The Way Of The Peaceful Warrior – Book & Movie
About four years ago, I bought a bargain-priced copy of Dan Millman’s The Way of the Peaceful Warrior. When I was in college in the 1980’s, I worked part-time at a bookstore in the mall. I remember this book being a pretty good seller back then, so I casually picked it up thinking I’d get around to reading it soon. However, I stuck it in my bookcase and then forgot about it. On a whim, I plucked it off the shelf early last year and finally read it… to my delight.
Well, you could say there’s no such thing as doing something on a whim just as you could say there’s no such thing as coincidence. The messages in this book are so pertinent to my personal growth and where I am right now, I know it was with purpose that my hand was guided to pick it up at last. You know the adage, when the student is ready the teacher will come. That’s how it is with books and me. Anyway, I highly recommend The Way of the Peaceful Warrior and now see why it was so popular when it came out. The good news is that the author’s experiences and messages are timeless and universal.
I like that the book is a refreshingly easy read. Guess I’ve been into some intense shake-you-up, wake-you-up material lately. It’s nice to have a break from the heavy stuff. Even though The Way of the Peaceful Warrior contains wake-you-up messages, it’s a book you can enjoy on different levels. I especially like the humbling-the-ego-to-get-in-touch-with-your-true-power aspect.
Something I can’t help noticing is that Millman’s approach is very much like Richard Bach’s autobiographical style. Check out Illusions. To this day, Illusions is still one of my all time favorite books. There’s another interesting similarity to Illusions. Both feature a character along the lines of Yoda or Obi-Wan Kenobi in Star Wars, Mr. Miyagi in Karate Kid, Professor Dumbledore in the Harry Potter series, etc. You know what I mean – reluctant hero meets teacher with special powers and/or knowledge. In this case, Socrates is Millman’s Jedi Master so to speak. I tell you, it’s the kind of hero’s journey plotline that Joseph Campbell would relish pointing out to us.
As soon as I finished reading the book, I heard that a film version was being released. It turned out to be a limited theater release, so only one place in town showed it on the big screen. Not able to work it into my schedule to go across town to see it during its fairly short run, I decided to wait for the DVD. I have to admit it, I had low expectations. I mean, these events were supposed to have happened on and near the campus of UC Berkeley back in the 60’s, told retrospectively in book form in the 80’s, and now made into a 2006 movie with – of all the actors who could play Socrates – Nick Nolte. And, add in that it didn’t get much notice when released.
Got it and watched it anyway. Still think the book is better, but the movie is a pleasant surprise. As in most book-to-movie translations, something is lost. Details and certain character development parts intrinsic to the full gist of the story are left out. In spite of that, the movie stands up well on its own. I actually really enjoyed every minute of it… every minute of what they chose to capture out of the book that is. While I’m not a huge Nick Nolte fan and though he’s not as I imagined Socrates, he pulls it off pretty well. The actor who plays Millman, Scott Mechlowicz, does a fine job. He believably expresses a wide range of emotions without overdoing it. He successfully portrays the transformation of his character.
Dan Millman said in an interview with amazon.com, “Although the movie covers only the first two-thirds of the book — leaving out the most important part of the story — it still manages to capture the spirit of the book, and to offer wisdom that can impact the lives of those who view it.” I would agree with that observation.
There’s one more thing I want to say about the movie, and then I’ll stop because I don’t want to give too much away. Normally, so many slow motion scenes in a film would turn me off, but in this one it works. Slow motion in sports-themed movies is a device usually used in order to help build momentum to the audience’s expectations during an impending victorious moment. Since Peaceful Warrior is not a typical sports-theme movie, the slow motion moments are more artfully applied. I was able to stay with those parts without being jolted out of the movie. To me, it’s true craftsmanship when your attention and sense of time remains suspended throughout a film. Slow motion can be cleverly worked in to achieve that very effect. Overuse of such special effects and you can find yourself thinking, “Oh, that’s right, this is just a movie.”
The filmmakers could have been tempted to make this a sappy piece of crap, but they stayed true to the messages and created a little gem. Read the book. Watch the movie. The book gives you so much more, but the movie is a really nice complement. You’ll enjoy both as a breath of fresh air… and maybe get into some other levels of personal meaning as well.
