. The story essentially chronicles Dan's story through life to evolve himself into a Peaceful Warrior, with all the powerful lessons that he's learning from Socrates.
Without spoiling the story, I'm going to share below some of the most powerful insights for me.
“Life brought rewards, but no lasting peace or satisfaction.”
way of the peaceful warrior reviewThis is one of the quotes from Dan Millman in the book, describing his life. For the most part, everyone who's chasing success in life can relate to this. This statement describes the emptiness that began Dan's search for spirit. Dan, like many of us, have been conditioned to believe that “When I achieve X-Y-Z, then I will be happy.” And while most of us intellectually know that's not true, we still pursue goals believing it will give us that fulfillment.
The lesson here is simple: nothing in your outer world will ever make you happy or fulfilled. Happiness can only come from the inside. When you truly come to this realization and stop deluding yourself, you can gain that sense of peace and satisfaction within.
“The world out there,” he said, waving his arm across the horizon, “is a school, Dan. Life is the only real teacher. It offers many experiences, and if experience alone brought wisdom and fulfillment, then elderly people would all be happy, enlightened masters. But the lessons of experience are hidden. I can help you learn from experience to see the world clearly.”
Another lesson in the book is the idea that daily life provides the spiritual weight lifting that strengthens our spirits as we ascend the mountain path. In other words, the way itself creates the warrior.
While experience and wisdom is important, in the Way of the Peaceful Warrior, Socrates teaches Dan that there's a difference between Knowing and Doing. You can know what to do or understand something, but you don't really KNOW it until you're DOING it.
Here's another great quote from the book: “Knowledge is not the same as wisdom. Knowledge is knowing — wisdom is doing.”
Furthermore, the best performers had the quietest minds during their moment of truth… For the first time, I realized why I loved gymnastics so. It gave me a blessed respite from my noisy mind. When I was swinging and somersaulting, nothing else mattered. When my body was active, my mind rested in the moments of silence.
peaceful warrior dan millman
This is one of the most powerful concepts and lessons I got from the Way of the Peaceful Warrior. This excerpt is Dan Millman describing his experience with gymnastics and how it's a way for him to “quiet the noise in his mind”. I was able to relate to this, as for me, I find I have different activities that are my way of getting out of my head.
A big theme in the Way of the Peaceful Warrior that Socrates instills in Dan is the power of NOW. The only time that matters is RIGHT NOW, this moment. This moment is all that we have. Yesterday is gone, and tomorrow doesn't exist. But, the problem with most people is that we live in our heads. We live in either the past or the future.
All stress and fear exists in either the past or the future. In fact, fear is just anticipation of pain. If you can truly live in the moment and get out of your head, you can be free of all of the garbage in your head and perform at levels you never thought possible. Not only that, but you can be at peace.
Take out the trash. Clear you mind of everything you don't need (doubt, past failures, future victories, … etc.)
Being in the moment is a practice. It's a practice that Dan focuses on throughout the book that changes his life for the better. He shares his experiences learning meditation and learning to be more and more present. There's one part in the book where Socrates throws Dan over a bridge into the water, just to clear his mind. He then describes to Dan how there are no ordinary moments – that there is never nothing going on. The truth is, there is so many amazing things going on at any given moment, but we're too much inside of our heads to notice it.
“Where are you? … HERE”
“What time is it? … NOW”
“What are you? … THIS MOMENT.”
There's a certain point in the story where Dan deals with adversity and is on the verge of giving up, just when Socrates instills some powerful wisdom for him: “A warrior does not give up what he loves, Dan. He finds the love in what he does.”
Check out the YouTube videos below for some gold nuggets of wisdom from Socrates in the Peaceful Warrior movie.
Another powerful lesson from the Way of the Peaceful Warrior is when Socrates decides to take Dan on a hike. On the way up the mountain, Dan is excited and really loving the hike, anticipating what Socrates is going to show him. When at the top, Dan says, “What did you want to show me?” and Socrates points to a rock. Dan is then disappointed and says, “This is it? This is what you wanted to show me??” Socrates then hits Dan with the powerful lesson of “It's the journey, not the destination.”
This was another huge lesson for me that I can relate to, as often we get so caught up in our goals that we don't pay attention to or really enjoy the journey. We spend the majority of our lives in the pursuit of achieving things, so we might as well ENJOY IT.
There are so many more amazing powerful lessons that I got from the Way of the Peaceful Warrior book by Dan Millman, along with the Peaceful Warrior movie. I highly recommend checking out both. The movie is great, but it only covers a part of the actual story. I recommend going through both – it will definitely change the way you look at your life, I know it did for me.
The Journeys of Socrates
BY DAN MILLMAN
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Millman draws on some of his ancestors’ experiences to create this novel giving the backstory of Socrates, the sage he introduced in Way of the Peaceful Warrior. In late 19th century Russia, orphaned Sergei Ivanov is brought up in a military academy run by his uncle. Fond memories of his Jewish grandfather cause Sergei to be horrified when the academy cadets are ordered to participate in a pogrom. He resolves to run away, but is confronted by a bully. They fight, and Sergei leaves Zakolyev for dead before fleeing to the wilderness.
