Shunryu Suzuki is known to countless readers as the author of the modern spiritual classic Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind. This most influential teacher comes vividly to life in Crooked Cucumber, the first full biography of any Zen master to be published in the West. To make up his intimate and engrossing narrative, David Chadwick draws on Suzuki's own words and the memories of his students, friends, and family. Interspersed with previously unpublished passages from Suzuki's talks, Crooked Cucumber evokes a down-to-earth life of the spirit. Along with Suzuki we can find a way to "practice with mountains, trees, and stones and to find ourselves in this big world."
---
Review
"Suzuki left a lasting legacy as the man who introduced the spiritual discipline of Zen to the West . . . and Crooked Cucumber affords a wonderful opportunity to meet him."
--Los Angeles Times
"A generous glimpse of the humanity and message of one of the great spiritual teachers of the modern world."
--Publishers Weekly
"A moving and eloquent biography of that quiet man who was to become the most widely revered Zen teacher in this country. Conveying his spirit lovingly and well, it becomes in itself a wonderful manifestation of his gentle teachings."
--Peter Matthiessen, author of At Play in the Fields of the Lord and The Snow Leopard
"It's impossible to imagine a better book about Suzuki-roshi. Its precise picture of Suzuki's values, hopes, and problems makes it a major primer of Zen itself."
--Robert Pirsig, author of Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance
"A touching account of Suzuki-roshi's life, full of funny stories, brave and generous."
--Robert Bly, author of Iron John and The Sibling Society
"Shunryu Suzuki comes to life through these pages to a degree I would not have thought possible. Chadwick has produced a remarkable biography of a truly remarkable man."
--Huston Smith, author of The World's Religions --This text refers to the paperback edition.
----
From the Inside Flap
Shunryu Suzuki is known to countless readers as the author of the modern spiritual classic Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind. This most influential teacher comes vividly to life in Crooked Cucumber, the first full biography of any Zen master to be published in the West.
To make up his intimate and engrossing narrative, David Chadwick draws on Suzuki's own words and the memories of his students, friends, and family. Interspersed with previously unpublished passages from Suzuki's talks, Crooked Cucumber evokes a down-to-earth life of the spirit. Along with Suzuki we can find a way to "practice with mountains, trees, and stones and to find ourselves in this big world." --This text refers to the paperback edition.
Read more
Product details
File Size : 3710 KB
Word Wise : Enabled
Print Length : 465 pages
Publisher : Harmony; Reprint Edition (5 January 2011)
Customer Reviews: 4.9 out of 5 stars 70 ratings
Top reviews from other countries
Retiredguy
5.0 out of 5 stars Outstanding Biography
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 30 March 2014
Verified Purchase
This is a warts and all biography of Suzuki.
Great teacher for sure, maybe not such a good family man.
The early background in Japan was fascinating.
Temple Zen as a family 'father to son' business.
Chadwick interviewed lots of people but the book really comes 'alive' after Chadwick joins the Zen centre and reports events through his own eyes.
First class, highly recommended.
One person found this helpful
---
Merlin
5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 26 May 2008
Verified Purchase
Have really enjoyed reading about this man. Perhaps some areas could have been written in a better order as it gets a little bit confusing in places.
However this would not stop me buying this book. You come to love a great personality. Every time I put the book down I had a smile on my face. It is also a great account of the times Suzuki lived in, particularly the Second World War in Japan. An intriguing Man not failed at all by his biographer who gets across the motivations and flaws of Suzuki very well indeed.
2 people found this helpful
---
Kindle Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Captivating
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 6 May 2013
Verified Purchase
For those of us who didn't get the opportunity to meet Shunryu Suzuki, this book is a captivating read about how Soto Zen became a World religion, rather than a purely Japanese practice.
----
Crooked Cucumber: The Life and Teaching of Shunryu Suzuki eBook: Chadwick, David: Amazon.com.au: Kindle Store
Shunryu Suzuki is known to countless readers as the author of the modern spiritual classic Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind. This most influential teacher comes vividly to life in Crooked Cucumber, the first full biography of any Zen master to be published in the West. To make up his intimate and engrossing narrative, David Chadwick draws on Suzuki's own words and the memories of his students, friends, and family. Interspersed with previously unpublished passages from Suzuki's talks, Crooked Cucumber evokes a down-to-earth life of the spirit. Along with Suzuki we can find a way to "practice with mountains, trees, and stones and to find ourselves in this big world."
---
Review
"Suzuki left a lasting legacy as the man who introduced the spiritual discipline of Zen to the West . . . and Crooked Cucumber affords a wonderful opportunity to meet him."
--Los Angeles Times
"A generous glimpse of the humanity and message of one of the great spiritual teachers of the modern world."
