Why read Hardcore Zen?

Book cover of Hardcore Zen: Punk Rock, Monster Movies and the Truth about Reality

Book description

Zen, plain and simple, with no BS.

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…

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Why read it?

2 authors picked Hardcore Zen as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

Anthony Metivier

Author

I can never get enough books on Zen, and Brad Warner has to be the most unique voice in the field. He's almost like a modern Chuang Tzu in terms of drawing our attention to false conceptions with humor, wit and much firmness of clarity that avoids the dogmatic.

From Anthony's 3 favorite reads in 2024.

Goran Powell

Author

Brad Warner is an interesting character, an American Zen master who’s also a punk guitarist and Godzilla fan. Brad studied with Gudo Nishijima Roshi for many years and received Dharma transmission from him. His books are written in a very accessible way that doesn’t take Zen too seriously and get their meaning across all the better for it. Below are the three books I’ve read – I imagine the rest are equally good:

From Goran's list on zen and martial arts.