Episode · How I Write · 2025-12-17
Books mentioned on 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.
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
War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy is a sweeping historical epic that chronicles the lives of several aristocratic families 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
Own book Original Love
“Henry Shookman, a poet, a novelist, an essaist, and a longtime meditator.”
Own book 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.”