--Publishers Weekly
"A moving and eloquent biography of that quiet man who was to become the most widely revered Zen teacher in this country. Conveying his spirit lovingly and well, it becomes in itself a wonderful manifestation of his gentle teachings."
--Peter Matthiessen, author of At Play in the Fields of the Lord and The Snow Leopard
"It's impossible to imagine a better book about Suzuki-roshi. Its precise picture of Suzuki's values, hopes, and problems makes it a major primer of Zen itself."
--Robert Pirsig, author of Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance
"A touching account of Suzuki-roshi's life, full of funny stories, brave and generous."
--Robert Bly, author of Iron John and The Sibling Society
"Shunryu Suzuki comes to life through these pages to a degree I would not have thought possible. Chadwick has produced a remarkable biography of a truly remarkable man."
--Huston Smith, author of The World's Religions --This text refers to the paperback edition.
----
From the Inside Flap
Shunryu Suzuki is known to countless readers as the author of the modern spiritual classic Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind. This most influential teacher comes vividly to life in Crooked Cucumber, the first full biography of any Zen master to be published in the West.
To make up his intimate and engrossing narrative, David Chadwick draws on Suzuki's own words and the memories of his students, friends, and family. Interspersed with previously unpublished passages from Suzuki's talks, Crooked Cucumber evokes a down-to-earth life of the spirit. Along with Suzuki we can find a way to "practice with mountains, trees, and stones and to find ourselves in this big world." --This text refers to the paperback edition.
Read more
Product details
File Size : 3710 KB
Word Wise : Enabled
Print Length : 465 pages
Publisher : Harmony; Reprint Edition (5 January 2011)
Customer Reviews: 4.9 out of 5 stars 70 ratings
Top reviews from other countries
Retiredguy
5.0 out of 5 stars Outstanding Biography
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 30 March 2014
Verified Purchase
This is a warts and all biography of Suzuki.
Great teacher for sure, maybe not such a good family man.
The early background in Japan was fascinating.
Temple Zen as a family 'father to son' business.
Chadwick interviewed lots of people but the book really comes 'alive' after Chadwick joins the Zen centre and reports events through his own eyes.
First class, highly recommended.
One person found this helpful
---
Merlin
5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 26 May 2008
Verified Purchase
Have really enjoyed reading about this man. Perhaps some areas could have been written in a better order as it gets a little bit confusing in places.
However this would not stop me buying this book. You come to love a great personality. Every time I put the book down I had a smile on my face. It is also a great account of the times Suzuki lived in, particularly the Second World War in Japan. An intriguing Man not failed at all by his biographer who gets across the motivations and flaws of Suzuki very well indeed.
2 people found this helpful
---
Kindle Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Captivating
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 6 May 2013
Verified Purchase
For those of us who didn't get the opportunity to meet Shunryu Suzuki, this book is a captivating read about how Soto Zen became a World religion, rather than a purely Japanese practice.
-----
Shunryu Suzuki is known to countless readers as the author of the modern spiritual classic Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind. This most influential teacher comes vividly to life in Crooked Cucumber, the first full biography of any Zen master to be published in the West. To make up his intimate and engrossing narrative, David Chadwick draws on Suzuki's own words and the memories of his students, friends, and family. Interspersed with previously unpublished passages from Suzuki's talks, Crooked Cucumber evokes a down-to-earth life of the spirit. Along with Suzuki we can find a way to "practice with mountains, trees, and stones and to find ourselves in this big world."
---
Review
"Suzuki left a lasting legacy as the man who introduced the spiritual discipline of Zen to the West . . . and Crooked Cucumber affords a wonderful opportunity to meet him."
--Los Angeles Times
"A generous glimpse of the humanity and message of one of the great spiritual teachers of the modern world."
--Publishers Weekly
"A moving and eloquent biography of that quiet man who was to become the most widely revered Zen teacher in this country. Conveying his spirit lovingly and well, it becomes in itself a wonderful manifestation of his gentle teachings."
--Peter Matthiessen, author of At Play in the Fields of the Lord and The Snow Leopard
"It's impossible to imagine a better book about Suzuki-roshi. Its precise picture of Suzuki's values, hopes, and problems makes it a major primer of Zen itself."
--Robert Pirsig, author of Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance
"A touching account of Suzuki-roshi's life, full of funny stories, brave and generous."
--Robert Bly, author of Iron John and The Sibling Society
"Shunryu Suzuki comes to life through these pages to a degree I would not have thought possible. Chadwick has produced a remarkable biography of a truly remarkable man."
--Huston Smith, author of The World's Religions --This text refers to the paperback edition.
----
From the Inside Flap
Shunryu Suzuki is known to countless readers as the author of the modern spiritual classic Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind. This most influential teacher comes vividly to life in Crooked Cucumber, the first full biography of any Zen master to be published in the West.
