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The Monkey and The Way of Zen: A Transformational Journey in 28 Short Stories—Embrace Mindfulness, Overcome Overthinking, Let Go, and Find Inner Peace and Happiness
💖 The Holiday Gift Of Calm & Clarity—A Heartfelt, Non-Preachy Companion For Anyone Struggling With Stress, Anxiety, Or Burnout 💖⭐ A Collection Of 28 Warm, Witty & Quietly Profound Zen Stories That Ease Overthinking And Worry, And Reconnect You With Peace In The Middle Of Everyday Life ⭐
🌸 Endorsed By Buddhist Practitioners And Mental Health Professionals 🌸“This book is a beautiful companion for anyone exploring mindfulness, presence, and the art of letting go.” — Noah Rasheta, author of No-Nonsense Buddhism for Beginners and host of the Secular Buddhism podcast
(No rigid routines, no hours of meditation, no complicated teachings—just simple stories that quietly rewire how you see life.)
⌛ Just 5–10 Minutes Per Story—Perfect To Read With Tea, Before Bed, Or In A Busy Day ⌛
Ever feel like your mind is swinging from thought to thought, caught in endless loops of worry and what-ifs?You analyze every possibility, second-guess decisions, and try to control an unpredictable world.You’re always striving to “fix” yourself yet peace feels out of reach.
🐒 Come On A Journey Of Freedom, Humor, & Inner Peace With A Restless Monkey & A Wise Zen Master 🐒
⭐ Each story takes just a few minutes to read—but the perspective shift can last a lifetime. ⭐
What You’ll Discover
🌀 Find Freedom When Things Don’t Go Your Way—Through The Master’s Surprising Lesson On What “Good” And “Bad” Really Mean.
🌀 Break Old Patterns Of Frustration—With The Monkey’s Discovery About Taking “Two Steps Forward, One Step Back.”
🌀 Learn The Art Of Letting Go—From A Single Falling Cherry Blossom.
🌀 Stop Trying To Fix Yourself—And Experience The Quiet Shift That Brings Genuine Peace.
Why Readers Love This Book
✅ Short, calming stories you can read in 5 minutes—perfect for busy minds that crave stillness but don’t have hours to spare.
✅ Gentle, relatable insights that linger, softening your perspective long after you’ve closed the book.
✅ Written for seekers, overthinkers, and anyone yearning for an easier way to meet life as it is.
No instructions on how to “fix” yourself. Just simple, Zen-inspired stories that shift your perspective—so life feels lighter, easier, and less exhausting.
Plus 5 EXCLUSIVE READER BONUSES to help you live the wisdom beyond the page,
🎁 A quick guide to the core Zen teaching behind each story.
🎁 An intimate, final conversation between the Monkey and the Master—only available as a bonus.
🎁 Six beautifully designed mobile wallpapers with inspiring quotes to keep the insights close.
Imagine This…
🌿 Feeling calm even when plans unravel or emotions flare.
🌸 Endorsed By Buddhist Practitioners And Mental Health Professionals 🌸“This book is a beautiful companion for anyone exploring mindfulness, presence, and the art of letting go.” — Noah Rasheta, author of No-Nonsense Buddhism for Beginners and host of the Secular Buddhism podcast
(No rigid routines, no hours of meditation, no complicated teachings—just simple stories that quietly rewire how you see life.)
⌛ Just 5–10 Minutes Per Story—Perfect To Read With Tea, Before Bed, Or In A Busy Day ⌛
Ever feel like your mind is swinging from thought to thought, caught in endless loops of worry and what-ifs?You analyze every possibility, second-guess decisions, and try to control an unpredictable world.You’re always striving to “fix” yourself yet peace feels out of reach.
🐒 Come On A Journey Of Freedom, Humor, & Inner Peace With A Restless Monkey & A Wise Zen Master 🐒
⭐ Each story takes just a few minutes to read—but the perspective shift can last a lifetime. ⭐
What You’ll Discover
🌀 Find Freedom When Things Don’t Go Your Way—Through The Master’s Surprising Lesson On What “Good” And “Bad” Really Mean.
