The Dharma of the Princess Bride

What the Coolest Fairy Tale of Our Time Can Teach Us About Buddhism and Relationships

By: Ethan Nichtern

Narrated by: Ethan Nichtern

An engagingly contemporary approach to Buddhism - through the lens of an iconic film and its memorable characters

Humorous yet spiritually rigorous, drawing from pop culture and from personal experience, The Dharma of "The Princess Bride" teaches us how to understand and navigate our most important personal relationships from a 21st-century Buddhist perspective.

Friendship. Romance. Family. These are the three areas Ethan Nichtern delves into, taking as departure points the indelible characters - Westley, Fezzik, Vizzini, Count Rugen, Princess Buttercup, and others from Rob Reiner's perennially popular film - as he also draws lessons from his own life and his work as a meditation teacher. Nicthern devotes the first section of the book to exploring the dynamics of friendship. Why do people become friends? What can we learn from the sufferings of Inigo Montoya and Fezzik?

Next, he leads us through all the phases of illusion and disillusion we encounter in our romantic pursuits, providing a healthy dose of lightheartedness along the way by sharing his own Princess Buttercup List and the vicissitudes of his dating life as he ponders how we idealize and objectify romantic love. Finally, Nichtern draws upon the demands of his own family history and the film's character the Grandson to explore the dynamics of "the last frontier of awakening", a reference to his teacher Chogyam Trungpa's claim that it's possible to be enlightened everywhere except around your family.

With The Dharma of "The Princess Bride" in hand, we can set out on the path to contemporary Buddhist enlightenment with the most important relationships in our lives.

©2017 Ethan Nichtern (P)2017 Audible, Inc.

This has become my most favorite book!!!!

The Princess Bride has always been my favorite story. And I've been seeking Truth for some time now. The way Ethan Nichtern blended my favorite story with my life-journey towards self awareness truly made my heart sing. I've absorbed every single word of this book with such carefulness because I knew from the second I started listening that this was something special.

A fun and refreshing take on Buddhism

If you are looking to explore concepts from both The Princess Bride and American Buddhist practices, this is exactly the right book for you! The author's personal connection to the book was interesting and provides fun insights that we wouldn't otherwise know about.
Nichtern uses this much beloved movie to anchor his discussions of key Buddhist principles in a manner that is as skillful as it is playful. His personal anecdotes provide examples of how one can apply the Dharma to common situations in an American life. Each analogy from the movie/book is purposeful and well thought out as one might expect from an experienced Dharma teacher.
If you are like me, new-ish to Buddhist practice, then I think you will find his explanations accessible without being over simplified. If you are an experienced Buddhist, then I imagine you will enjoy a new perspective on your practice by viewing it through the lens of a pop-culture phenomenon. If you are looking for a book expounding a LOT on the Princess Bride and you're not that interested in Buddhism...you should know there's more Dharma than Dread Pirate Roberts to the content...though it's not inconceivable that you'd enjoy it anyway.

This book will open your eyes and heart!

I loved this book. It was informative, and so inspirational. I will read it again and again!

Brilliant

This was a fantastic entry for me into a committed mindfulness practice and study of Buddhism. I’ve dabbled a bit but Ethan’s interpretation of the Dharma has made me feel at home and supported and like I’ve found a path I can travel for the rest of my life (or lives). I’m So grateful. ~ Leanne

Wonderful and Wise

I have known and studied with Ethan for many years, so the way he thoughtfully lays out the terrific knowledge and insight in this book was no surprise.

But it was such an added joy to hear Ethan move into memoir territory with this book and share some of himself in order illuminate his teahings.

Great, more Buddhism than Analysis

Ethan did a fine job narrating but the edit cuts were very noticeable. His voice has a lot of variance from dry and light to deep, and it's pretty apparent when the edits switch back and forth. It'd be better to make the cuts at the paragraph level, IMHO.

Fun and excellent

I loved this book. I recently heard Ethan on a podcast with Dan Harris and really liked him. I saw this book and as a fan of the movie, I really enjoyed the way he tied the book together with Buddhism and relationships. Funny, entertaining and relatable. I'm a fan and highly recommend this book.