This book features an extraordinary quest for peace of mind. In this unforgettable memoir, a young man finds himself disillusioned by the conventional expectations of his parents, teachers, and culture. Desperate to articulate his deepest hopes and dreams, he discards his university education and abandons home, family, and possessions to journey through Europe, the Middle East, and Asia in search of a meaningful life. Narrowly escaping death by sickness and drugs, he encounters the Tibetan refugees in exile and, entranced, finally stops running. He takes the ancient teachings to heart but, eight years later, finds that his path is neither straight nor narrow . . . and that there's no turning back.
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"Writings about spiritual journeys have the potential to read like deadly dull navel-gazing. This book is not like that. Schettini is a keen observer of what's around him and what's going on inside him. He has obviously spent decades mulling over the material and has a nice, self-aware style."
-- Michael Hill, Associated Press
"A lively read with a deep meaning ... told with ruthless honesty and understated humor in an engaging combination. I recommend it enthusiastically."
-- Robert Thurman, Professor of Buddhist Studies, Columbia University, author of Inner Revolution and Why the Dalai Lama Matters
"What a story! By turns epic and heroic, tender and touching, The Novice imparts a hugely important lesson to our times. It is a gift to every Western seeker of the 'spiritual' East. With the seductive verve of a novelist, Schettini tells a subversive and liberating tale."
-- Glenn Wallis, PhD, author of Basic Teachings of the Buddha, The Dhammapada, and Mediating the Power of Buddhas
"A wonderful achievement, gripping and calmly insightful by turn, honest to the point of being a sustained howl of pain at times, with some brilliantly succinct portraits of the author's teachers and friends."
-- Stephen Batchelor, author of Buddhism without Beliefs
-- Michael Hill, Associated Press
"A lively read with a deep meaning ... told with ruthless honesty and understated humor in an engaging combination. I recommend it enthusiastically."
-- Robert Thurman, Professor of Buddhist Studies, Columbia University, author of Inner Revolution and Why the Dalai Lama Matters
"What a story! By turns epic and heroic, tender and touching, The Novice imparts a hugely important lesson to our times. It is a gift to every Western seeker of the 'spiritual' East. With the seductive verve of a novelist, Schettini tells a subversive and liberating tale."
-- Glenn Wallis, PhD, author of Basic Teachings of the Buddha, The Dhammapada, and Mediating the Power of Buddhas
"A wonderful achievement, gripping and calmly insightful by turn, honest to the point of being a sustained howl of pain at times, with some brilliantly succinct portraits of the author's teachers and friends."
-- Stephen Batchelor, author of Buddhism without Beliefs
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Customer Reviews
Most helpful customer reviews
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Not, perhaps, for the everyday reader only interested in a good story, although it really is a good, actually great, story. But for those who have experience of the spiritual quest, however one defines "spiritual", this is a fascinating book.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
4.4 out of 5 stars
8 reviews
10 of 10 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
A must read for anyone embarking on a trip of self-discovery.
Mar 28 2010
By Jimmy Gutman
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Hardcover
Disarmingly honest and insightful, this book filled many evenings with thought-provoking reflections on both self-discovery and a young man's attempts at understanding the universe. It would be hard for most of us who were brought up in the 60's and 70's not to relate with so many of the passages in this book. Tremendously well-written, I looked forward to each chapter with excited anticipation. It left me pondering, can anyone really integrate the belief systems of a foreign culture as their own, or are we pre-programmed by our own upbringing to only be comfortable accepting the familiar? This was the best read I've had in a long time.
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
A welcome look on the other side
Dec 24 2010
By Jizo43
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
There are many Buddhist related books published every day. This book clearly stands out because it is insightful, readable, and capitivating. I simply couldn't put the book down. Schettini's writing is strong because his prose is clear and honest. This book interconnects with Stephen Batchelor's latest book and it is interesting and entertaining to read some of the cross-referencing that takes place between the two. This book will be relevant to many different people for many different reasons. My interest especially focused on the questions of faith he had during his monastic training and how they were received by his teachers and fellow monks. This book is a travel memoir, a spiritual memoir, and shows us by example the challenges one may encounter in their own free-thinking practice. I don't pretend to be a professional book reviewer, and I hope what I'm writing does thisbook justice, but I'm confident when I say that this is a gem of a book--a lotus with roots in a lot of mud. Schettini might be a novice in the book, but if so, I wish all novices were filled with such wisdom, honesty, openness, and kindness. A deep bow to the author!
6 of 7 people found the following review helpful
3.0 out of 5 stars
Good editor needed desperately!
Jun 6 2011
By Eduardo Nietzsche
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
It's a shame because this is an interesting story, but it's burdened by poor storytelling. Quite rambling and unfocused, it took quite an effort for me to finish the darn thing. I wish the author had spent a lot more time talking about why he quit and what he learned in the process...way too much of the book is spent rehashing the details of his personal/family/regional background and history. The last few chapters felt decidedly rushed, as if for a looming deadline.
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Go to Amazon.com to see all 8 reviews
4.4 out of 5 stars
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