Zen: A Rational Critique

New York, New York: W.W. Norton & Co, Inc., 1961. First Edition First Printing . Hardcover. Very Good+/Very Good+. In response to the growing appeal of Zen Buddhism to Westerners at the start of the 1960s, the author--then a popular cultural anthropologist teaching in the Dept. of Psychiatry at the State U. of New York--penned this scathing criticism, arguing that Zen held nothing of value for the Western world. Rather, he suggested, it was a close kin to coercive psychological conversion & Chinese "thought reform," Scarce & long out of print, this is a FIRST EDITION, first printing from 1961. Hardcover book with bright orange publisher's cloth lettered in black to spine is in VG+ condition: very clean & bright, binding strong & straight, hinges secure. Pages creamy white with a hint of tanning no foxing. Former owner's name & 1961 date in neat pen to ffep; some neat underlining throughout text; no other writing or highlighting; not ex-lib. Only other flaws are mild pushing to both ends of spine & a diagonal clip to top outer corner of ffep.The bottom-clipped DJ with $4.00 price intact at top front flap (not bce) is also VG+, with a couple of tiny tears descending from top edge of front cover, light soil spots, slight rubbing to spine, mild sunning. Nicely protected in new mylar cover free! Our photos depict the Exact book you will receive, never "stock" images of books we don't actually have! Same Day Shipping on all orders received by 2 pm Weekdays (Pacific time); Weekends & holidays ship very next business day.