In my highly controversial (no seriously it was, you should read the comments) review of Steve Pavlina’s book I made the rather rash statement that I hated doing book reviews and would probably never do one again.
Yet here we are just a few days later and I’m doing not one, but two book reviews in one post. Can you spell hypocritical? Well of course you can because I just wrote it for you, but I think you get my meaning.
The difference this time is that I read these books because I wanted to, rather than through a sense of obligation after promising to do a review. The outcome is I’m excited to tell you about both publications.
When I picked up ‘Buddhism Is Not What You Think’ by Steve Hagen, I thought to myself “Typical arrogant, loud-mouthed, opinionated Zen Buddhist Master, how the hell does he know what I think Buddhism is. I might have it nailed for all he knows.
On finishing the book however, it turns out he was right. I didn’t know what it was. I felt such a fool. I have read some great books by Buddhist writers such as His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Thicth Nhat Hanh and of course Steve Hagen’s himself (I highly recommend his other excellent book, ‘Buddhism, Plain and Simple) and all have left me wanting to know more.
The paradox is that by wanting to know more and seeking enlightenment I’m just pushing myself further and further away from it. It’s a bit like the monkey that shoves his hand in a hole to grab some peanuts. When he closes his little hand round the nuts his fist will no longer come out of the hole, it’s too big and he gets stuck. The monkey refuses to let go of his nuts as he pulls and pulls and eventually he starves to death or maybe gets run over by a truck if the hole is in the middle of a highway. I’m not sure how it’s like that, but it just is.
To subscribe to Buddhism and achieve enlightenment you have to throw everything you know out of the window, including the window and yourself too. It’s a brilliant idea in principle, but takes the kind of discipline usually missing from monkeys wanting nuts for lunch and life coaches called Tim.
Enlightenment is all about ‘waking up’ and seeing the truth, the truth that is always within you and never outside you. The fact that nobody can explain what the truth is, least of all a book such as this is all very confusing and not a little absurd to my untrained mind. At the same time though it makes perfect sense. That’s the irony and that is my difficulty in explaining what the book offers.
Hagen does his best to point the reader towards the right path or more accurately tell them which is the wrong path (for me it’s every one I have ever wandered down it would seem), but that’s as far as he can take it.
The book is littered with some fascinating lesser-known (to me at least) stories from Zen Buddhist tradition explaining the points he is making. He even answers the age-old question of “What’s the sound of one hand clapping?” You’ll have to read the book to find the answer because if you ask me I’ll just smile serenely and look very, very smug.
Buddhism fascinates me and if you are even remotely interested in knowing more about it, I would urge you to check out ‘Buddhism Is Not What You Think’. Don’t worry if you’re a committed follower of another faith because the last thing this book does is push religious ideology down your throat. Just read it with an open-mind and a sense of curiosity.
Malcolm Gladwell is my hero, he really is. ‘Blink’ his previous book about rapid cognition is one my favorites of all time. And one I would recommend to anybody that is interested in knowing more about the unconscious mind. His book prior to that ‘The Tipping Point’ is brilliant too and I insist you go and buy them both the instant you’ve read this post if you don’t already own them.
I’ve been sat here tapping my foot with growing impatience waiting for the follow up for almost 3 years and I was about to e-mail him and severely reprimand his tardiness when ‘Outliers’ hit the street.
I prefer unabridged audio books because I can listen in the car or at the gym on my IPod. Some authors should be advised to stay away from a studio for the sanity of their listeners. If you have a voice that sends raging caffeine-fuelled insomniacs to sleep (are you reading Mr. Tolle –eh? I think we both know who I’m talking about) and unless you’re doing meditation and/or hypnotherapy cd’s, get an actor to read your book. In fact, get that guy that does all the movie trailers and you could be writing about 17th century Siberian Sheep Stealing and people would still be engrossed.
Fortunately, I love Malcolm Gladwells laid back style and his delivery and pace is spot on for me which is why I have all his books on audio.
