This is a wonderful book - the best book on Buddhism I've ever read. The author, a former punk rocker who now lives in Japan making low-budget Godzilla movies, approaches the subject through his own personal experience, and he doesn't pull his punches - he talks about the ways in which Buddhism is misrepresented, and what it really means to him. More importantly, though, he urges readers over and over to "question authority" - never take someone else's word for it; look for your own truth. Highly recommended. ( )

A good introduction to zen buddhism, although the author's attitude gets annoying at times. ( )

On the surface, it seems as though Zen and punk would have absolutely nothing to do with one another. The most common image that we usually have of Zen in the West is a serene, quiet, calmness, while punk is usually associated with the exact opposite of that However, over the course of the book, Warner paints a very convincing view of Zen as DIY religion - he makes a point to constantly stress the nature of Zen as a religion of questioning, searching, and thinking for oneself, rather than allowing others to determine what 'truth' is.
If you're the type of person who has an interest in either Zen Buddhism or punk rock, this book would definitely be recommended - it helps give a fuller view of both of the two subjects. ( )

Fantastic book! Warner has an engaging style and a charmingly cynical outlook on religion, which means that jerks like me are more likely to listen to what he has to say. He tells it like it is, and then tells you to go find out for yourself, instead of listening to him. And then he shows you how to find out for yourself--rare in any spiritual path. ( )

A witty, funny, irreverent book for the layman on zen Buddhism. Aimed at anyone who can identify with a traveller, a punk rocker, a Japanese artist, and a cynic. Brad Warner tells it like it is, and in the process he begins to convince the reader that maybe this reality really is all we have. ( )