Publisher's Summary

This is not your typical Zen book. Brad Warner, a young punk who grew up to be a Zen master, spares no one. This bold new approach to the "Why?" of Zen Buddhism is as strongly grounded in the tradition of Zen as it is utterly revolutionary. Warner's voice is hilarious, and he calls on the wisdom of everyone from punk and pop culture icons to the Buddha himself to make sure his points come through loud and clear. As it prods readers to question everything, Hardcore Zen is both an approach and a departure, leaving behind the soft and lyrical for the gritty and stark perspective of a new generation.

The subtitle says it all: There has never been a book like this.

©2003 Brad Warner (P)2013 Brad Warner

What listeners say about Hardcore Zen

Average Customer Ratings
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Clear understanding with colorful personality

Would you consider the audio edition of Hardcore Zen to be better than the print version?

Absolutely! The author is 100% into the presentation. It is done professionally but with personality and spirited with music and the occasional sound effects. In print you miss the illustrations - in this audio presentation of the book you actually gain music and fun sound effects at just the right time.

What other book might you compare Hardcore Zen to and why?

This is a very unique book/perspective on Zen given Brad Warner's Punk background. While Buddhist fundamentals are intact and there is good clarity the insight is provided in an atypical manner. If talk of boogers and nasty farts offends you then you may not like his presentation style. However, if you are the type of person who can giggle when someone farts then you will like Brad's unique presentation style. There is no farting - just an analogy for context.

What about Brad Warner’s performance did you like?

Personality, personality, personality. Reading and listening to Zen based material can get a little dry and homogenized. While there is a time and place for everything it is nice to have some bumps in the road to keep you awake. Brad Delivers with his upbeat attitude and occasional impromptu comments “kitty off the keyboard” during the reading. But, don’t let this detract you into thinking this was not well recorded or professionally done. Audio quality and reading of the text is excellent.

14 people found this helpful

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Best Zen book ever

I read a lot about zen and Buddhism but this one takes the cake. Simple, true and hardcore to the bone. An absolute must read for anyone even mildly interested in zen and Buddhism.

The fact that it is read and edited by the author (and his cat) really makes this a unique listening experience.



10 people found this helpful

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Idiots way to Zen

It was by far the easiest way to understand what Zen or meditation or not Buddhism' is or is not for most of us who grew up in the late 70's and up to mid 90's. His approach is honest and open. I wished that someone had indeed given him a professional recording, because the audio recording was challenging while driving around... though I didn't mind background noise like hums or the kitty jumping around. Although I believe that this introduction to "Zazen" is very real and true for him and most... I can't help but to feel a bit pessimistic about it too... to those who have not experience enlightenment. Then again what do I know about it? I would definitely put this in my teenager and college bound kids library and also recommend it to my friends who often say "WTF Jane? when did you become so spiritual?" and honestly I think is a good solid foundation for anyone who is interested in the subject.

8 people found this helpful

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Brad is the one!

Would you listen to Hardcore Zen again? Why?

Listen to it many times. Why? Don't know. His voice has a way of leading you on.

What other book might you compare Hardcore Zen to and why?

His other book: Sit Down and Shut Up.

Which scene was your favorite?

the "farting man"?

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Chapters 10 to 12

6 people found this helpful

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Totally

Very good book. My husband got the Sit down, shut up for me a few years back. I saw its an audible book now, too. Brad does a wonderful job of narrating his own book. This is the first book in a long time I recommended to family and friends.

5 people found this helpful

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easy listen

firat zen book. conected well with the author and got his point accross well in q very undestanding way

4 people found this helpful

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Modern Zen

Great book!! Definitely worth reading or listening to on audio. The author presents a good overview of Zen Buddhism.

4 people found this helpful

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Outstanding Audio Book

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

His clear and ernest approach to the subject.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Hardcore Zen?

The two times he is interrupted by his cat.

What about Brad Warner’s performance did you like?

His voice is fun and entertaining without sounding over produced.

Any additional comments?

This is a FANTASTIC book!