🌀 Break Old Patterns Of Frustration—With The Monkey’s Discovery About Taking “Two Steps Forward, One Step Back.”
🌀 Learn The Art Of Letting Go—From A Single Falling Cherry Blossom.
🌀 Stop Trying To Fix Yourself—And Experience The Quiet Shift That Brings Genuine Peace.
Why Readers Love This Book
✅ Short, calming stories you can read in 5 minutes—perfect for busy minds that crave stillness but don’t have hours to spare.
✅ Gentle, relatable insights that linger, softening your perspective long after you’ve closed the book.
✅ Written for seekers, overthinkers, and anyone yearning for an easier way to meet life as it is.
No instructions on how to “fix” yourself. Just simple, Zen-inspired stories that shift your perspective—so life feels lighter, easier, and less exhausting.
Plus 5 EXCLUSIVE READER BONUSES to help you live the wisdom beyond the page,
🎁 A quick guide to the core Zen teaching behind each story.
🎁 An intimate, final conversation between the Monkey and the Master—only available as a bonus.
🎁 Six beautifully designed mobile wallpapers with inspiring quotes to keep the insights close.
Imagine This…
🌿 Feeling calm even when plans unravel or emotions flare.
153 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 20, 2025
83 people are currently reading
26 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
July 25, 2025
Twenty-eight short, easy to read stories told through the eyes of a monkey searching for meaning. I absolutely loved this book and the way it was written.
September 1, 2025
BookSloth has always had a soft spot for books with monkeys in them. Maybe it’s their mischief, maybe the way they mirror our own restless minds—but when a writer builds wisdom around a monkey, she can’t resist.
But this isn’t about monkey mischief—it’s Zen nudges disguised as stories.
The first time she read this, she tore through it. But that’s not the right way to read a book like this. The moment that sealed it as a keeper came later: a restless, sleepless night, when her mind wouldn’t settle. This was the book she reached for, and she let Monkey keep her company. One gentle story, then another, until the noise in her head softened. By the time she closed the book, she still wasn’t asleep but she was calmer, and that was enough.
The 28 stories are linked like stepping stones. Each stands alone, a koan in miniature, but together they carry you somewhere deeper. BookSloth didn’t feel lectured. She felt led. Monkey’s journey keeps you moving forward; the Master’s stillness keeps you grounded. Somewhere along the way, the path becomes your own.
And then there’s the artwork. It’s incredible. Black-and-white illustrations that slow you down and make you look, carrying the same quiet insight as the words. The art is one of the reasons BookSloth bought the physical copy after reading on KU. It elevates the whole reading experience.
BookSloth loved this book. Truly, glowingly, wholeheartedly loved it. Loved it enough to buy it twice. Loved it enough to keep it in arm’s reach. Loved it enough to know it’s one of those rare books she’ll return to again and again—for comfort, for perspective, for a smile.
She encourages you to buy the paperback; some books don’t belong in the cloud, they belong on the shelf you reach for on messy days. Read it when your monkey mind needs something to rest on.
And she would love to see a second volume. Because if Serena Choo offered 28 more stories with Monkey and Master, BookSloth would walk that path again in a heartbeat.
But this isn’t about monkey mischief—it’s Zen nudges disguised as stories.
The first time she read this, she tore through it. But that’s not the right way to read a book like this. The moment that sealed it as a keeper came later: a restless, sleepless night, when her mind wouldn’t settle. This was the book she reached for, and she let Monkey keep her company. One gentle story, then another, until the noise in her head softened. By the time she closed the book, she still wasn’t asleep but she was calmer, and that was enough.
