About the author

Lee Carlson

Lee Carlson is an author, journalist, and Zen practitioner recovery, resilience, and a relentless search for meaning have shaped whose life and work. 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.<br><br>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.<br><br>For more than 15 years, Carlson was a close student of Peter Matthiessen, the National Book Award–winning author and Zen teacher. Their spiritual and intellectual relationship—rooted in daily practice—informs his book A Single Excellent Night, a literary nonfiction work that explores Matthiessen’s legacy and teachings from the rare vantage point of personal proximity. Shaped by working closely with figures like Matthiessen and Carlson’s cousin, activist and scholar Joanna Macy, Carlson’s ongoing body of work sits at the intersection of narrative memoir, contemplative inquiry, and literary reportage, engaging readers who seek meaning in both suffering and resilience.<br>​​​​​​​<br>Carlson earned his bachelor’s degree from Skidmore College, where he studied under acclaimed author Clark Blaise. Born on a naval base in Coronado, California, and raised in Buffalo, New York, Carlson has lived in varied environments—from a Central Park West co-op to a 50-foot sailing catamaran, which served as his home and writing space for nearly a decade. He is the father of two grown sons and, when not on the road or the sea, is currently based in Western New York. When not writing, he’s usually outdoors—reading voraciously, skiing, sailing, or scaling mountains.<br>​​​​​​​<br>To learn more, visit https://leecarlson.life.