This book is about a guy (Ross) who encounters a very wise but unassuming older sage (Max) in, of all places, a bar. Max is the rare kind of person who naturally attracts people to him because of his kindness and wisdom. Max has got a story/parable for every possible life situation. Max knows that parables have a way of bypassing the left brain and going straight to the heart (it's why Jesus used them so much). Ross is deeply impacted by depth and heartfulness of Max's stories and they become friends. The book chronicles the evolution of their relationship, interweaving Max's beautiful stories and parables at every juncture. I won't spoil the ending by relating it here, but it is very touching. This book reminds me a lot of Dan Millman's The Way of the Peaceful Warrior. I strongly recommend it.