By Kate Daly
Special to the Almanac
Jack Bowen of Menlo Park may have just turned 33, but he already has a long list of accomplishments, which include graduating from Stanford in 1995, earning a master’s degree in philosophy, competing in the Olympics, coaching water polo at Menlo School, teaching philosophy at both the high school and college levels, and playing drums on a music album.
He can now add another accomplishment: published author.
His first book — “The Dream Weaver: One Boy’s Journey Through the Landscape of Reality” — will be coming out in March. Longman Publishers is issuing it in paperback for $14.95, and special editions will include a CD of the theme song for the book, entitled “Beautiful Colors.”
Mr. Bowen played drums on the CD and co-wrote the song with his brother, Matt, who used to teach at Menlo School. They both plan to attend the official book launch at Kepler’s bookstore in Menlo Park on Thursday, March 9, at 7:30 p.m.
Mr. Bowen recently kicked off “Writers’ Week” at Menlo School with an energetic presentation. From February 3 to 10, writers in various disciplines were invited to speak to the Menlo community about their experiences.
At his talk, Mr. Bowen read excerpts from his book and answered questions from a crowd of about 100. Judging from the audience, he has a lot of fans at the school, where he is aquatics director, water polo coach and philosophy teacher.
Mr. Bowen describes his novel as philosophy/fiction, a story about an adventurous 14-year-old boy named Ian, who — with the help of an Old Man mentor — explores such issues as free will, faith and reason.
Each page is annotated so that when, for example, Ian meets a talking rock, the reader knows the conversation is rooted in Spinoza’s philosophy.
Jennifer Goldman, a junior at Menlo School who read Mr. Bowen’s book in his philosophy class, says: “It was really interesting. It made me question and change some of my beliefs.”
In his talk at Menlo School, Mr. