Throughout history, holy fools such as Ryokan and Mullah Nasruddin have shown humanity that grasping for spiritual attainment is still grasping. It’s better to approach life with humor and a focus on the present rather than longing for exalted states of being. Richard Weekley’s alter ego, Zen Nam, is a worthwhile addition to this lineage. These haiku-like poems contain the little moments of surprise that leave the reader saying, Ah! I’d feel more content if I approached life like Zen Nam. These poetic aphorisms are like eating peanuts – you can’t stop because they’re delicious – and in this case, not fattening. I smiled, thought, and wondered my way all through Richard Weekley’s masterful new distilled observations. Annie Reiner Poet, Writer, Psychoanalyst