3 people found this helpful

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Great book, rough yet subtle, comical yet serious!

Brad eliminated all my unbuddhist like preconceived judgements about how good the book would be. Loved it, I'm trying hard to not get attached to it!

3 people found this helpful

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Punk rock meets Zen

I enjoyed the no nonsense approach of the author and the DIY recording method. I actually think the sound quality is better than some of the "professionally" recorded audio books I have. The story about his moment of enlightenment is one of the best and easiest to understand that I have heard. It actually makes sense and doesn't really have any "woo factor" to it.

A good listen and by the way, although I am a die-hard Metal Head who also enjoys hard core punk, I am also one of those people that likes 70s AOR rock despite the author's opinion of it, we are not so hard to find... (wink)

2 people found this helpful

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  • N. R. Bartlett
  • 12-24-21

A must listen!

if you're interested in Zen and more specifically Zazen, this is a must listen. would highly recommend 👌

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  • Craig Pert
  • 07-03-20

Recommended

This chanced up on a search for punk/hardcore biographies. And it sort of is, but not. Like a lot of people- ones that I know, anyway- I’ve faffed about on the peripheries of “enlightenment” of one flavour or another for ages. I’d give this book a strong recommendation if only because it gently and humorously kicks all of that into the long grass. I’m now going to work my way through some more of Brad Warner’s stuff.

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  • T D
  • 06-30-20

The real deal

This book challenges you. Listen and read it. It will help you be you. Face reality.

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  • Thomas Jones
  • 04-05-20

Fantastic

informative, helpful and entertaining. Brad is very easy to listen to and his personal experiences and anecdotes make this all the more relatable. It's easy to get bogged down in a lot of information heavy zen books, but this is light and perfect to digest. A thoroughly interesting author too!

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  • Mr. S. Bloggs
  • 01-23-19

One of my favourite books.

I really enjoyed this book. Very good and straight to the point. I like the way he broke the deep stuff up with stories. Will definitely be listening to it again.

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  • Abraham
  • 07-25-18

Zen books are hard to effectively rate...

A book about on the notions of Zen can either mean bugger all or the whole world to you completely depending on what point in your life and the degree to which you are open minded to the notions mentioned in the book.
So all I'll say is that the book does a great job at portraying a Man's journey to Zen explaining all the bumps and bruises he encountered along the way. It expresses a lot of the concepts in such plain English that a teenager wouldn't have any troubles following along. It very much is a no bullshit view at Zen from a guy who I think is fully qualified to speak about it and can be an amazing intro into the whole philosophy for people who don't like religious institutions etc. because this goes back to the whole heart of Buddha's message before it became a institutionalised religion.

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  • Gaz
  • 12-02-17

Superb

Easy to listen to, down to earth, homorous mix of a rock bio and a zen manual for modern times. Really enjoyed it.

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  • SJRod
  • 10-21-17

Brillant and Fun

An amazing journey with Brad. Enjoyable, educational and thought provoking. Presented as a personal journey it is everything you hoped it .might be

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  • conor
  • 10-26-16

It took a while to get into it but......

He is dead straight about it being a home made recording which is refreshing and it is not at all bad and a good deal better than many others. I don't share his taste in music but I let that go because the content is just great and blows a lot of dust and BS out of the subject.

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  • Simon Kwong
  • 06-05-16

Semi Enlightened...

Writer has too much prejudices to give him credence on subject matter, he's led an interesting life but still falls into some pitfalls. He talks about compassion but then gives everyone the quest to "save the world" from nuclear war, concentrates far to much on criticizing other writers (great teachers never need do this), dismisses psychedelic experiences though only having experienced questionably sourced drugs himself and asserts himself far too strongly for someone who doesn't seem well read in the subject matter other than head line books, I'm surprised he never even talked about shamanic ritual regarding use of psychedelics.

He ain't nothing special. Tolle and Watts are far more developed and useful.

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  • Kindle Customer
  • 08-31-17

what I needed

not much cuts through the crap like this. looking forward to more time sitting down & shutting up.