I read Dan Millman's new age book The Way of the Peaceful Warrior expecting it to do what it promises on the cover: "A Book That Changes Lives." While it didn't change my life, I still enjoyed reading the story of a gymnast who meets a strange old man named Socrates at a gas station one night and his life is never the same.

From there, the unpredictable Socrates proceeded to teach Millman the "way of the peaceful warrior." At first Socrates shattered every preconceived notion that Millman had about academics, athletics, and achievement. But eventually Millman stopped resisting the lessons, and began to try on a whole new ideology--one that valued being conscious over being smart, and strength in spirit over strength in body. Although the character of the cigarette-smoking Socrates seems like a fictional, modern-day Merlin, Millman asserts that he is based on an actual person. Certain male readers especially appreciate the coming-of-age theme, the haunting love story with the elusive woman Joy, and the challenging of Western beliefs about masculine power and success.--Amazon.com

Now, whether or not any of it is true, I don't know and I don't care. And neither does Hollywood. "Peaceful Warrior" has been made into a film set to hit theaters this summer. The film version stars Nick Nolte as Socrates. I resist the urge to make a joke here. The trailer for the film looks good and I will definately go to see this when it comes out, even if it is just to erase the image of Jeff Bridges in Stick It from my mind.