A Single Excellent Night

A Man, a Mentor, & a Moment in Time

Lee Carlson

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Paperback

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English

Henry Chapin & Sons
28 October 2025

Memoirs; Oriental & Indian philosophy; Buddhist life & practice; Zen Buddhism

From journalist and internationally recognized author Lee Carlson comes a life-changing memoir about our journey to seek meaning and the personal relationships we build along the way.

At the end of a tree-lined country lane shrouded in early morning mist, a small group of acolytes meets in ancient ritual, intoning chants as they sit cross-legged in the dim light. Their teacher-the well-known author, naturalist, social activist, and Zen master Peter Matthiessen-stands at the head of the room, speaking in a soft voice, calling attention to the birds singing outside in the predawn stillness. He urges them to be diligent in their meditation, then sits to the right of a rustic altar, a first among equals, allowing silence to engulf the small group of spiritual seekers.

One novice, 43-year-old Lee Carlson, is in the throes of a life-changing emotional crisis. As he stares at the wall inches from his nose, concentrating on his breath-breathing in, breathing out-working to still his mind, he looks deep inside himself: ""Why such pain in this life? Is there any reason behind it all? Is there really love and joy in this world? What is God? Can I be a better person? Can I inspire others around me? How can I contribute to making the world a better place? How can I love more fully?""

As teacher Matthiessen says, ""All will be revealed.""

A Single Excellent Night weaves together awakening experiences and pivotal realizations from the first four years of a 15-year apprenticeship Lee Carlson spent with Peter Matthiessen. The relationship between these two men, Zen teacher/student, writer mentor/mentee, trusted confidants and friends, unfolds in beautiful stories as Carlson goes on a quest to the furthest limits of human understanding and mindfulness, culminating with a single magical event on a winter beach.

Layered with profound insights on identity, belonging, and suffering, A Single Excellent Night is more than a book about Zen, spiritual awakening, and the enlightenment found in presence. It is a book about meaningful relationships, healing, love, and community. Unpacking the wisdom and teachings of towering literary figures like Peter Matthiessen and spiritual teachers like Joanna Macy, Carlson invites readers to experience the rare fusion of lived memory and meditative inquiry-a search for insight shaped by Zen practice, poetic prose, and the lasting imprint of a literary legacy.

By: Lee Carlson
Imprint: Henry Chapin & Sons
Dimensions: Height: 234mm, Width: 156mm, Spine: 19mm
Weight: 499g
ISBN: 9798999418302
Pages: 358
Publication Date: 28 October 2025
Audience: General/trade , ELT Advanced
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Active

Lee Carlson is an author, journalist, and Zen practitioner whose acclaimed memoir Passage to Nirvana chronicles his recovery from traumatic brain injury using writing, sailing, and Zen. A former magazine editor and documentary producer, his work has appeared in Outside, the Los Angeles Times, and multiple Time Inc. publications. A longtime student of Peter Matthiessen, Carlson's current book explores their relationship and Matthiessen's legacy. He currently lives in Western New York. Learn more at leecarlson.life.

Reviews for A Single Excellent Night: A Man, a Mentor, & a Moment in Time

""A Single Excellent Night threads a synchronistic tapestry of mentorship, mystery, and self discovery that exemplifies the ancient adage ""The teacher will manifest when the student is ready."" Carlson's journey is the epitome of a life filled with adventure, curiosity, and surrender."" -Neil O'Keefe, Qigong Teacher ""A very fine writer, Carlson speaks with great emotion and insight. Carlson's spiritual searching is described beautifully in A Single Excellent Night. What makes it truly stand out is his very close friendship with the writer Peter Matthiessen. Mr. Carlson has written an important memoir that puts him on a par with both his mentor and the very best memoir writers working today."" -Steve Wick, Pulitzer Prize winning journalist and author of Bad Company, The Long Night, and The Ruins ""A compelling account of a spiritual journey. The author takes us all the way from the private depths of despair to a genuine revelation about suffering and the way out of suffering. It is an eloquent testament to the effectiveness of Zen training and the importance of finding a wise and compassionate teacher."" -Michael Haggiag, publisher of The Zen Gateway, and Peter Matthiessen's Sand Rivers ""In this detailed and deeply personal memoir, sports and travel writer, sailor, magazine editor, and parent Lee Carlson, shows life itself, with all its challenges and complexities, to be a spiritual path. Drawing especially on his interactions with his Zen teacher, the noted author, environmentalist, and activist, Peter Matthiessen (author of The Snow Leopard among many other award-winning books), Lee presents the challenges of our ordinary lives in our complex times as the ground for our maturing as spiritually whole human beings."" -Rafe Martin, professional storyteller, award-winning author, and Founder of the Endless Path Zendo ""Lee Carlson has done the impossible. This captivating memoir unfolds his personal journey of love, pain, injury, and recovery into a journey of enlightenment and universal truths with the beating heart of Zen Buddhism. Supported by his friendship with and teachings of Peter Matthiessen, Carlson encompasses a broader view of life, nature, and spiritual activism. Readers will experience their own expanding awareness that the journey is often as important as the destination."" -Connie Hambley, author of The Jessica Trilogy