Way of the Peaceful Warrior

A Book That Changes Lives

By: Dan Millman

Narrated by: Dan Millman

Length: 6 hrs and 1 min

Publisher's summary

This audio edition of the international best seller Way of the Peaceful Warrior is based on the story of Dan Millman, a world-class gymnast who has it all, but is troubled by a vague sense of dissatisfaction with his everyday life. He meets an eccentric old mentor named Socrates, who sets him on a spiritual odyssey that will ultimately deliver or destroy him. Along the way Dan encounters realms of light and darkness, of romance and magic, as he learns what it means to live as a peaceful warrior.

Way of the Peaceful Warrior is a rare story with the power to transform lives. It conveys piercing truths with drama, heart, and humor and speaks directly to the universal quest for fulfillment and happiness, for finding our place in the world. It is a story for all times that can inspire joy, expand perspectives, and remind us of the deeper truth we already know, that real freedom lies within us right now.

©1984 Dan Millman (P)1997 New World Library

Critic reviews

"As narrator as well as author, [Millman] has ample skill and showmanship." ( AudioFile)

My Favorite Audiobook

At this point, I have read, and re-read this book enough times to know most of it by heart - not just the main story line which is pretty simple, but the lessons contained within the story that are really what the book is all about.

I initially made the mistake of trying to figure out which parts of the story were claimed to have actually happened vs which parts were just there to illustrate a point. Eventually I came to the conclusion that it really doesn't matter how much or little was fact - The basic point of the book is to guide the reader to a philosophy that is aligned to the world around them instead of living one that is opposed to natural order. Without challenging religious beliefs, the book can lead you to look at how you live, how you interact with others, and to think carefully about all aspects of your life - from breathing to eating, to exercise, to how you look at the world every minute of the day

Read it, think about it, then read it again. I don't normally take the time to write reviews of the hundreds of audiobooks I have read, but I feel very strongly about this one

Way of Simple Happiness

Not many unabridged titles can be listen to, with such ease and pleasure. The 'Way of the Peaceful Warrior' is a story about finding pleasures in every aspect of our lives.
This title shows a great way how to distance yourself, from everyday chaos and madness. It shows step by step, how to rediscover happiness and simple pleasures.
In my personal case, I was able to better understand what I really, really, really want...

Very realistic and fun

Just finished listening to this audiobook. It was wonderful... so realistic despite having elements of fiction. It is incredibly fun and entertaining to read, even if read just as a novel. Reflecting on the book lessons, I realized that many of its revelations are valid even in the world we live in. Many of my questions about life got answered in this book, and it brought me closer to awakening. Enjoy!!!

Bad

This is most probably one of the worst books I ever read/listened to. Full of pseudo-philosophical, pseudo-buddhism statements by someone who seemingly spent his university time stoned, and who forgot to live his life being married to his mentor. I personally find this book as a total waste of time and money, the only reason I did not stop after 1/2 hr, was to give benefit of doubt to the author. I did, and have no doubt.

Happiness is a Full Tank

I first read this book 20 years ago, and fell in love with it. Much like Dan in the book however, I don't think it all stuck--as I've read it again multiple times in the past year, I'm now a little more ready for the messages of the book.

And what messages there are! The character of Socrates is just terrific; I have no doubt the author has nothing but pure love for this man (along with every other person, per his teachings of course).

While I am not a world-class gymnast like the author, I am a local-class distance runner (age group awards, Boston Marathon finishes) and found a great role model in the author. The message of "you've learned how to achieve, but not how to be happy" rings loud and true not only for me, but for most of modern Western society I wager. His candor about sexual urges, depression and failed relationships is important--"men don't talk about this stuff," but really should. (Ironically it was a female friend of mine who was a big fan of Warrior, and pointed me to this book.)

The fantasy elements of the book are largely enjoyable for the purposes of getting messages across. The ending gets a little too fantastical (meeting Soc in the middle of the woods; the random college girl in Ohio just-so-happens to be his future wife), but it's a story so you have to wrap the plot up somehow. I'm not reading for the plot.

Millman does a good job with narration. Not the best narrator--the publisher could have found someone better from a pure voice acting perspective--but I appreciate a book like this being read by the author. It makes the experience more personal. Millman is far from being annoying, distracting or any other qualities of a poor narrator.

I took scratch notes as I worked through this book. The list got long. Certainly I'll come back to Warrior again in the future. A must read for any student, young or old.

- Fear, sadness, anger. Move emotions up that chain, then convert to action and let go.
- Stop being proud of your mediocrity.
- The mind is mortal. Everything else is immortal.
- Where are you? Peel the onion. What's left at the end? The universe.
- Meditation: intent and surrender. Attention Attention Attention.
- Making mistakes at full attention is better Tha not making mistakes with a trembling spirit.
- The priest who thinks abut praying while lovemaking, and vice versa.
- Unconscious ritual is negative. Not the actions.
- Urges do not matter. Actions do.
- Death is not sad. The sadness is that most people do not live.
- Choose when, where and how to act without the expectations of others.
- Defeat the Giant. The Giant is your mind.
- Philosophers' rock: there are no unimportant moments.
- Stop being superior in ordinary standards. Be ordinary in superior standards.
- Use aikido, don't resist forces.
- Muscles like a cat.
- Expert vs master. Mental and emotional vs physical. Body, mind and emotions.
- Stay in the now. Pentagraph with zombies and women.
- You've spent your live learning how to achieve, not to be happy.
- Birth of the mind is the death of the senses. Re, infants.
- Happiness finds you, only after surrender. You don't find happiness.
- Happiness is the only power.
- Happiness now without reason.
- Plato's cave, we are all a part of the consciousness continuum.
- Relax into life. Do your best. What you know as you will be dead someday. Paradox, humor and change are the only rules.
- Enlightenment is a realization, not an attainment. (a la ZMM's Copernican revolutions).
- Goal is to be vulnerable to life and love, NOT invulnerable.

