Zen Confidential: Confessions Of A Wayward Monk (2013) - Plot & Excerpts
A readable, often extremely funny, book about one man's experiences of Zen and monastery living. I would have liked more of an emphasis on the Zen and less on the Confidential. Sometimes the book suffered from TMI (Too Much Information), and things like poopy humour and gay porn stories just didn't feel right. I think the author was aiming for honesty and a way of connecting to readers - sometimes he just went too far. But there was some good wisdom to take away from this story as well, mainly that spirituality in any form is not an escape from your 'personal shit' as the author dubs it, but rather it forces you to face it and come to terms with it. And the chapter on the author's visit home is not to be missed. I think it was Ram Dass who said, if you think you're enlightened, go spend a week with your family. Like others, I found this a mixed bag. Easy enough to read, and laugh out loud funny in spots. Overall, I felt this book would have benefited from stronger editing. There are some gems and even some jewels in there, but one must do some wading to find them. As is the problem with so many memoirs, I felt that the author had trouble getting out of his own way.I am not "wired" the way that the author seems to be wired, and thus I found his journey both interesting and, at times, a bit tiresome. It is a worthy exercise to try to step in to an experience that is not your own, but somehow, Haubner's writing didn't go deep enough to let me truly understand. A difficult bar, I'll grant, but this left me a little bewildered at times.
What do You think about Zen Confidential: Confessions Of A Wayward Monk (2013)?
One of my favorite books of the whole year! He's an amazing writer and I could really relate to him.
—karen1227
A heartfelt collection of stories that weave humanity and humility into being a zen monk.
—Amanda
A very interesting book.I enjoyed reading it.
—Vampirelle
