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.

At the end of a tree-lined country lane shrouded in early morning mist, a small group of acolytes meets in ancient ritual, intoning chants as they sit cross-legged in the dim light. Their teacher—the well-known author, naturalist, social activist, and Zen master Peter Matthiessen—stands at the head of the room, speaking in a soft voice, calling attention to the birds singing outside in the predawn stillness. He urges them to be diligent in their meditation, then sits to the right of a rustic altar, a first among equals, allowing silence to engulf the small group of spiritual seekers.

One novice, 43-year-old Lee Carlson, is in the throes of a life-changing emotional crisis. As he stares at the wall inches from his nose, concentrating on his breath—breathing in, breathing out—working to still his mind, he looks deep inside himself: “Why such pain in this life? Is there any reason behind it all? Is there really love and joy in this world? What is God? Can I be a better person? Can I inspire others around me? How can I contribute to making the world a better place? How can I love more fully?”

As teacher Matthiessen says, “All will be revealed.”

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 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.

Layered with profound insights on identity, belonging, and suffering, A Single Excellent Night is more than a book about Zen, spiritual awakening, and the enlightenment found in presence. It is a book about meaningful relationships, healing, love, and community. Unpacking the wisdom and teachings of towering literary figures like Peter Matthiessen and spiritual teachers like Joanna Macy, Carlson invites readers to experience the rare fusion of lived memory and meditative inquiry—a search for insight shaped by Zen practice, poetic prose, and the lasting imprint of a literary legacy.