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cometa's review against another edition
3.0
Interesting introduction to Zen and its influence on Japanese culture with many curious insights. I enjoyed it overall, but found a bit boring at times, when the same concept was explained over and over again, and too surface-level at other times, glossing over potentially very interesting and deep topics. Perhaps I could have enjoyed it more if I read his introduction to Zen first, as it was difficult to understand some of intricate influences that Zen has had on Japanese culture without having a good understanding of Zen itself. On the other hand, it was fun to have my first introduction to Zen this way.
twentythree_sunrise's review against another edition
informative
reflective
slow-paced
4.0
Essays exploring zen elements and influences in Japanese swordsmanship, tea ceremony, and poetry.
Not so much of a practical guide, but generally a thorough, academic work that remains an engaging read despite its age.
Not so much of a practical guide, but generally a thorough, academic work that remains an engaging read despite its age.
ben_smitty's review against another edition
4.0
This book took me soooo long to finish. A couple of dry sections here and there, but it helped me understand Zen Buddhism in a way that I never understood it before. Examples of Japanese and Chinese literature abound. Suzuki is clearly well-read in the Zen tradition, and the illustrations and explanations were helpful in understanding how Zen relates to Rikyu's tea ceremony, swordsmanship, Confucianism, nature, Haiku etc.
I did enjoy Suzuki's writing style a lot; With a topic as dense as Zen Buddhism, Suzuki never made me feel stupid at all. He knows he is writing to beginners who have no understanding of Zen, and so the book was not hard to follow.
I did enjoy Suzuki's writing style a lot; With a topic as dense as Zen Buddhism, Suzuki never made me feel stupid at all. He knows he is writing to beginners who have no understanding of Zen, and so the book was not hard to follow.
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