To make up his intimate and engrossing narrative, David Chadwick draws on Suzuki's own words and the memories of his students, friends, and family. Interspersed with previously unpublished passages from Suzuki's talks, Crooked Cucumber evokes a down-to-earth life of the spirit. Along with Suzuki we can find a way to "practice with mountains, trees, and stones and to find ourselves in this big world." --This text refers to the paperback edition.
Read more
Product details
File Size : 3710 KB
Word Wise : Enabled
Print Length : 465 pages
Publisher : Harmony; Reprint Edition (5 January 2011)
Customer Reviews: 4.9 out of 5 stars 70 ratings
Top reviews from other countries
Retiredguy
5.0 out of 5 stars Outstanding Biography
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 30 March 2014
Verified Purchase
This is a warts and all biography of Suzuki.
Great teacher for sure, maybe not such a good family man.
The early background in Japan was fascinating.
Temple Zen as a family 'father to son' business.
Chadwick interviewed lots of people but the book really comes 'alive' after Chadwick joins the Zen centre and reports events through his own eyes.
First class, highly recommended.
One person found this helpful
---
Merlin
5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 26 May 2008
Verified Purchase
Have really enjoyed reading about this man. Perhaps some areas could have been written in a better order as it gets a little bit confusing in places.
However this would not stop me buying this book. You come to love a great personality. Every time I put the book down I had a smile on my face. It is also a great account of the times Suzuki lived in, particularly the Second World War in Japan. An intriguing Man not failed at all by his biographer who gets across the motivations and flaws of Suzuki very well indeed.
2 people found this helpful
---
Kindle Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Captivating
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 6 May 2013
Verified Purchase
For those of us who didn't get the opportunity to meet Shunryu Suzuki, this book is a captivating read about how Soto Zen became a World religion, rather than a purely Japanese practice.
-----
Crooked Cucumber: The Life and Teaching of Shunryu Suzuki eBook: Chadwick, David: Amazon.com.au: Kindle Store
Shunryu Suzuki is known to countless readers as the author of the modern spiritual classic Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind. This most influential teacher comes vividly to life in Crooked Cucumber, the first full biography of any Zen master to be published in the West. To make up his intimate and engrossing narrative, David Chadwick draws on Suzuki's own words and the memories of his students, friends, and family. Interspersed with previously unpublished passages from Suzuki's talks, Crooked Cucumber evokes a down-to-earth life of the spirit. Along with Suzuki we can find a way to "practice with mountains, trees, and stones and to find ourselves in this big world."
---
Review
"Suzuki left a lasting legacy as the man who introduced the spiritual discipline of Zen to the West . . . and Crooked Cucumber affords a wonderful opportunity to meet him."
--Los Angeles Times
"A generous glimpse of the humanity and message of one of the great spiritual teachers of the modern world."
--Publishers Weekly
"A moving and eloquent biography of that quiet man who was to become the most widely revered Zen teacher in this country. Conveying his spirit lovingly and well, it becomes in itself a wonderful manifestation of his gentle teachings."
--Peter Matthiessen, author of At Play in the Fields of the Lord and The Snow Leopard
"It's impossible to imagine a better book about Suzuki-roshi. Its precise picture of Suzuki's values, hopes, and problems makes it a major primer of Zen itself."
--Robert Pirsig, author of Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance
"A touching account of Suzuki-roshi's life, full of funny stories, brave and generous."
--Robert Bly, author of Iron John and The Sibling Society
"Shunryu Suzuki comes to life through these pages to a degree I would not have thought possible. Chadwick has produced a remarkable biography of a truly remarkable man."
--Huston Smith, author of The World's Religions --This text refers to the paperback edition.
----
From the Inside Flap
Shunryu Suzuki is known to countless readers as the author of the modern spiritual classic Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind. This most influential teacher comes vividly to life in Crooked Cucumber, the first full biography of any Zen master to be published in the West.
To make up his intimate and engrossing narrative, David Chadwick draws on Suzuki's own words and the memories of his students, friends, and family. Interspersed with previously unpublished passages from Suzuki's talks, Crooked Cucumber evokes a down-to-earth life of the spirit. Along with Suzuki we can find a way to "practice with mountains, trees, and stones and to find ourselves in this big world." --This text refers to the paperback edition.
Read more
Product details
File Size : 3710 KB
Word Wise : Enabled
Print Length : 465 pages
Publisher : Harmony; Reprint Edition (5 January 2011)
Customer Reviews: 4.9 out of 5 stars 70 ratings
Top reviews from other countries
Retiredguy
5.0 out of 5 stars Outstanding Biography
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 30 March 2014
Verified Purchase
This is a warts and all biography of Suzuki.
