Who is Dan Millman? Dan Millman (born Feb 22, 1946 – ) is an author of thirteen self-help books, the most famous of which is the semi-autobiographical novel, Way of the Peaceful Warrior (1980). The winner of the 1964 World Trampoline Championship in London, he co-captained the 1968 NCAA University of California gymnastics team and has also worked as a gymnastics instructor at Stanford University and a professor of physical education at Oberlin College. He is most often connected to the human potential movement along with Anthony Robbins. Way of the Peaceful Warrior, Millman`s first self-help book, is a work of autobiographical fiction set mostly during his college years. Initially the book had only modest sales, before Hal Kramer reportedly came out of retirement to republish the book and help make it a best seller. The story tells of a chance meeting with a gas station attendant who becomes a mentor to the young gymnast, Dan Millman, who names the attendant "Socrates". When Millman`s right leg is shattered in a motorcycle accident, Socrates becomes Millman`s spiritual teacher and shows Millman how to become a Peaceful Warrior. More than one reviewer has noticed the similarity of the book to Carlos Castaneda`s series of Don Juan books, particularly the 1972 Journey to Ixtlan. Like Robert Pirsig`s 1974 Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance, Millman uses a Greek philosopher, Socrates, for a character`s name. The basic concept of finding a wise mentor is a literary trope or theme of long standing, used by authors from Dante to Jonathan Swift, although Millman is more often compared to author Richard Bach or naturalist Tom Brown, a compliment among fans of such genre fiction. Unlike Castaneda, Millman never claimed that his books were real. In the summer of 2006, Lions Gate Films released a film version, Peaceful Warrior, starring Scott Mechlowicz and Nick Nolte.
Name: Dan Millman
