El Guerrero Pacifico

by Dan Millman

by
Dan Millman

book data

3,122 ratings, 3.99 average rating, 497 reviews (more data...)

rating	frequency	%
5		37%
4		34%
3		20%
2		5%
1		2%

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published

December 1995 by Editorial Sirio (first published 1980)

details

Paperback, 282 pages

isbn

8486221846 (isbn13: 9788486221843)

description

During his junior year at the University of California, Dan Millman first stumbled upon his mentor (nicknamed Socrates) at an all-night gas station. A…more

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other reviews (showing 1-20 of 4,061)

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Jan 17, 2008

Barrett rated it:

(review of isbn 0915811898)

Read in February, 2008

i wanted to like this book more; perhaps i didn't because i had expected some Simple Truth in the pages, some life manual that would point me to utter and extreme bliss. to a certain extent, it's there -- if you're looking for the Zen lifestyle. i'm not particularly sold on Zen, though i suppose there are some basic Life Lessons you could glean from this novel: detach yourself from the need to acquire worldly goods, remember we're all part of everything else, etc.

however, this is ul...more

Like this review? yes (3 people liked it)

2 comments

Feb 17, 2008

Beeta rated it:

(review of isbn 1932073205)

Read in January, 2002

I hate that they made a movie about this book. I think it cheapened the message. It is beautifully written and well worth the time, as is the book that follows this one...

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Nov 29, 2009

Kelly rated it:

(review of isbn 1932073205)

Read in April, 2009

recommended to Kelly by: a nice lady
recommends it for: everyone, but especially those who want a grounded approach to 'spirituality'

While this book may be 'too simple' for some literary types, I feel it is an excellent story that can speak to all people from all walks of life.

It takes an 'Average Joe' type and follows his unfolding toward true self-awareness. Millman's approach makes deep stuff an easy and enjoyable read. It's refreshing compared to some of the "serious elitist" spiritual books that are out there. I have read it 5 times and get so many new things from it each time I read it...it's defi...more

Like this review? yes (2 people liked it)

2 comments

Feb 03, 2009

Kevin Beary rated it:

(review of isbn 1932073205)

This review is for my personal journal not for you to read so feel free not to read this : These are more rambling notes and observations for me to reflect on in the future.

As far as the writing , dialogue , character development and interaction , this book is lacking. It was very difficult for me to get through what should`ve been a very quick read. I didn`t really enjoy the characters at all and rarely empathized with them even when confronted with obvious universal "situa...more

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Jan 11, 2008

jack rated it:

(review of isbn 1932073205)

Read in March, 2007

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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1 comment

Dec 02, 2007

Faith Quick rated it:

(review of isbn 1932073205)

bookshelves: favorite-books, read-every-five-years

Read in January, 1996

recommends it for: stacy and tonya

this is a book that changes lives. it changes your life as you read it in small seemingly insignificant ways. yet you begin to realize your impact you have on all those around you and more importantly the impact you have on yourself. how much you influence how you see the world and how much you live in the world. we need to stand back and look inside ourselves. look at what we like and especially what we don't like. face ourselves. our true selves. be honest. realize your own self potential. i l...more

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Jan 25, 2009

Cheryl rated it:

(review of isbn 1932073205)

“A Book that changes lives.” I have been attracted to some metaphysical literature lately. I just don’t identify with the young brash foolish boy/man who finds a teacher and then argues with him all the way to enlightenment. I know there is a purpose to that type of narrative and it is similar to Daniel Quinn, but it doesn’t touch my soul. Plus I think this book is very much about the self, about finding self enlightenment with no directive then to go and illuminate others. One part...more “A Book that changes lives.” I have been attracted to some metaphysical literature lately. I just don’t identify with the young brash foolish boy/man who finds a teacher and then argues with him all the way to enlightenment. I know there is a purpose to that type of narrative and it is similar to Daniel Quinn, but it doesn’t touch my soul. Plus I think this book is very much about the self, about finding self enlightenment with no directive then to go and illuminate others. One part I responded to was when his teacher touched his head and sent him on a hallucinogenic trip across the world where he realized (pg 42) “The world was peopled with minds, whirling faster than any wind, in search of distraction and escape from the predicament of change, the dilemma of life and death-seeking purpose, security, enjoyment, trying to make sense of the mystery. Everyone everywhere lived a confused, bitter search. Reality never matched their dreams: happiness was just around the corner- a corner they never turned. AND the source of it all was the human mind.” There was a beautiful passage about the energy that surrounds and enlivens the universe, (pg 77) “For an instant, from a vantage point somewhere in space, I felt myself expanding at the speed of light, ballooning, exploding to the outermost limits of existence until I was the universe. Nothing separate remained. I had become everything. I was Consciousness, recognizing itself; I was the pure light that physicists equate with all matter, and poets define as Love. I was one, and I was all, outshining all the worlds. In that moment, the eternal, the unknowable had been revealed to me as an indescribable uncertainty. In a flash I was back in my mortal form, floating among the stars. I saw a prism shaped like a human heart, which dwarfed every galaxy. It diffracted the light of consciousness into an explosion of radiant colors, sparkling splinters of every rainbow hue, spreading through the cosmos. My own body became a radiant prism, throwing splinters of multicolored light everywhere. And it came to me that the highest purpose of the human body is to become a clear channel for this light- so that its brightness can dissolve all obstructions, all knots, all resistance. I learned the meaning of attention – it is the intentional channeling of awareness, I felt my body again, as a hollow vessel. I looked at my legs; they filled with warm, radiant light, disappearing into brightness. I looked at my arms, with the same result. I focused attention on every part of the body, until I became wholly light once again. Finally, I realized the process of real meditation- to expand awareness, to direct attention, to ultimately surrender to the light of consciousness.” The story of a quest for peace is always enjoyable to me, and it fits in nicely with The Celestine Vision and The Holy. (less)

