The Essential Alan Watts

by Alan W. Watts, Mark Watts (Foreword)

"For more than twenty years [circa 1977] Alan Watts earned a reputation as one of the foremost interpreters of Eastern philosophies to the West. Beginning at the age of 20, when he wrote The Spirit of Zen, he developed an audience of millions who were enriched by his book, tape recordings, radio, television, and public lectures.

Just before his death he completed the project most dear to his heart. In the secluded and relaxed atmosphere aboard his ferryboat SS Vallejo and at his mountain retreat in Druid Heights he recorded the basic tenets of his philosophy.

Revised by his son Mark here is the last original work of Alan Watts now combined with several classic pieces previously not available in book form, including the favorites "Work As Play" and "The Trickster Guru."

This final volume is an outstanding introduction to Watts for those who do not know him and a valuable legacy for all." - from the back cover

Genres: Philosophy, Nonfiction, Spirituality, Religion, Self Help, Psychology, Buddhism

142 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1977

About the author

Alan Wilson Watts was a British philosopher, writer and speaker, who held both a Master's in Theology and a Doctorate of Divinity. Famous for his research on comparative religion, he was best known as an interpreter and popularizer of Asian philosophies for a Western audience. He wrote over 25 books and numerous articles on subjects such as personal identity, the true nature of reality, higher consciousness, the meaning of life, concepts and images of God and the non-material pursuit of happiness. In his books he relates his experience to scientific knowledge and to the teachings of Eastern and Western religion and philosophy.

Reviews

[Spencer Tucker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Alan Watts is one of the only authors who I HIGHLY recommend listening to rather than reading. He has narrated many of his books including this one and it is by far a more enjoyable experience.

This is one of the best things to gift a young idealist and I cannot rate it highly enough.

[Karen]

“Let’s suppose that you were able every night to dream any dream that you wanted to dream, and that you could, for example, have the power within one night to dream 75 years of dreams, or any length of time you wanted to have. And you would, naturally as you began on this adventure of dreams, you would fulfill all your wishes. You would have every kind of pleasure you could conceive. And after several nights, of 75 years of total pleasure each, you would say ‘Well, that was pretty great. But now let’s have a surprise. Let’s have a dream which isn’t under control. Where something is gonna happen to me that I don’t know what it’s gonna be.’ And you would dig that and come out of that and say ‘Wow, that was a close shave, wasn’t it?’. And then you would get more and more adventurous, and you would make further and further out gambles as to what you would dream. And finally, you would dream where you are now. You would dream the dream of living the life that you are actually living today.” ~Alan Watts…

[Monish Vora · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dont sweat the small stuff, live in the present, minimise consumerism, and make pace with your emotions (good as well as bad). Be!

[Benjamin Marx · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awakening. Enlightening. Liberating. Humorous. Reading this book is like going to my coach with big problems about running, academics, or some girl I was dating and walking out feeling as if the problems never existed at all. It allows the reader to entertain oneself by questioning everything. I'm now in an Alan Watts phase.

[Carolina Faverio · Rating 4 out of 5]

Alan Watts tiene todo lo que me gusta de un hombre: es irónico, culto, apasionado, cuestionador y espiritual.

New Favorite

[dsreads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some of Alan Watts' most famous observations on society, philosophy, religion, technology, science. Should really be listened to, rather than read, add some chill music or listen as you fall asleep. I would say that I don't agree with everything he says, but he never really says anything that is to be "agreed with". Within his unique semiotics, it really all boils down to relaxing observations about our universe. I'm Christian, and it's likely many in the church would throw this out as a Buddhist text. But Watts wasn't a Buddhist; it's pretty amusing how often a barely rephrased Bible verse comes out of his mouth, and the crowd of 70's hippies "ooohs" and "ahhhs". It's still the same, many authors & podcasters completely laughing off and discounting deep wisdom until they hear the same from the Bhagavad Gita, or heck, Alan Watts himself... He knew what he was doing, and has a certain way of making you think. Would recommend, but not as a self help, or way of life type book. Watts didn't have the answers, he ended up drinking himself to death in a cabin, sadly. Obviously that doesn't add or take anything away from the book. But given the almost legendary or religious status of his talks, it might be some needed context about how seriously he took any of "it".

[Myridian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Watts is such an engaging writer. Each of the essays collected in this book is filled with both meaning and wit/humor. Overall there was a balance of both of these things. Though at times the wit/humor dominated and then I started to wonder if the exercise of writing the essay had been more interesting to Watts than putting useful ideas out there. Those essays that dealt with mental and physical health were of particular interest to me, as were those that asked the question over and over again "what is self?" That latter topic is one that has obsessed me for years and Watts points out that it is really in the nature of a koan that does not logically lend itself to any answer at all.

[Dillan Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lovely collection of ideas from an easy-to-read philosopher, who reminds us that it is always now, and that the self is an illusion

[Gordia Leclair · Rating 5 out of 5]

Alan Watts is always a great listen and read, I love how he brings a sense of humor to tough philosophical topics.

[Ben Bampton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Completing my softboi new age 'journey' by reading this, and I don't regret it. Watts' writing is every bit as accessible as his lectures, coaxing you along into the depth and duality of Eastern thinking before you really catch on to what is happening. His metaphors, his humour; they carry you into this intuitive/counter-intuitive world with such charm that it seeps into you, whether you fully understand it the first time or not.

Chapters on 'Ego' and 'Psychotheraphy and Eastern Religion' are two of the best, with quotes like these painting the human condition with full colour, duality and wisdom.

--- "We talk about the conquest of nature... of mountains, of cancer. We're at war. And it's because we find ourselves to be lonely ego principles, trapped in a world that doesn't go our way until somehow we can force it to do so."

