Rating: 
Summary: A beautiful book that may change your life
Review: "Nothing Special" is indeed something very special. You don't have to be a student of Zen or Buddhism of any sort to enjoy and learn from this book. Beck, with her pleasant style that feels like she wrote the book just for you, has much to teach. And yet at the same time, very little to teach, as it is all so simple in the end.This book will give you lots to think about. The stories, the experiences, the questions and answers. They get your mind going, and they will open your eyes if you take Beck's words to heart. "Nothing Special" is all about living a full life. Not an easy life, not a 100% happy and pain-free life, but a full life. Much of what you may get from this book, you'll find you already knew. But along the way you may discover that you've learned something beyond the mere words and ideas on the pages - that there is perhaps a better way of living, one that embraces the good and the bad. Living for the sake of living. "Living Zen".
Rating:
Summary: A beautiful book that may change your life
Review: "Nothing Special" is indeed something very special. You don't have to be a student of Zen or Buddhism of any sort to enjoy and learn from this book. Beck, with her pleasant style that feels like she wrote the book just for you, has much to teach. And yet at the same time, very little to teach, as it is all so simple in the end. This book will give you lots to think about. The stories, the experiences, the questions and answers. They get your mind going, and they will open your eyes if you take Beck's words to heart. "Nothing Special" is all about living a full life. Not an easy life, not a 100% happy and pain-free life, but a full life. Much of what you may get from this book, you'll find you already knew. But along the way you may discover that you've learned something beyond the mere words and ideas on the pages - that there is perhaps a better way of living, one that embraces the good and the bad. Living for the sake of living. "Living Zen".
Rating:
Summary: Amazing
Review: "Nothing Special" is paradoxically something very special. It is a simple and enjoyable read and yet gives much insight into the essence of Zen. I have read many Zen related books and this one stands out as one of the best. It would be valuable to those familiar with Zen and Buddhism, as a reminder that the very root of Zen is "nothing special" and is most often best kept uncomplicated. Even more, this is an excellent book for readers who are unfamiliar but curious about Zen practice and ideas, as the author has a gift for relating the concepts simply and without unnecessary dogma. The question and answer portion at the end of each chapter is also helpful, as her students ask many questions which the reader may have as well. Based upon my reading of her books, it is my opinion that Ms. Beck is one of the true Western Zen Masters. She is one of the few here in America who has managed to keep the Zen in Zen and still make it pallatable, practical, and practicable. Parenthetically, her other books, "Everyday Zen", and "Now Zen" are equally worthwhile. "Now Zen" is a little compilation book and an absolute gem. It is the first book I would give to anyone who was interested in Zen or what is so special about Nothing.
Rating:
Summary: CHARLOTTE JOKO BECK IS SOMETHING SPECIAL!
Review: "Nothing Special" is paradoxically something very special. It is a simple and enjoyable read and yet gives much insight into the essence of Zen. I have read many Zen related books and this one stands out as one of the best. It would be valuable to those familiar with Zen and Buddhism, as a reminder that the very root of Zen is "nothing special" and is most often best kept uncomplicated. Even more, this is an excellent book for readers who are unfamiliar but curious about Zen practice and ideas, as the author has a gift for relating the concepts simply and without unnecessary dogma. The question and answer portion at the end of each chapter is also helpful, as her students ask many questions which the reader may have as well. Based upon my reading of her books, it is my opinion that Ms. Beck is one of the true Western Zen Masters. She is one of the few here in America who has managed to keep the Zen in Zen and still make it pallatable, practical, and practicable. Parenthetically, her other books, "Everyday Zen", and "Now Zen" are equally worthwhile. "Now Zen" is a little compilation book and an absolute gem. It is the first book I would give to anyone who was interested in Zen or what is so special about Nothing.
Rating:
Summary: This book changed my life.