In ‘Outliers’, Gladwell looks at the structure of success. Outliers are people or events that lie way outside the norm. For the purposes of the book Gladwell concentrates on those associated with incredible success like Bill Gates and The Beatles rather than the opposite end of the spectrum.
I enjoyed ‘The Four Hour Work Week’ by Tim Ferriss, but took a lot of the content with a pinch of salt. ‘Outliers’ is the antithesis of the 4HWW. It suggests that hard work and (more specifically at least 10,000 hours of it) and happenstance are ultimately the most important things in determining the level of success you’ll achieve in your chosen field. This will fly in the face of a lot of people’s expectations and beliefs, even my own to a certain extent, but that just makes it even more fascinating.
As you would expect, Gladwell backs up his arguments impressively. His research uncovers some startling facts. Not least of which is the link between Asian rice farmers and the ability of people from that area of the world to be excellent at math. Clue: It has nothing to do with having higher IQ’s as previously thought by many people in academia.
The section on the causes of Korean airline crashes in the 1980′s had me sat outside the shop where I was due to drop my car off because I didn’t want to stop listening. You’ll be shocked at what they eventually found out to be the reason behind why the planes went down.
Some people knock Gladwell for being ‘unscientific’. In my opinion, that’s a bit like knocking a snake for being skinny. Snakes aren’t meant to be fat (except maybe when they’re swallowing an unfortunate yet still very tasty cute bunny rabbit) and Gladwell isn’t a scientist. So why should he write like one when he wants his work to be accessible to the layperson? He also receives criticism for taking a viewpoint and sticking to it, rather than looking for counter arguments.
I think there is an element of truth with the latter complaint. I do believe there are success stories that would contradict some of the findings of this book, but I don’t think that detracts from its value. ‘Outliers’ will question the way you look at success and it will also entertain you and give you plenty to think about and what’s not to love about that?
You may have noticed that there are no links for these books. That’s because I want to give an unbiased opinion. If you want to buy them you’ll find both on Amazon.
I’m always on the look out for great new books to read and listen to and I’d love for you to leave any suggestions in the comment box of must read books that have come out this year.
BTW, I had a guest post published recently at Write From Home, called Learn To Sell Yourself. If you’re not offended by the dreaded ‘F’ bomb it may be worth reading, especially if you work for yourself, or want to work for yourself some day.
If you have a killer post that you’d like me to link to, let me know and if I agree I’ll be more than happy to obligee.
Note: The 50% discount offer for my own books only has a week to go. Click here and enter strangefish as the coupon code if you’re so inclined.
Tim Brownson is a Certified Life Coach and has been unsticking people and helping them reach their true potential since 2005. If you would like to know how he can help you
I probably shouldn’t say this, but if you want to read more about Outliers without forking out (uhh, just yet), Gladwell’s (such an awesome name) been in SO many interviews recently that a quick google will pick up at least the examples used above, and many more.
Or, let’s put it another way – if you’re damn sure he’s a charlatan, and you want to just be really, really really sure that you’re right, without having to give him any money… that’s one way to do it.
Great reviews Tim. Loved ‘em both.
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You just made me laugh at the part where you said “To subscribe to Buddhism and achieve enlightenment you have to throw everything you know out of the window, including the window and yourself too.”
You’d think that I’m bit of a nut myself since my site is all about Law of Attraction, out-of-body experiences, alternative healing, Buddhism, visions, etc. But believe me….for many years…and a greater part of my life….I was a skeptic!! I started out in a way, hoping to debunk all these “nonsense” and wanting to prove that logic and analysis should prevail. But my curiosity got hold of me. I opened my mind bit-by-bit and soon decided what the heck…what is there to lose….I just threw myself in…window and all!!
So here I am. I’m still on a journey to discovering more. I cannot explain it too. Reading a book is definitely different from actually having the inner knowing that arises in the still of the night. You’d know it’s the Truth that you have been hoping to know. More questions may arise but the peace that ensues thereafter at each step is freeing.
I wish you luck in your journey!! May you get the answers that you are searching for!
Hi Tim – These were brilliant reviews and they really made me want to read both books.
I’m interested in learning about becoming more enlightened – especially since reading A New Earth by Eckhart Tolle.