--- "We say the world is complicated. But actually it isn't complicated at all. What is complicated is the attempt to turn the world into linear symbols."

--- "If you accept death, a funny thing happens - you discover how good now is, and that's where you're supposed to be.

--- "This is the real secret of life - to be completely engaged with what you are doing in the here and now. And instead of calling it work, realising it is play."


It's a great book. Read it.

[urmom]

(youuu by coin ahem)

uh just gonna put the quote here...cuz i can yk? XD (idek if it's in this book, but i hope it is haha)

But if, for a change, we would allow our feelings and look upon their comings and goings as something as beautiful and necessary as changes in the weather, the going of night and day and the four seasons, we would be at peace with ourselves...I think this is the most releasing thing that anybody can possibly understand. That your inner feeling is never wrong...That's to say what you feel, it's never wrong that you feel that way.

like...i mean, when i heard this, and tHEN youuu like oh my. ok i haven't even read this dang book and i'm rambling. but like. c'mon. that quote is awesome XD

[Brandon Woodward · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a callout of whoever edited this mess. I found northwards of 25 typos in this 66 page book, many of which hindered my understanding of the text. Aside from that, the seven short stories that were collected have considerable overlap. I know Alan Watts has way more than 40 pages of content, so I don’t know why these specific stories were chosen. The graphic design also sucked.

The book was fine. Some interesting bits, some silly bits.

Book: 3/5
Publisher: 0.5/5

Overall experience: 2/5

[Claudio · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Alan Watts, and I often listen to his audios on Youtube?
I found my self looking at my hand and thinking "here the hand ends and the first begins?" - "Now I am fisting, now I am handing"

I really enjoyed one of the last chapters around Time, explaining how there are no things, but only events.

Highly recommended

[Jonathan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I sat down and felt myself having a conversation with Alan Watts. I found his words approachable and analogies concise; he shared ideas that came from a neutral stance with a tone of positivity in every line. I enjoyed myself with this one!

[Saied Shahsavari · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you want to read a short book about the long story of Eastern philosophy and wisdom you are in safe hands with Alan Watts. The Essential is a huge gate for Westerners to understand and feel the essence of Hinduism, Buddhism and Taoism. It’s engaging, informative and a foundation for transformation.

[Birtalan Arnold · Rating 5 out of 5]

Greatest dude ever

[Divyesh Chaudhari · Rating 5 out of 5]

Universal Guru

[Pufnasta Zecija Sapica · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can't help but hearing his amazing voice while reading his books. Great lecturer. Always soothing!

[David Kempf · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is pretty deep for someone as shallow as me. I might have to read it again. And soon.

[Steve Jordan · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5/5

[Tambre Bryant · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you want to get a glimpse of how everything works, that actually makes sense….Alan Watts is where it is at. We are indeed actors on the stage, creating an illusion in order to experience.

[Kathryn]

a book to read a few times.

[Summer And Mouseteeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

A big fan of Alan Watts I I usually listen to the books or the speeches or talks I like his message

[madam0wl · Rating 3 out of 5]

did not read entirety but liked what i read. i prefer listening to his talks on youtube.

[Penélope Luna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Libro que trata sobre temas muy profundos que te hacen cuestionar ideas preconcebidas sobre la vida (muerte, tiempo, existencia, etc), pero el autor las explica de forma muy familiar, nada difícil de entender casi como si fuera un relato. De hecho, el libro se titula ‘’Nueve Meditaciones’’ precisamente porque mientras vas leyendo cada capítulo (nueve temas diferentes), te vas sumando en la lectura de forma que parece mecerte en una profunda meditación.

A pesar de ser un libro que habla sobre el budismo, reencarnación y temas espirituales, creo que cualquier persona que le gusta filosofar/cuestionarse/aprender, puede disfrutar con esta lectura.

Se nota que Alan Watts es buen narrador, sabe como hacerte entender ideas complejas utilizando expresiones coloquiales, ejemplos del día a día.

Los últimos 3 capítulos del libro creo que ya eran demasiado difíciles de entender porque juntaban muchas teorías y nociones previamente explicadas en los capítulos anteriores, que separadamente eran fáciles y agradables de entender, pero al juntarlas ya se me empezada a hacer la cabeza como un bombo. Incluso llegar a pensar que en los dos últimos capítulos hacia falta ir fumada/drogada para poder disfrutar de unas explicaciones que parecían ser fruto de una mente ingeniosamente psicodélica.

Han habido momentos que me ha costado concentrarme en el libro, porque venia de trabajar y de estar mentalmente agotada, que ponerme aun mas a pensar con este libro, me resultaba fatigante. No es un libro que puedas leer en cualquier momento, como un libro de ficción o una novela.

[Aman Kabra · Rating 5 out of 5]

To anyone who does not know Alan Watts. Watch this.

By far, Alan Watts has captured my maximum attention compared to any other author. Thank you Sir.

[Sergey Machulskis · Rating 5 out of 5]

A collection of masterpieces. Watts discusses important concepts and he goes pretty deep.
Important concepts are time, Universe, God, work, ego, and death. There's no dogmatic bullshit,
just a call to try to see things differently (in Oriental way).

Sadly, I already knew most of the content from other sources. I wish I could erase my memory and read it as a completely mind-blowing book.

Examples of main ideas? The past doesn't exist. You don't exist. Washing dishes is really fun. There's no causality of events in common sense.

Quotes

[Sampo Satama · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mind blowing... Food for thought to say the least!

[Martin Letelier · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.6⭐️

[रोहन आचार्य]

5/5