After hiding several years, Sergei decides it is safe to re-enter civilization, and follows his grandfather’s instructions to find a buried legacy. This leads him to St. Petersburg, where he meets and marries a childhood friend. Their happiness is all too brief when Sergei takes the very pregnant Anya on a picnic and they are attacked by armed bandits, one of whom is Zakolyev. The tragedy sends Sergei on a quest to learn martial arts and gain spiritual training from a succession of teachers. He takes on the name Socrates, and is at last ready to avenge his family. But will a startling revelation learned in the bandits’ camp prevent the Peaceful Warrior from retaliating?
The book can stand alone as an adventure story, but fans of Millman’s works who want to know more about Socrates will probably enjoy it most. Those who appreciate films of the Matrix genre will also like it. I found the plot rather coincidence-heavy, without strong character development. The novel had one error: while in hiding, Millman has Sergei make a spear out of bamboo growing along a river. Bamboo is not native to western Russia, according to the biology sources I consulted.
Book review: The Four Purposes of Life: Finding Meaning and Direction in a Changing World (Dan Millman)
Via Todd Mayville
on May 7, 2011 0 Shares
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This newest offering from prolific self-help writer Dan Millman, perhaps best known for The Way of the Peaceful Warrior, is an accumulation and a distillation of the philosophies and principles found in his other works. In this book, he focuses life down to four guiding principles or purposes, all of which he says are necessary to live a complete life.
The four purposes are to learn life’s lessons; find our personal careers and callings; discover one’s life path; and to simply be present in one’s life. The best part of this book has to do with careers and callings. Millman views a career as one that provides a service, regardless of what kind of job it is, which is an interesting and even inspiring way of looking at work, whereas a calling is a far more personal thing, and is more of a compulsion than a choice, though both career and calling can overlap (but don’t have to).
The one disappointment of this book relates to the third purpose: discovering one’s life path. In this, Millman has the reader use his or her birthdate to come up with a three or four digit number, expressed as a fraction. From this fraction, one can determine what one is supposed to focus on and do in this lifetime. This seems to be an overly simplistic form of numerology which, according to one source I consulted who is a student of numerology, would barely scratch the surface and would be so generic as to not necessarily mean as much as it could/should. As a result, this book seems to lean more towards pop self-help than what could and should be a more meaningful and penetrating work from Millman.
Those familiar with Millman’s previous work will likely appreciate and gain more from it, but this should not be considered a good introduction to the philosophies and work of Dan Millman. From New World Library and available at your local, independent bookstore. (Make a difference: shop local, shop independent, and tell ‘em you saw it on Elephant Journal!)
Peaceful Warrior: The Graphic NovelGRAPHIC NOVEL REVIEWS
PEACEFUL WARRIOR: THE GRAPHIC NOVEL REVIEW
DECEMBER 4, 2010 CARL DOHERTY LEAVE A COMMENT
2010, published by HJ Kramer & New World Library
Story: Dan Millman
Art: Andrew Winegarner
Peaceful Warrior: The Graphic Novel is an adaptation of Dan Millman’s 1980 bestseller Way of the Peaceful Warrior. A spiritual coming of age drama with an apparent Carlos Castaneda influence, it’s evidently a beloved book (as a quick search online will validate) that has touched the heart of many a directionless youngster. Victor Salva’s 2006 movie adaptation was poorly received by critics and devoted readers alike, and this graphic novel is based on Millman’s original screenplay written in 1990.
The semi-autobiographical tale of a gymnast (also named Dan) and his relationship with cantankerous gas station owner Socrates, Warrior follows the usual underdog formula, but laced with a mystical philosophy that progressively distances the plot from reality. Haunted by lucid dreams and self doubts, Dan’s rite of passage under Socrates’ stern guidance is one that will appeal to many younger readers, and definitely has an 80s vibe to it that fans of The Karate Kid, released several years after Millman’s novel, will identify with.
Peaceful Warrior: The Graphic Novel
Peaceful Warrior: The Graphic Novel
Andrew Winegarner’s illustrations aren’t especially sophisticated, but there’s a clarity to his visual narrative that keeps the graphic novel an engaging enough read throughout. Millman’s overbearing narration occasionally feels straight out of the Stan Lee era (every new scene is indicated by “Later in the locker room…” or “At the gym…”), but this is perhaps a by-product of the book’s film script origins. I also found Dan to be that special breed of flawless, middle-classed everyman who exists only in fiction, and I do wonder how more disadvantaged teens might interpret Millman’s morality tale.
Peaceful Warrior is cheesy new age nonsense, then, but not one without an understandable appeal. I’ve got to the point in my life where I’m not only incredibly cynical but content to be so, yet I’d genuinely love to see a generation of frustrated adolescents latch on to Millman’s values of discipline and abstinence. Any moral code that endorses a vegetarian diet also gets my vote.