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Aug 27, 2009

Milen Semkov rated it:

(review of isbn 1932073205)

The book's basic idea is wonderful: it is a story about a young Dan Millman who meets Socrates, the wise mentor, and Millman's whole life is gradually transformed by Socrates as he makes him put into practice a set of philosophical principles which is basically a mix of distilled, westernised Buddhism and some other spiritual and philosophical teachings. I can really appreciate the idea, as a good story is always more inspirational and a more effective teaching method than just dry theory. Also,...more

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Apr 07, 2009

Libby rated it:

(review of isbn 1932073205)

bookshelves: middling, spirit

This was an interesting book from many perspectives, it kept my attention and it was entertaining and easy to read. However, I found myself questioning a lot of the assertions made and at the risk of sounding all new agey a lot of it didn't resonate with me. Perhaps it was the authors occupation as a gymnast and his preocupation with the physical and his ego. I found it hard to relate to his problems and therefore some of the methods of Socrates. I think perhaps that it was just too masculine a ...more

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Jul 16, 2008

Rachel rated it:

(review of isbn 1932073205)

Read in February, 2008

I read this book in French so maybe it's a translation problem, but I just couldn't get past Millman's seemingly boastful tone. Even the title seems presumptuous. I realize the focus is supposed to be on Socrates' teachings - much of which is genuinely interesting - but I found myself being continually irritated by the author's way of talking about himself. Somehow it rubbed me the wrong way. And I might just be too cynical, but the frequent inspirational quotes were a little much.

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Jun 13, 2009

Craig Williams rated it:

(review of isbn 1932073205)

Read in June, 2009

I had seen the movie first, and thought it an amazing insight into the practice of Eastern philosophy. Naturally, the book delves much deeper into these ideas. The subtitle of the book is: "A Book that Changes Lives". At first, such a claim seems quite conceited. How many other such self-help/spiritual books have made this claim, only to be touchy-feely, but ultimately useless, feel-good crap? However, Dan Millman has done his homework, channeling such gurus as Ram Das and philoso...more

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Aug 28, 2009

Thomas Alvi rated it:

(review of isbn 1932073205)

I think the biggest warning sign for this new-age fluff piece is that it says in the title "a book that changes lives"...if a book has to say it in the title, it ain't true. Let the text of the book speak for itself, and it's effects on the reader - don't make it a "sell point". Lame.

I *AM* a new-age, eclectic person and I gagged audibly at some of the tripe in this book. Yes, I finished it (yecch), but like a meal which one eats at the in-laws house as to not off...more

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Dec 19, 2009

Tim rated it:

(review of isbn 1932073205)

