The Cosmic Giggle: The Life and Music of Alan Watts (Paperback) (ISBN-13: 9798230287612)

HE CALLED HIMSELF AN ENTERTAINER. THE WORLD CALLED HIM A GURU.

Before the YouTube sages and the mindfulness apps, there was a voice. A rich, rolling English accent that cut through the static of the 20th century, armed with a Zen koan, a glass of wine, and a mischievous, cosmic giggle.

Alan Watts was the trailblazer who took the profound wisdom of the East and presented it to the West not as a solemn religion, but as a joyous performance. He was the philosopher who preferred a ferryboat to a pulpit, a jester who played with the universe's biggest questions. But who was the man behind the voice?

The Cosmic Giggle is an intimate, unflinching journey into the life of the "genuine fake" himself. This is not another dry, academic summary. This is a story that plunges you into the vibrant highs and chaotic lows of an extraordinary life, exploring:

• The young boy in the English countryside who fell in love with the art of the Far East.

• The prodigy who became a leader in London's Buddhist scene before he was old enough to vote.

• The scandalous, heartbreaking exit from the priesthood that set him on his true path.

• The iconic ferryboat in Sausalito where he became a hero to the counter-culture.

• The private battles with alcohol and attachment that stood in stark contrast to his public message.

This is the definitive story of the sage, the sinner, and the brilliant performer who taught a generation that the secret to life wasn't a secret at all-it was a song to be sung, a dance to be danced.

"This is the real secret of life - to be completely engaged with what you are doing in the here and now. And instead of calling it work, realize it is play." - Alan Watts