You should have put Amazon links in though – you’d have made a few cents and made them easier to find. Most of us link to amazon.com but I sometimes buy from amazon uk. I wonder, if you go through an amazon link to the .com site then click the link for the .uk site, if the seller will still get a commmission?
@ Si – I have NO idea what you’re talking about! Nothing new there then ;-)
@ Evelyn – I too have been skeptical about much. Even though I joke about the LoA, I’m not totally convinced about it one way or the other, I just think we don’t know.My skepticism/cynicism comes more from a desire to learn than any strong beliefs one way or the other.
@ Cath – My wanting to achieve enlightenment you are pushing yourself away from it. It’s not something you can chase, you already have it and you either are enlightened at any one point on time or your not. There is no half-way house. Well not according to my main man, Steve Hagen anyway ;-)
I know what you’re saying about the Amazon stuff and I used to do that until recently, I just wanted to remain totally impartial. If somebody can’t be arsed to do a 30 second search it’s doubtful they’ll ever read it.
I love the comment about throwing yourself out of the window – and the window – with Buddhism. I tried it for a bit, but I found myself surrounded by people using it as an excuse not to do something about their lives.
Buddhist monk talking to a teacher: “How can I use meditation to help me deal with the fact that I hate my job?”
And the teacher replied that it was all about acceptance, accepting his job and just getting on with how much he hated it.
I and Liaison (who was also there) both wanted to say “It’ll make it easier to cope with the fear when YOU QUIT YOUR JOB AND DO SOMETHING YOU LIKE.”
And you’re quite right. The more you want enlightenment, the more you run after it, the further you get from it. Enlightenment isn’t this magical thing where you float about on a cloud of whimsy because you’ve been to enough seminars and meditated enough. It’s all about letting go of the striving. When you stop striving and wanting, that’s when you hit enlightenment.
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You’ve convinced me to get 2 of the three books. I’ll let you know what I think. Happy Friday!
@ Joely – And that’s the paradox. I’m striving to stop striving ;-)
@ Tess – Which 2?
I am still getting through Malcolm Gladwell’s “The Tipping Point” and I have “Blink” in my possession as well. I’ve known about them for 4 years or so and only picked up the first book to read about 4 months ago. I read it while on a road trip and since getting back “home” I’ve let other things pull me away. I normally read 3 to 4 books at the same time and read parts of them whenever I’m driven to do so until they are done.
I have to say though, what I’ve read in “The Tipping Point” has really modified how I see aspects of my life and the interactions I have with others (and they have with me). I’m looking forward to starting “Blink” and now you’ve given me his third one to look forward to as well.
I am currently entranced by the humorous “The Zen of Zombie” by Scott Kenemore which shouldn’t be taken word for word, but surprisingly DOES have nuggets of value underlining a zombies drive for brains being a model to absolute perfection that us, as humans, can learn something by.
Yes, I have a varied range of literary fulfillment.
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If you throw yourself outside the window then there is no inside.
The self we are aware of is the meeting of us and our context.
It is not the outside either.
Malcolm Gladwell: if you work hard you are more likely to do well. Not sure it takes a whole book to say this. You seemed to have said it more quickly and humorously in your post on becoming a life coach.
@ Nuno – The Zen of Zombie, now there’s a great name for a book! I thought I was the only weirdo that read more than one book at once. Apparently you’re a weirdo too ;-)
BTW, Blink is better than TTP imho alhough the latter is excellent.
@ Evan – Stop confusing me!!! My head is a shed with all this stuff.
BTW, I do think Outliers has way more to offer than just saying hard work wins out, it really is well worth checking out.
Tim,
I have enjoyed the Gladwell audio. Some great observations much deeper than just the feel good story of several rags to riches achievers and programmers. I am just getting into the aviation portion of the book, and will chime in at the end to share some thoughts. Having been around aviation a bit past the 10000 hour mark, I am eager to see how he links aviation to the “outlier” model through human factors incidents.