Very Fun

This is a very fun book. I thouroughly enjoyed it and pretty much needed it. This is the book that I thought "motorcycle maintenance" was going to be and turned out to suck wind. Have a great time with this book. There's a gem here and there for you to carry forever. Great stuff.

Good story BAD narrator

It's a good book overall. What keeps me from giving it 5 stars is the reader. The author read the book and as is often the case he would have been better served to have brought in an experienced narrator. He constantly over pronounces T's. The hard T's are grating and make this good book a tough listen. While it is worth the listen it is very distracting.

An Inspiration

I truly love this book. I have already listened more than once. I give it 4 stars because of the narative is not great. I know it is Dan Millman himself so I'm not going to be harsh and I do appreciate when a writer reads thier own story.

What Is the Fuss?

Have you ever seen a professional version of a play and then seen a high school production? There is a big difference. The author chooses to narrate his book for the audio version. It is painful to listen to this. After listening on Audible to 20+ professionally read books, the amateur attempt sounds, well, amateur. The story is one big tease; one waits and waits for profound insights into happiness, but once we hear what the author has to offer, it is unfulfilling. It is like going to a sales pitch where the presenter goes on for 50 minutes telling you how much you will love the product and what a great product it is and then showing you said product for 5 minutes and having it be a complete let down. The six hours listening to the book felt more like six months.

couldn't get past first chapter

I couldn't even get past the first chapter. It was that painful. The storyline just seemed really poorly put together. I really tried to like it because I saw potential in it obviously that's why I purchased it.

Words to live by

I've listened to this book five times now. Each time a little bit more of Socrates' wisdom sticks. It's a great book with plenty of lessons to be learnt and practiced in the real world. It's only around six hours long so not a huge investment in time, but very worth wile. The Millman tells the story well, there's nothing there to dislike. I liked his cant and rhythm of his narration. The story is a semi-autobiographical one. Like Dan I wanted to know who is this Socrates man, what’s his story, how did he know these things. These mysteries are hanging there throughout and some of them are answered. We're taken on a journey through Dan's life and how Socrates' lessons change the way Dan thinks and behaves.

Awesome book

This book was amazing, I read and listened. It helped aid my trips to become shorter, and it also allowed me to understand life in a different perspective. I highly recommend this book. It was well narrated, however I can only fault the fact some parts of the audible and the book differed

First audiobook I really enjoyed!

Having struggled to get through most audio books I've tried this was the first where I really loved the story AND the narration. Wonderful.

Enlightenment is a realisation, not attainment!

True that Eckhart Tolle and Dr. Joe Dispenza are great teachers! But not many realise that the very same concepts taught by these great teachers were taught by Dan Millman 20 years prior! In the 80's 😊😯.

All their teachings are the same and there is but one voice, because there is only one of us!

Wow

I can safely say that this book has changed my life. It is so beautifully written and narrated by Dan himself. If ever you’re in need of inspiration— or better said— a complete shift in your perception of reality, then this is the book for you. Highly recommended to anyone is lost in their search for meaning.

Beautiful Book, relaxing, funny and enlightening

Listened to it three times. I hear something new each time I listen. You can download the app that goes with the book.

peaceful slumber

well narrated. sadly does feel like the karate kid meets Plato. quirky ramblings and ultimately too self indulgent. once we left the gym hall and the Gas station it lost its way and my interest. a pity as it has the essence of a lovely gentle allegory.

Lots of similar books far better than this

I can only assume the high rating of this book is partly down to not being able to leave a review after you return it? (I think that is true)

This book is all over the place, has a VERY vague message running through it, that could have been condensed into a paragraph, and even then I doubt many would be at all enlightened by it.

Disappointing

What would have made Way of the Peaceful Warrior better?

I bought this title on the strength of all the glowing reviews both on Amazon and Audible, so I was disappointed to find it didn't live up to those expectations at all.

I found the book was very badly written, with weak dialogue, poorly structured plot, and very little in the "changing lives" department.

The plot was similar to the equally bad "The Buddha, Jeff, and Me"; disillusioned young man meets annoying "zen master", who trains him in the way of the peaceful warrior and ultimately takes 8 years to impart a ridiculously simple message.

Much too esoteric throughout, with the protagonist being taken on mystical journeys of the mind to learn "valuable" lessons.

The dialogue read like a children's story, very unconvincing.

What could Dan Millman have done to make this a more enjoyable book for you?

Get a professional actor/narrator to read it. It could be that the narration took something away from the enjoyment of the book.

How did the narrator detract from the book?

Poor phrasing, over-enunciation, and bad acting let the book down immensely.

What reaction did this book spark in you? Anger, sadness, disappointment?

Boredom and disappointment.

Any additional comments?

Maybe a good book for self-help junkies or people unfamiliar with any kind of buddhist teachings at all. If you really want to read it, consider the printed version instead as it may be more enjoyable.

Nonsense

Adding twinkly music to weak cringeworthy stories about a magical gas station attendant doesn’t make it ‘life changing’