Great teacher for sure, maybe not such a good family man.
The early background in Japan was fascinating.
Temple Zen as a family 'father to son' business.
Chadwick interviewed lots of people but the book really comes 'alive' after Chadwick joins the Zen centre and reports events through his own eyes.
First class, highly recommended.
One person found this helpful
---
Merlin
5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 26 May 2008
Verified Purchase
Have really enjoyed reading about this man. Perhaps some areas could have been written in a better order as it gets a little bit confusing in places.
However this would not stop me buying this book. You come to love a great personality. Every time I put the book down I had a smile on my face. It is also a great account of the times Suzuki lived in, particularly the Second World War in Japan. An intriguing Man not failed at all by his biographer who gets across the motivations and flaws of Suzuki very well indeed.
2 people found this helpful
---
Kindle Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Captivating
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 6 May 2013
Verified Purchase
For those of us who didn't get the opportunity to meet Shunryu Suzuki, this book is a captivating read about how Soto Zen became a World religion, rather than a purely Japanese practice.
----
Shunryu Suzuki is known to countless readers as the author of the modern spiritual classic Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind. This most influential teacher comes vividly to life in Crooked Cucumber, the first full biography of any Zen master to be published in the West. To make up his intimate and engrossing narrative, David Chadwick draws on Suzuki's own words and the memories of his students, friends, and family. Interspersed with previously unpublished passages from Suzuki's talks, Crooked Cucumber evokes a down-to-earth life of the spirit. Along with Suzuki we can find a way to "practice with mountains, trees, and stones and to find ourselves in this big world."
---
Review
"Suzuki left a lasting legacy as the man who introduced the spiritual discipline of Zen to the West . . . and Crooked Cucumber affords a wonderful opportunity to meet him."
--Los Angeles Times
"A generous glimpse of the humanity and message of one of the great spiritual teachers of the modern world."
--Publishers Weekly
"A moving and eloquent biography of that quiet man who was to become the most widely revered Zen teacher in this country. Conveying his spirit lovingly and well, it becomes in itself a wonderful manifestation of his gentle teachings."
--Peter Matthiessen, author of At Play in the Fields of the Lord and The Snow Leopard
"It's impossible to imagine a better book about Suzuki-roshi. Its precise picture of Suzuki's values, hopes, and problems makes it a major primer of Zen itself."
--Robert Pirsig, author of Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance
"A touching account of Suzuki-roshi's life, full of funny stories, brave and generous."
--Robert Bly, author of Iron John and The Sibling Society
"Shunryu Suzuki comes to life through these pages to a degree I would not have thought possible. Chadwick has produced a remarkable biography of a truly remarkable man."
--Huston Smith, author of The World's Religions --This text refers to the paperback edition.
----
From the Inside Flap
Shunryu Suzuki is known to countless readers as the author of the modern spiritual classic Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind. This most influential teacher comes vividly to life in Crooked Cucumber, the first full biography of any Zen master to be published in the West.
To make up his intimate and engrossing narrative, David Chadwick draws on Suzuki's own words and the memories of his students, friends, and family. Interspersed with previously unpublished passages from Suzuki's talks, Crooked Cucumber evokes a down-to-earth life of the spirit. Along with Suzuki we can find a way to "practice with mountains, trees, and stones and to find ourselves in this big world." --This text refers to the paperback edition.
Read more
Product details
File Size : 3710 KB
Word Wise : Enabled
Print Length : 465 pages
Publisher : Harmony; Reprint Edition (5 January 2011)
Customer Reviews: 4.9 out of 5 stars 70 ratings
Top reviews from other countries
Retiredguy
5.0 out of 5 stars Outstanding Biography
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 30 March 2014
Verified Purchase
This is a warts and all biography of Suzuki.
Great teacher for sure, maybe not such a good family man.
The early background in Japan was fascinating.
Temple Zen as a family 'father to son' business.
Chadwick interviewed lots of people but the book really comes 'alive' after Chadwick joins the Zen centre and reports events through his own eyes.
First class, highly recommended.
One person found this helpful
---
Merlin
5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 26 May 2008
Verified Purchase
Have really enjoyed reading about this man. Perhaps some areas could have been written in a better order as it gets a little bit confusing in places.
However this would not stop me buying this book. You come to love a great personality. Every time I put the book down I had a smile on my face. It is also a great account of the times Suzuki lived in, particularly the Second World War in Japan. An intriguing Man not failed at all by his biographer who gets across the motivations and flaws of Suzuki very well indeed.
2 people found this helpful
---
Kindle Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Captivating
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 6 May 2013
Verified Purchase
For those of us who didn't get the opportunity to meet Shunryu Suzuki, this book is a captivating read about how Soto Zen became a World religion, rather than a purely Japanese practice.
----
