Episode · How I Write · 2025-12-17
David Perell & Henry Shukman: books mentioned on How I Write
Henry Shukman: How to Tell Stories Through Poetry | How I Write
Henry Shukman is a poet, author, mindfulness teacher and Zen master. He has studied meditation for 35 years, principally in the Sanbo Zen lineage.
Henry Shukman discussed Mornings in Mexico by D. H. Lawrence and War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy.
Books mentioned, in the order they came up
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Mornings in Mexico
Discussed“I remember when I was when I was 18, I read his book Mornings in Mexico, which is a series basically of essays about New Mexico.”
Where to get it
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War and Peace
Leo Tolstoy’s War and Peace is a monumental historical novel blending grand military strategy with intimate domestic life against the backdrop of the Napoleonic Wars.
Discussed“Well, I mean Pierre Bazookov in War and Peace, you know, opens with him in that drinking party where they're all doing crazy drinking games and he doesn't want to be doing it.”
Where to get it
Other mentions in this episode (2) — ad reads, self-promotion and passing references, never counted
Plugged Original Love
“Henry Shookman, a poet, a novelist, an essaist, and a longtime meditator.”
Plugged One Blade of Grass
“Well, I wrote one of my books, you know, one blade of grass is very open about my skin problem and how meditation came around and helped me with it.”