The first thing I noticed about this book is that it's poorly edited. The author strings multiple phrases together in one sentence and only uses commas to hold them together, where some semi-colons would helped organize it much better. The other thing I noticed fairly quickly is that it's not exceptionally well-written. There is too much filler that only dilutes the page. Some authors, most notably Dickens, can string long sentences together filled with adjectives that add layer and texture ...more The first thing I noticed about this book is that it's poorly edited. The author strings multiple phrases together in one sentence and only uses commas to hold them together, where some semi-colons would helped organize it much better. The other thing I noticed fairly quickly is that it's not exceptionally well-written. There is too much filler that only dilutes the page. Some authors, most notably Dickens, can string long sentences together filled with adjectives that add layer and texture and detail until you can hear it and smell it. The rest of us are better off editing sentences down to the simplest structure possible. This invites the reader to fill in the spaces and come along on the ride.
In the preface the author describes the book as a novel; though based on his life experiences he's taken some liberties with the timeline and sprinkled in some anecdotes. I'd call the book a memoir; an autobiography that's been tweaked. What it is not is a how-to book. Many self-help things are mentioned; tai-chi, meditation, vegetarian diet. But none are described in enough detail for the reader to know how to start practicing them. Nor is there a list of references to go to for more information. Also, the author's path to self-realization was facilitated, in many ways manipulated, by his mentor. Without a similar mentor the rest of us will not be able to find our path.
But I am glad I read the book. It illustrates many important concepts; the inter-connectedness of all things, our need to get out of our own way to achieve the joy we seek. And even though other spiritually themed books work better as novels, Paulo Coelho's The Alchemist, and Deepak Chopra is a better writer of how-to books, Dan Millmans's journey is a good reminder of those concepts and his point of view will only deepen our understanding of our own spirituality.
I tend to read too fast and have to remind myself to slow down in a really well-written book. For this book, I sped quickly through the parts that didn't seem to offer much and slowed down for the really teachable moments, mostly in the last third of the book.(less)

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Jan 03, 2009

Chris Dowding rated it:

(review of isbn 1932073205)

Read in January, 2009

A wonderful story (based on the author's life) about a young man who has lost his way in life, and finds a mysterious old mentor who shows him the path of the Peaceful Warrior.

There are so many lessons in this book, but the one I think is strongest is the importance of living in the present moment - not in the past or the future. To put that in the context of my own life, I used to spend all of my time worrying about how I would succeed in the future as an engineer. Any spare time lef...more

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May 28, 2009

S. Ayleen Edwin rated it:

(review of isbn 0915811898)

Read in June, 2009

The wisdom preached in this book is intense and it is a read that is difficult to put down. Having said that; I have difficulty recommending the book. It is apparent that Millman is passionate and knowledgeable. He is not, however, a writer. I would have liked to see this work ghost-written. The fourth quarter of the book was painful in its story-telling and while I understand the potential device used to portray that the time away from his teacher was less focused, I feel those 8 years mi...more

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4 comments

Jan 06, 2010

Sugu Althomsons rated it:

(review of isbn 0915811898)

Read in December, 2009

The first time I read this book, I was not impressed. The subtitle is "A Book that Changes Lives", but the story got in the way of itself. It was a book that changed the author's life, but it gave no path or suggestions to change anyone else's life.

However, the second time I read the book, my impressions changed. Millman often explains more than he needs, the proverbial "telling, not showing", but there are also ideas and concepts in the book that I've since appli...more

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Dec 23, 2008

Brian rated it:

(review of isbn 1932073205)

Read in December, 2008

Well, a friend recommended this book.. so it pains me to write this review.

Have you seen Disney's "The Sword in the Stone"? Do you remember when Merlin shapeshifts young Arthur into a bird and fish and lets him learn important life lessons? Well, Dan Millman (author of Peaceful Warrior) must have loved those scenes because I swear he threw them into his book.

The book is filled with a bunch of superficial new-age platitudes... trying (unsuccessfully) to hint ...more

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May 04, 2007

Erin added it (review of isbn 1932073205)

Read in January, 2009

This book came highly recommended, although it is a little hard to take seriously at the start. The language is overly simplified and at times the whole concept corny, but at its heart, the message is a good one. Maybe it will really turn out to be "a book that changes lives."

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May 31, 2009

Mike Piero rated it:

(review of isbn 1932073205)

bookshelves: fiction

Read in June, 2009

Rarely does a book move me in such a way as to cause me to reevaluate my life, my thoughts, and my journey, but this is certainly one of these books. It reminds me of Paulo Coelho's "The Pilgrimage" in its ability to guide its readers into reality - an arena free of illusions and filled with absolute truth. This book really spoke to me and has served as a much needed wake up call. The secret of happiness abides within these pages and provides but one avenue to arriving at that blessed ...more

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Aug 19, 2009

Motorcycle rated it:

(review of isbn 1932073205)

Read in August, 2009

One of my students gave this to me to read over the summer. He's a good kid, and I didn't want to disappoint him by taking it and ignoring it. The subtitle characterizes it. It is kind of an autobiography, and the fellow has a card in the back selling a self-help program based on the principles in the book. These sorts of things usually really irritate me.

I did enjoy the story though. Its more or less a story about a guy discovering a form of deliberate living based on the medit...more

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