"Zen and the Art of Surfing" is a collection of short stories and poems written by Greg Gutierrez. Whether or not you surf, or even know anything about surfing (personally, I don't surf, but I grew up around surf culture), this is a great book. The writing is simple, no frills stuff that cuts to the heart and transcends subject matter. I get the sense that a lot of the stories here are autobiographical, and if they are, I'd love to meet Greg - sounds like he's lead a fascinating life. It's a really quick read, and very difficult to put down. Highly recommended!