Review: "Nothing Special" subtley shifted my perspective of many things. The first reading stirred up my mind and made me very uncomfortable. Its a whole different way to look at everyday living. Joko teaches you how to "see" things as they really are. Slowly and with persistence, you begin to see who you really are without all the drama. This book helped to set me free. My husband and I would read a chapter everynight to each other. We read the book over and over, each time understanding more and experiencing it more deeply. Now our lives are so different. Its really worth reading. thank you.
Rating:
Summary: Outstanding
Review: A while ago somebody mentioned a quote by Joko Beck, and I felt that the quote was quite wrong. This started a discussion thread, in which I've tried to defend my assertion that her views are unfair. Eventually, and because the participants were defending her fiercely, I was forced to read, and re-read her books. So you can imagine how biased I was. "I'll show them how wrong this lady is..." was my primary intention. Miraculously, and much to my surprise, I was transformed by her prose into a huge supporter. This kind of thing never happened to me before! So, from the mouth of a disbeliever: read this book! It is excellent, one of the best ever. This book should be read in conjunction with "Living Zen". I don't know which book is actually better. When you get to the end of both of these books, you wish that there is more, although she kindly said much more than needs to be said. I bow deeply to Joko Beck.
Rating:
Summary: Transforming and Life-Changing
Review: For those wanting a concise explanation of living Zen, Charlotte Joko Beck captures the essence of life in this book. It is masterfully written with simple prose for anyone just entering the world of Buddhism. Her answers are straightforward to all of life's questions - for those of us who care to ask - and reach out to the depths of the human soul as no one ever has. It literally changed my life overnight - enough that I felt compelled to make a recommendation, modest as it is.
Rating:
Summary: Get back to Reality Zen
Review: I am a buddhist.I have read a single talk out of this book every night for over a year. These are concise dharma talks. Zen is pretty new to the US, and many of the traditional Zen stories have to do with monks having exotic experiences. It is easy to get caught in these dreams of 13th century Japan. Joko brings us back from our dreams of a far away practice to doing our dishes while the kids yell in our house in Denver. She offers a sober message of being just here. You wont find a heartwarming Hallmark message here. Joko is as direct and harsh as reality. It is no fun to follow the teachings back to our drab old smelly life, so don't look for the book to be a fun escape. It is the opposite -- which is why it is so good.
The book is comprised of a series of talks from Joko and some questions from her students. Joko is an American and so the message couched in the familiar language of our culture. IT is not like reading Dogen, and is more accessible. I would recommend this work to anyone who is serious about---well words escape me. It is not quie accurate to say that it is for those who are serious about taking the Zen path. But for anyone who wants to learn to be present with their real life, this offers solid guidance as much as words can.
Rating:
Summary: Get back to Reality Zen
Review: I am a buddhist.I have read a single talk out of this book every night for over a year. These are concise dharma talks. Zen is pretty new to the US, and many of the traditional Zen stories have to do with monks having exotic experiences. It is easy to get caught in these dreams of 13th century Japan. Joko brings us back from our dreams of a far away practice to doing our dishes while the kids yell in our house in Denver. She offers a sober message of being just here. You wont find a heartwarming Hallmark message here. Joko is as direct and harsh as reality. It is no fun to follow the teachings back to our drab old smelly life, so don't look for the book to be a fun escape. It is the opposite -- which is why it is so good.
The book is comprised of a series of talks from Joko and some questions from her students. Joko is an American and so the message couched in the familiar language of our culture. IT is not like reading Dogen, and is more accessible. I would recommend this work to anyone who is serious about---well words escape me. It is not quie accurate to say that it is for those who are serious about taking the Zen path. But for anyone who wants to learn to be present with their real life, this offers solid guidance as much as words can.
Rating:
Summary: Truly excellent
Review: I am very resistant to books by American "Zen Masters," many of whom are about as enlightened as Jimmy Swaggart, but this is a very wise and profound book. I highly recommend it and everything else she has written. You don't need to be a committed Buddhist (or a Buddhist at all, for that matter) to gain a great deal from this.
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