The 28 stories are linked like stepping stones. Each stands alone, a koan in miniature, but together they carry you somewhere deeper. BookSloth didn’t feel lectured. She felt led. Monkey’s journey keeps you moving forward; the Master’s stillness keeps you grounded. Somewhere along the way, the path becomes your own.
And then there’s the artwork. It’s incredible. Black-and-white illustrations that slow you down and make you look, carrying the same quiet insight as the words. The art is one of the reasons BookSloth bought the physical copy after reading on KU. It elevates the whole reading experience.
BookSloth loved this book. Truly, glowingly, wholeheartedly loved it. Loved it enough to buy it twice. Loved it enough to keep it in arm’s reach. Loved it enough to know it’s one of those rare books she’ll return to again and again—for comfort, for perspective, for a smile.
She encourages you to buy the paperback; some books don’t belong in the cloud, they belong on the shelf you reach for on messy days. Read it when your monkey mind needs something to rest on.
And she would love to see a second volume. Because if Serena Choo offered 28 more stories with Monkey and Master, BookSloth would walk that path again in a heartbeat.
April 30, 2025
The Wishing Shelf Book Awards
EDITORIAL REVIEW
2025
TITLE: The Monkey and the Way of Zen
AUTHOR: Serena Choo
Star Rating: 5
‘A thought-provoking and highly stimulating look at life and how to live it in a calmer, less controlling, and stress-free way. Highly recommended!’ The Wishing Shelf
REVIEW
I think I’m a lot like the monkey in this story – restless, always worrying about, well, anything – and everything. I need to do the shopping, I need to pay the bills, I need to... and so on and so on. So I happily settled down with The Monkey and the Way of Zen. And, I must say, I thoroughly enjoyed it. The writing style flows well, and the topics it covers – trust, control, overthinking life, the endless battle to be what we can never be – were thought-provoking and, well, interesting.
So, what’s it about? In a nutshell, it’s the story of a restless monkey who sets off into the jungle to find a master - A teacher who spoke of things beyond what the monkey had ever known. When he finds him, the master offers him wisdom which helps him to calm his thoughts, reducing his need to control everything around him. And, I can honestly say, as I was reading story after story – there are 28 in all – I found myself reflecting on my own need to control every aspect of my life.
I suspect A LOT of readers will find this book not only compelling, but also stimulating, challenging (in a good way) and inspiring. I would particularly recommend it to people who have a difficult time of letting go, who always seem to be in a state of stress. I think, like the monkey, they’ll find the master’s message – and the way he puts it over – thoroughly enlightening. All in all, an utterly charming read.
A ‘Wishing Shelf’ Book Review
www.thewsa.co.uk
PS
I loved the illustrations too!
EDITORIAL REVIEW
2025
TITLE: The Monkey and the Way of Zen
AUTHOR: Serena Choo
Star Rating: 5
‘A thought-provoking and highly stimulating look at life and how to live it in a calmer, less controlling, and stress-free way. Highly recommended!’ The Wishing Shelf
REVIEW
I think I’m a lot like the monkey in this story – restless, always worrying about, well, anything – and everything. I need to do the shopping, I need to pay the bills, I need to... and so on and so on. So I happily settled down with The Monkey and the Way of Zen. And, I must say, I thoroughly enjoyed it. The writing style flows well, and the topics it covers – trust, control, overthinking life, the endless battle to be what we can never be – were thought-provoking and, well, interesting.
So, what’s it about? In a nutshell, it’s the story of a restless monkey who sets off into the jungle to find a master - A teacher who spoke of things beyond what the monkey had ever known. When he finds him, the master offers him wisdom which helps him to calm his thoughts, reducing his need to control everything around him. And, I can honestly say, as I was reading story after story – there are 28 in all – I found myself reflecting on my own need to control every aspect of my life.
I suspect A LOT of readers will find this book not only compelling, but also stimulating, challenging (in a good way) and inspiring. I would particularly recommend it to people who have a difficult time of letting go, who always seem to be in a state of stress. I think, like the monkey, they’ll find the master’s message – and the way he puts it over – thoroughly enlightening. All in all, an utterly charming read.
