From Mentorship to Mindfullness
“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”
Don’t Miss The Latest from Bestselling Author
Lee Carlson
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. 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 the well-known author, naturalist, social activist, and Zen master 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.
Available October 28.
Meet Lee Carlson
LEE CARLSON is an author, journalist, and Zen practitioner whose life and work have been shaped by recovery, resilience, and a relentless search for meaning. A survivor of traumatic brain injury, his acclaimed memoir Passage to Nirvana chronicled his journey from near death to healing, guided by writing, sailing, and Zen. The book became a grassroots success, connecting with readers across the U.S. and internationally—from Hamptons bookshops to missionary circles in Indonesia. A seasoned editor and reporter, Carlson brings a refined observational style and structural discipline to his work, developed over decades in both long-form nonfiction and magazine publishing.
Carlson’s career spans decades in magazine, newspaper, and broadcast journalism, including work for Outside, The New York Times, the Los Angeles Times, NBC Sports, and Time Inc. He later transitioned into advertising and media production, with clients ranging from ESPN to Lavazza Coffee. He also served as executive producer of the award-winning documentary Patriot Guard Riders. He has spoken to audiences ranging from medical institutions to public libraries, often on the topics of neurological trauma, creative recovery, and Zen.
Get in touch.
It all begins with an idea. Want Lee to speak to your group? Do a book signing event? Teach a workshop? Lead a retreat? Let us know how Lee can help you. Sometimes Lee is on retreat, so he may not respond immediately, but he will get in touch, we promise.