Reviewed by Dr. Oliva Dsouza for Readers' Favorite

The Warrior in the Garden by Keith Thorn is a beautiful, reflective book that narrates the story of young Kaori. She starts her journey under the watchful guidance of her Sensei in a dojo. Most stories about any martial art focus on the discipline of learning its physical aspects. However, in this story, the focus is more on internal discipline. It enlightens us on when to stay still, when to act, and when the spoken word is not needed at all. Sometimes, no action and observing in silence is also the need of the hour. The book feels like a meditative act by itself. It focuses readers' attention inward. It takes us through Kaori's journey toward self-awareness. We learn with her as she learns to master her emotions, impulses, and reactions.

The Warrior in the Garden by Keith Thorn explores the themes of presence and self-awareness elegantly. Kaori's inner conflict is relatable. The themes of self-awareness, stillness, etc., remain consistent throughout the narrative. For me, the idea of letting go of the need to control outcomes was a beautiful realization. The book guides the reader to learn gently that controlling outcomes is not always necessary. Being emotionally aware and not having to act at all times is a welcome idea that helps us to understand how many of the things we believe to be necessary are actually just noise in our heads. Sometimes the beauty of life lies in just being still, observing, and going with the flow without trying to rush toward a desired outcome.