A ‘Wishing Shelf’ Book Review
www.thewsa.co.uk
PS
I loved the illustrations too!
Currently reading
August 27, 202528 calming short stories from the simple philosophy of Zen, to help you quiet your mind, release old patterns, and rediscover a simpler way of being—endorsed by Buddhist practitioners and mental health professionals.⭐ Let Go of Overthinking, Make Peace with Uncertainty, and Find Freedom in the Present Moment ⭐
(No meditation retreats, rigid philosophies, or complicated teachings required.)
Ever feel like your mind is swinging from thought to thought, caught in endless loops of worry and second-guessing?Analyze every outcome, try to stay one step ahead, and try to control an unpredictable world?Tired of striving to “fix” yourself can just want to feel at ease in your own mind?🌿 What if peace isn’t something you have to chase or figure out?
Come on a journey of wisdom, humor, and transformation with The Monkey and the Way of Zen. Through 28 engaging and lighthearted stories, you'll follow a restless Monkey as he seeks answers from a wise Master—learning unexpected life lessons along the way.
(No meditation retreats, rigid philosophies, or complicated teachings required.)
Ever feel like your mind is swinging from thought to thought, caught in endless loops of worry and second-guessing?Analyze every outcome, try to stay one step ahead, and try to control an unpredictable world?Tired of striving to “fix” yourself can just want to feel at ease in your own mind?🌿 What if peace isn’t something you have to chase or figure out?
Come on a journey of wisdom, humor, and transformation with The Monkey and the Way of Zen. Through 28 engaging and lighthearted stories, you'll follow a restless Monkey as he seeks answers from a wise Master—learning unexpected life lessons along the way.
May 11, 2025
Chapters are quick and have beautiful writing style and tone, which got my attention pretty quick.
Every chapter has a short story that you can reflect, learn, think, and re-tell to other people. I actually had a pretty fun and heated discussion with my friends about the story from chapter 6. Pretty good.
Good read if you are practicing gratitude before bed or having a gratitude journal. You can pick any story from this book and reflect on it from your daily life. Example: "In what way have you tried to reshape yourself into identity that truly was not yours?" - great question to truthfully answer yourself.
I also really enjoy illustrations that every chapter started with.
Highly recommend it.
Every chapter has a short story that you can reflect, learn, think, and re-tell to other people. I actually had a pretty fun and heated discussion with my friends about the story from chapter 6. Pretty good.
Good read if you are practicing gratitude before bed or having a gratitude journal. You can pick any story from this book and reflect on it from your daily life. Example: "In what way have you tried to reshape yourself into identity that truly was not yours?" - great question to truthfully answer yourself.
I also really enjoy illustrations that every chapter started with.
Highly recommend it.
June 3, 2025
Written as an allegorical tale – actually 28 linked short stories – of a monkey seeking release from suffering, for me, this the book falls uneasily between stools. True, it does deal with many of the concepts espoused by Zen philosophy, but the use of a monkey as the central character means that it takes on the air of a fairy tale; and the writing style is possibly more suited to a YA audience. (Yes, I know that the likes of Paul Coelho can weave fantasy with profound messages, but that is a very difficult feat to pull off.) However, that is not to say that a first-time reader of Zen Buddhist material might not find value in this introductory work. The author’s intention is good; and the illustrations, I must say, are excellent.
June 4, 2025
Peaceful and Powerful in the Simplest Way
The Monkey and the Way of Zen is a beautiful book that gently teaches you how to slow down, breathe, and let go of what you can’t control. The short stories are simple yet deep, and each one shares a lesson through the Monkey’s journey that feels real and relatable. I found myself smiling, reflecting, and feeling more at ease after each chapter. You don’t need to be a Zen expert to understand it, just a curious heart. This book helped me stop overthinking and start being more present. It’s like having a wise friend gently guiding you toward peace.
