My favorite books on Zen, which changed the way I think

Why am I passionate about this?

As a software developer who discovered Zen, I am not a master, but rather a humble student. Embracing Zen has transformed my perspective on work and life, providing me with invaluable tools to manage stress and maintain balance. Through this book, I hope to share these insights and empower others to experience the profound benefits of Zen in their own lives.


I wrote...

The Zen Programmer

By Christian Grobmeier,

Book cover of The Zen Programmer

What is my book about?

In today's fast-paced world, it's all too common to find ourselves burning the midnight oil at work. But is this relentless pursuit of success truly the best way to live? Explore a refreshing perspective in The Zen Programmer, which follows the journey of an office worker who discovers a century-old philosophy that challenges conventional wisdom and reshapes their priorities. Dive into this captivating read and unlock the secret to a more balanced and fulfilling life.

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The books I picked & why

Book cover of How to Cook Your Life: From the Zen Kitchen to Enlightenment

Christian Grobmeier Why did I love this book?

I discovered the profound connection between Zen practice and the art of cooking in this insightful work by the revered Zen master, Dogen.

Through a series of engaging teachings, Dogen explores how the simple act of preparing and sharing food can become a transformative spiritual practice, fostering mindfulness, gratitude, and connection. I read this book before attending a long period of meditation, and it changed my view on day-to-day work completely.

How to Cook Your Life offers a unique perspective on the integration of Zen wisdom into daily life, inviting readers to cultivate a deeper sense of presence and harmony through the nourishment of body and soul.

After reading this book, I learned to love cooking again and in addition consider it spiritual practice.

By Eihei Dogen, Kosho Uchiyama Roshi,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked How to Cook Your Life as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

This modern-day commentary on Dogen’s Instructions for a Zen Cook reveals how everyday activities—like cooking—can be incorporated into our spiritual practice

In the thirteenth century, Zen master Dogen—perhaps the most significant of all Japanese philosophers, and the founder of the Japanese Soto Zen sect—wrote a practical manual of Instructions for the Zen Cook. In drawing parallels between preparing meals for the Zen monastery and spiritual training, he reveals far more than simply the rules and manners of the Zen kitchen; he teaches us how to "cook," or refine our lives.

In this volume Kosho Uchiyama Roshi undertakes the task of…


Book cover of Zen in the Art of Archery

Christian Grobmeier Why did I love this book?

Embark on a fascinating exploration of Zen philosophy and its connection to the mastery of archery in Eugen Herrigel's captivating book.

As Herrigel recounts his six-year journey in Japan, learning the ancient art of archery under a master archer, he reveals profound insights into the Zen principles of mindfulness, discipline, and the unity of mind and body. As Herrigel learned the art of archery, we must undergo similar experiences in our own lives, be it learning to code or learning how to raise children.

I see the difficulties in this every day when I work as a trainer. This text highlights the difficulty of learning something essential as Zen and puts my own learning into perspective. This classic text elegantly interweaves personal experience with timeless wisdom.

This book is about "not stopping" but going forward, step by step. 

By Eugen Herrigel,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Zen in the Art of Archery as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

A classic work on Eastern philosophy, and a charming, deeply illuminating story of one man’s experience with Zen.

Eugen Herrigel, a German professor of Philosophy in Tokyo, took up the study of archery as a step toward an understanding of Zen Buddhism. This book is the account of the six years he spent as a student of one of Japan’s great kyudo (archery) masters, and of how he gradually overcame his initial inhibitions and began to feel his way toward new truths and ways of seeing.


Book cover of Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind

Christian Grobmeier Why did I love this book?

This modern classic presents the essential teachings of Zen master Shunryu Suzuki.

Through a series of informal talks, Suzuki introduces the basics of Zen practice, emphasizing the importance of maintaining a beginner's mind. Suzuki is considered one of the big Zen masters from the US. He was not teaching Steve Jobs, as many think, however. But he was related to that person, Kobun Roshi.

As a trainer to many programming students, this book reminded me about the power of being a beginner, able to ask questions freely, and ready to make mistakes. It also makes me think often about being "senior" and how it negatively affects my own learning.

In the end, I started to see my own mistakes and those of my trainees as opportunities to either learn or teach.

By Shunryu Suzuki,

Why should I read it?

7 authors picked Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Named one of the 100 Best Spiritual Books of the Twentieth Century (Spirituality & Practice)

A 50th Anniversary edition of the bestselling Zen classic on meditation, maintaining a curious and open mind, and living with simplicity.