I have an occasional zen moment induced by caffeine or alcohol occasionally, but my exposure to Buddhist teachings leaves me sitting all day in a bathrobe telling myself “A house is only useful but for the empty space between its walls”, then I reason myself into not painting for the rest of the day, because it is not useful. My enlightenment comes from the flashlight my wife smacks me with to wake me up from my “Meditation”. Dr. Dyer would be so proud!
Zen is concentration of a subject upon a particular object to the point where there is no subject or object.
The transcendence of subject/object is enlightenment– the middle way. Removing attachment is the point of Buddhism.
Zen is a direct means of doing so.
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@ Mike – Yeh, I know what you mean. That venti latte does certainly have me thinking all is good in the world ;-)
@ Ned – Thanks for clearing that up! BTW, I love the look of your site and I’d urge others to check it out.
BTW everybody. I am going to give away a load of my own books and audio programs next week. Still working on how to do it, but the audio version of Tipping Point will be one and maybe the Steve Hagan book (although maybe not because I may re-read it) too.
There are some great books that I have earmarked on personal development and also sales.
There won’t be a catch, it’ll simply be a giveaway and I’m prepared to pay shipping as long as it’s within the US and Canada. Stay tuned.
Hi Tim! Did the first book support the idea that Buddhism is a philosophy or a religion?
I can’t believe you won’t tell us why the planes went down or why the Asians are so good in math. Poop head!
Tim,
Just finished the pilot segment and all of the observations and associations regarding pilot behaviors are congruous with the studies and coursework I have been involved in over the past 18 years. Amazingly enough, incidents and accidents from 20 years ago, their lessons presented to most pilots a multitude of times, still are occasionally lost. Within the past 10 years, the occurrence of aviation accidents resultant from human errors has declined steeply from CRM and human factors efforts made by manufacturers, individual airlines, unions, and individual aviators. However, we still to this day, have people that will sit there and not say the very things that are required by procedure gleaned from this study. Assertiveness is an art, as well as a science. Culture is the brush Gladwell paints this chapter with, and it colors the topic completely. Short of some technical jargon being a bit off, his rendition is spot on.
Great read on the math thing too.
Outliers was time well spent.
Hi Tim,
Been loving your blog ( much, much more than Steve Pavlina’s (-: since you are real and accessible and have such a great sense of humor) and have been a happy lurker. Don’t know Steve Hagan’s work. I’ll have to check it out. Another great book that you might enjoy that is written by a non-arrogant Buddhist teacher is Hardcore Zen: Punk Rock, Monster Movies and The Truth About Reality by Brad Warner.
Also love Malcolm Gladwell and just started reading Outliers. Am really looking forward to finding out about the Korean plane crashes! Also, if you like Blink and you’re curious about the power of intuition you might also like Extraordinary Knowing:Science, Skepticism and the Inexplicable Powers of the Human Mind by Elizabeth Loyd Mayer.
Keep up the book reviews. It’s fun to know what’s on your mind!!!
@ Laurie – Aggghhhh! I seem to us remember having this conversation twice before my Texan friend. It’s a bloody religion! Although I don’t see any reason why it couldn’t also be called a philosophy on life. To explain the math thing would take a post in its own right, get the book. And btw, its Mr Poophead to you.
@ Mike – Glad you enjoyed it and I think now you need to get yourself Blink which is probably even better!
@ Chris – Thanks for dropping by my lurking friend and also the feedback. I certainly will check out Extraordinary Knowing, thanks for the tip.
BTW. In my great book giveaway this week I will be offering up Hagans book for free, so watch this space.
Great book reviews I’m looking forward to reading them. I just added them to my wish list for Christmas. Thanks!
Hi Tim
Great reviews. I have never even thought about getting an audio book. The last time I heard a snippet of an audio book was one my blind grandfather had (many years ago). A great book was totally ruined by a highly annoying voice. This experience put me off the idea.
After reading your review audio books sounds like something that I can revisit. The concept really appeals to me. I can listen to it whilst travelling to and from work on the bus or perhaps at the gym.
As you allude to the “style” of voice would be an important factor in determining whether to buy the audio or paper version.