The Monkey and the Way of Zen is a beautiful book that gently teaches you how to slow down, breathe, and let go of what you can’t control. The short stories are simple yet deep, and each one shares a lesson through the Monkey’s journey that feels real and relatable. I found myself smiling, reflecting, and feeling more at ease after each chapter. You don’t need to be a Zen expert to understand it, just a curious heart. This book helped me stop overthinking and start being more present. It’s like having a wise friend gently guiding you toward peace.
July 26, 2025
The Monkey and The Way of Zen offers a beautifully simple yet profound journey through 28 short stories that gently teach mindfulness and the art of letting go. Each story feels like a little moment of calm in a busy world, helping me pause, reflect, and slowly unwind the habit of overthinking.
I appreciated how the book blends Buddhist wisdom with everyday life in a way that feels accessible and relatable. It’s not heavy or preachy—just warm and encouraging, like a friend reminding you to slow down and be present. If you’re looking for a peaceful way to bring more mindfulness and happiness into your life, this book is a wonderful companion.
I appreciated how the book blends Buddhist wisdom with everyday life in a way that feels accessible and relatable. It’s not heavy or preachy—just warm and encouraging, like a friend reminding you to slow down and be present. If you’re looking for a peaceful way to bring more mindfulness and happiness into your life, this book is a wonderful companion.
April 26, 2025
Re-teaching Life's Lessons
It's east as we got older to become jaded, opinionated, and judgemental of what is around us. This book of short stories re-teaches us lessons we may have forgotten or maybe never learned. The bonus is that it is in such an easy-to- read format. This one's a keeper!
It's east as we got older to become jaded, opinionated, and judgemental of what is around us. This book of short stories re-teaches us lessons we may have forgotten or maybe never learned. The bonus is that it is in such an easy-to- read format. This one's a keeper!
June 2, 2025
This was such an unexpected treat. It’s lyrical and thought provoking with a likeable monkey protagonist. I like how the stories progress and the learning that unfolds for the character and you the reader. Choo has a wonderful way with words and I was left wanting more (which is always a great sign!)
June 2, 2025
Transform with the monkey
Each single Zen story, including each in this book, reveals an insight. What makes this book so special is the cumulative effect of this group of collective tales as we share in the monkey's transformation through each story. I suggest reading a story a day to accompany the monkey on his journey, and yours. A wonderful read.
Each single Zen story, including each in this book, reveals an insight. What makes this book so special is the cumulative effect of this group of collective tales as we share in the monkey's transformation through each story. I suggest reading a story a day to accompany the monkey on his journey, and yours. A wonderful read.
September 27, 2025
A calming and relatable read
This is a beautifully written collection of simple, Zen inspired stories that feel calming, relatable, and never preachy. The monkey’s journey mirrors our own overthinking minds, with each gentle lesson offering peace and clarity. Easy to read, thoughtful, and perfect for quiet moments or a bedtime reset.
This is a beautifully written collection of simple, Zen inspired stories that feel calming, relatable, and never preachy. The monkey’s journey mirrors our own overthinking minds, with each gentle lesson offering peace and clarity. Easy to read, thoughtful, and perfect for quiet moments or a bedtime reset.
June 19, 2025
Lovely stories
I enjoyed reading the stories in this book. The morals from the story are apparent, but the stories are illustrative of each moral. I'm not familiar with Buddha, but I'd like to think these follow his teachings.
I enjoyed reading the stories in this book. The morals from the story are apparent, but the stories are illustrative of each moral. I'm not familiar with Buddha, but I'd like to think these follow his teachings.
October 7, 2025
letting go of your stories
These stories are easy to apply to everyone. I gained personal insight from several of them. Great read as an introduction or part of on going studies in personal growth.
These stories are easy to apply to everyone. I gained personal insight from several of them. Great read as an introduction or part of on going studies in personal growth.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews