The Dude and the Zen Master

Book Spotlight – The Dude and the Zen Master

Written by Jeff Bridges and Bernie Glassman

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Jeff Bridges’s role as “The Dude” in the 1998 Coen Brothers film The Big Lebowski made him a cult hero, putting the hippest of edges on a remarkable acting, performing, and songwriting career that has brought him an Oscar, a Golden Globe, and a Critics Choice Award. But many of Bridges’s fans may not be aware that he is also a dedicated practitioner of Zen Buddhism, a committed world hunger activist, or that he has maintained a close friendship for more than ten years with Bernie Glassman, one of America’s most renowned Zen leaders. Their New York Times bestseller, THE DUDE AND THE ZEN MASTER (Plume; February 2014; $16.00), now available in paperback, captures their freewheeling dialogue with undeniable charm.

Over the years, Bridges and Glassman have spent hours discussing life, love, the movies, creativity, purpose, happiness, death, violence, and trying to do good in a sometimes difficult world. They are often joined by the invisible figure of the Dude, whose pithy, enigmatic, often hilarious sayings contain a unique and powerful wisdom.

Inspired by one of the most memorable, quoted, and beloved films of recent years, THE DUDE AND THE ZEN MASTER is informed by the deep humanity and humor of one of America’s most admired and intelligent actors, as well as one of its most respected and accessible Zen teachers. With wit, charm, and profound insight, in alternating voices, Bridges and Glassman discover the Zen in iconic scenes and lines from Lebowski.