Former gymnast Dan Millman's semi-autobiographical novel Peaceful Warrior has reportedly inspired many with its tale of an athlete who overcomes adversity and injury through New Age-y self-help philosophies. But based on Victor Salva's over-the-top adaptation, many of these pearls of wisdom could be gleaned during an average night on SportsCenter. In lieu of any specific and compelling insight into a performance, many athletes tend to fall back on vague motivational slogans about "living in the moment" and "focusing on the task at hand"—at least those who aren't crediting the Almighty for the game-winning touchdown. Yet Peaceful Warrior accepts such bromides as rocket fuel on the road to self-fulfillment, ways for ordinary people to unload their personal baggage and enter a permanently enlightened state. In other words, it's selling a load of hooey.
