> Par ClaireDoc (Babelio) : Le Guerrier pacifique par Dan Millman
Un beau roman initiatique qui invite à l'introspection. Une histoire personnelle qui aspire à l'universel. A découvrir et faire découvrir.

> LE GUERRIER PACIFIQUE – Dan Millman. — Ce livre est un roman de développement personnel dans lequel un étudiant gymnaste américain futur champion du monde de gym au trampoline (histoire vraie) rencontre son mentor de vie une nuit sur le campus de l’université, dans une station service.
Tout le livre est dédié à l’apprentissage de Dan et ses progrès avec l’enseignement de son mentor, Socrate. Ce roman est tellement passionnant qu’en lisant les conversations de Dan et Socrate le soir, on se sent presque avec eux dans la pièce.
Le guerrier pacifique est à la fois drôle, intéressant, instructif, juste et visionnaire.
—Par Olivier Roland du blog : Des Livres Pour Changer de Vie

In one sentence: see the movie instead. It's more engaging and far less condescending, arrogant and self-important. The longer review is below.
I read this in a day when I was fourteen or something. It was recommended to me and my mom by a then-family friend. She was super into faith healing, New Age philosophies and culture, and appropriating as much Indian culture, both Northern and Southern, as much as she possibly could (she's white) to help her feel spiritual. The friend was a very proud Amma Devotee and wanted everyone to become one, too. She'd visibly pout and condescend to you if you weren't interested. Somehow, she'd read this book. She touted it as the author's autobiography. Impressionable teenager that I was, I described the book as such to my mom. I remember thinking the author was weird, but not telling anyone. A few years later, my mom and I saw the movie. It was far more exciting and well-done than the book, I thought at the time. Now, I'm re-reading it as an adult with a vastly different set of life experiences and views. As of the time of this writing, Seattle is experiencing triple digit weather. We do not have air conditioning. We do not need it. Now, we need it because this is not a heat wave: this is the new normal. Some signs of heat stroke are belligerence, mental confusion, and difficulty with speech. I didn't want to read the book in hot weather in case I was unable to tell the difference between a one-star review and a medical emergency. The contrasting statements on the book's copy, the preface, and the thirty-page prologue, combined with the classification of "personal growth/spiritual" genre had me grimly preparing to classify this as one-star, and determined for me to read it through because I'd bought it.

The book doesn't work at all in first person. Spiritual books aren't my thing, so maybe I'm wrong, but it would've been better in third person. I realize Dan is supposedly describing something that apparently happened in his twenties, but as it's in first person, he sounds incredibly stuffy and world-weary. This apparently took place starting in the late 60s, so New Agey stuff had just begun on a large scale. Why, then, does Socrates make such fun of a New Age group that was probably a little high on weed? They forgot to ask for gas, and he gives terrible customer service. This, while doling out standard New Age-isms to his young charge as though they're rare gems. Things like that have been said since the 1930s. The relationship between Socrates, Dan, and Socrates'...students I guess...reminds me heavily of the nine years I spent in a cult. Gross. Especially the "I need to eat meat to help my broken leg heal!" "No meat, you horrid person!" "It's medical!" "Vegetarianism because I, someone with no medical background, say so or banishment!" The cult I was in did that a lot. I went on a medication. It took awhile. The cult was extremely against the medication and me seeking attention for the condition, which they tried for years to tell me I didn't have. They were going to ban me. The medication works wonders to this day. When the cult found out the medication worked, they tried to tell me they convinced me to take it all along, and they tried to take credit for other results. Gaslighters. Dan gets all worked up over the fact that a nurse he slept with sleeps with a teammate of his a week later. This...is why I establish whether things are a one-night stand or a date or whichever, right away. I used to not, and was like Dan. (sigh) This is a creepy book. I'm glad I know now. ( )

Mmmmmmmmmm. I haven't got far into this but it feels dated - it might be the writing - something is not quite polished about it. Still I wish I'd stick with it to absorb the wisdom...!

Pioneering book in the field. ( )

I found out about this book from Tim Ferris and many of the people he interviews have recommended the book as well. While it’s a bit dated now it is a great story. Great way to get motivated and inspired. I followed the author Dan Millman and listened to him tell the story of the book and his life. I would highly recommend this book. ( )