Peaceful Warrior promotes a wholesome and inarguably beneficial ethos that probably won’t provide answers to all but the most impressionable youths, but our Western culture of binge-drinking hedonists and sardonic nihilists could arguably do with far more wise old gits encouraging kids to reach their full potential.
6/10
Carl Doherty
Carl Doherty
Carl Doherty has written about movies, video games, comic books and literature for almost a decade, forging ill-informed critiques for numerous websites, blogs and publications that no one has ever heard of. His debut novel, the epic fantasy comedy Welcome to The Fold, is available now on Kindle here (UK) and here (US).
The Four Purposes of Life
Finding Meaning and Direction in a Changing World
By Dan Millman
Spiritual guidance provided through the four main purposes of life.
Book Review by Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat
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Dan Millman is the author of 17 books read by millions of people in 29 languages. He teaches worldwide to men and women from all walks of life, including leaders in the fields of health, psychology, education, business, politics, sports, entertainment, and the arts.
Millman quotes Leo Rosten who once said: "I think the purpose of life is, above all, to matter; to count; to stand for something, to have made some difference that you lived at all." The author has identified the four main purposes of life and he explains them all in detail.
The first is learning life's lessons. Millman sees the universe as "a perfect school, and daily life is the classroom." We grow through stretching and challenges. The specific curriculum in daily life includes subjects on self-worth, discipline, well-being, money, mind, intuition, emotions, courage, knowledge, sexuality, love, and service. This curriculum tutors us in wisdom and meaning.
The second purpose consists in finding your career and calling. For the lucky few, career and calling go together like a horse and carriage. For most people, the two are separate: one for income and one for inner fulfillment. Work has meaning when it involves satisfying labor, making a good income, and providing a useful service.
The third purpose is discovering your path as you make your way towards "the peaks of your potential." Here Millman suggests you determine your "birth number" by a visit to his website, www.peacefulwarrior.com, as a key to your path.
The fourth purpose is paying attention to this arising moment. Most religious or spiritual traditions offer plenty of guidance on this universal spiritual practice. He emphasizes that this is a practice that calls forth all you have learned on your spiritual journey.
The Creative Compass: Writing Your Way from Inspiration to Publication
Image of The Creative Compass: Writing Your Way from Inspiration to Publication
Author(s):
Dan Millman
Sierra Prasada
Release Date:
October 1, 2013
Publisher/Imprint:
New World Library
Pages:
208
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Reviewed by:
Carol Fragale Brill
“. . . like having a writing coach in the palm of your hand.”
The Creative Compass is less a how-to on writing craft and more about nurturing the writer within and finding the inspiration to discover the truest version of your story. Part personal essay with the authors sharing their own writing journey, part guide to a structured approach to writing, and a large part inspiration, it is like having a writing coach in the palm of your hand.
There is a promise in the early pages of The Creative Compass when the authors ask, “Would you like to become more inspired and disciplined? Are you seeking your true voice on the page? Do you want to know how to sharpen your instincts and acquire more meaningful experience? Read on.”
The authors go on to fulfill that promise by providing a framework to help the writer find their personal writing path. They define five stages of the writing process:
• The Dream stage is when the writer finds his/her way, having a dialogue within, imagining possibilities to find that one “sticky” idea that propels the writing forward.
• The Draft stage is creation—layers of writing that result in an early draft of telling the story.
• The Develop stage is the painstaking process of shaping and cutting—finding what the authors call the story’s golden thread that defines what happens and why it must happen.
• The Refine stage involves feedback and editorial support to find exactly the specific detail and word to reveal the heart and essence of the story.
• The Share stage is about the path of releasing the story to the world of readers based on the writer’s goals
Throughout each stage, there is practical advice to help focus and motivate the writer, and also supportive acknowledgment of the struggles, self-doubts, and rejection that are part of the writing life.
In addition to their own experience, the author’s quote numerous writers, drawing upon their vast experiences to show the complexities, heartaches, and rewards of the writing life.
Dan Millman and Sierra Prasada are father and daughter. The Creative Compass is a culmination of years of their writing experience in fiction, nonfiction, journalism, theater, and film adaptation. It’s an inside look at decades of their reflections on writing, and its tone is conversational and engaging. The book reads like a series of personal essays, and while the stages presented are linear, it’s the kind of guidebook you can open to any chapter at random and find inspiration.
Carol Brill, MFA, is the author of two novels, Peace by Piece and Cape Maybe, a number of published short stories and essays, and articles on the craft of writing.
THE HIDDEN SCHOOL Dan Millman
by: Dan Millman
£7.99 £12.99
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Dan Millman has done it again. The author of Way of The Peaceful Warrior and many other bestsellers recounts another powerful story of self-transformation through adventure. It’s set in a time after Peaceful Warrior when Dan is trying to track down a mysterious book partially written by his enigmatic and mischievous teacher Socrates. Most of the action takes place in the desert of the American Southwest and an isolated training centre in remote China. As ever, the gripping and vivid narrative is a powerful way of putting across some illuminating truths and vital spiritual lessons. Dan is a master storyteller.
304pp, 197 x 130mm, Paperback, 2017, RRP £12.99