"In the beginner's mind there are many possibilities, but in the expert's there are few."

So begins this most beloved of all American Zen books. Seldom has such a small handful of words provided a teaching as rich as has this famous opening line. In a single stroke, the simple sentence cuts through the pervasive tendency students have of getting so close to Zen…


Book cover of The Three Pillars of Zen: Teaching, Practice, and Enlightenment

Christian Grobmeier Why did I love this book?

This groundbreaking work by Philip Kapleau provides an authoritative introduction to Zen practice, weaving together personal accounts, teachings, and practical guidance.

Delve into the fundamentals of Zen, including zazen (meditation), koan study, and enlightenment experiences. Accessible and informative, The Three Pillars of Zen is popular, and I quickly understood why. It is for sure not an easy read, but it helps as orientation in the world of Zen, teaching terms, thoughts, and the general philosophy of Zen.

I was totally confused, especially in my early days, but studying this book helped me to access new terminology, think and understand my teachers better.

By Roshi Philip Kapleau,

Why should I read it?

3 authors picked The Three Pillars of Zen as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

In this classic work of spiritual guidance, the founder of the Rochester Zen Center presents a comprehensive overview of Zen Buddhism. Exploring the three pillars of Zen—teaching, practice, and enlightenment—Roshi Philip Kapleau, the man who founded one of the oldest and most influential Zen centers in the United States, presents a personal account of his own experiences as a student and teacher, and in so doing gives readers invaluable advice on how to develop their own practices. Revised and updated, this 35th anniversary edition features new illustrations and photographs, as well as a new afterword by Sensei Bodhin Kjolhede, who…


Book cover of The Art of Peace

Christian Grobmeier Why did I love this book?

Immerse yourself in the profound teachings of Morihei Ueshiba, the founder of Aikido, with The Art of Peace.

This inspiring collection of aphorisms, poetry, and philosophical musings explores the principles of harmony, non-violence, and the interconnectedness of all beings. Ueshiba's wisdom transcends martial arts, offering valuable guidance for navigating life's challenges with grace, compassion, and inner strength.

Accessible and thought-provoking, The Art of Peace invites readers to embrace a more harmonious way of living. To be honest, I found this book watching the famous The Walking Dead TV-Shows. Like many, I wanted to start with Aikido immediately, but I ended up reading this book and was not disappointed.

As this book is basically a collection of quotes, I found it inspirational to read on a quiet evening. Ueshibas words touched me, although I am not into martial arts, because they are full of compassion and inner strengths.

By Morihei Ueshiba, John Stevens (translator),

Why should I read it?

1 author picked The Art of Peace as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

New York Times Bestseller

These inspirational teachings show that the real way of the warrior is based on compassion, wisdom, fearlessness, and love of nature. Drawn from the talks and writings of Morihei Ueshiba, founder of the popular Japanese martial art known as Aikido, The Art of Peace, presented here in a pocket-sized edition, offers a nonviolent way to victory and a convincing counterpoint to such classics as Musashi's Book of Five Rings and Sun Tzu's Art of War.


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I Am Taurus

By Stephen Palmer,

Book cover of I Am Taurus

Stephen Palmer

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Why am I passionate about this?

Author Philosopher Scholar Liberal Reader Musician

Stephen's 3 favorite reads in 2023

What is my book about?

The constellation we know as Taurus goes all the way back to cave paintings of aurochs at Lascaux. This book traces the story of the bull in the sky, a journey through the history of what has become known as the sacred bull.

Each of the sections is written from the perspective of the mythical Taurus, from the beginning at Lascaux to Mesopotamia, Ancient Egypt, and elsewhere. This is not just a history of the bull but also a view of ourselves through the eyes of the bull, illustrating our pre-literate use of myth, how the advent of writing and the urban revolution changed our view of ourselves, and how even bullfighting in Spain is a variation on the ancient sacrifice of the sacred bull.

I Am Taurus

By Stephen Palmer,

What is this book about?

The constellation we know as Taurus goes all the way back to cave paintings of aurochs at Lascaux. In I Am Taurus, author Stephen Palmer traces the story of the bull in the sky, starting from that point 19,000 years ago - a journey through the history of what has become known as the sacred bull. Each of the eleven sections is written from the perspective of the mythical Taurus, from the beginning at Lascaux to Mesopotamia, Ancient Egypt, Greece, Spain and elsewhere. This is not just a history of the bull but also an attempt to see ourselves through…


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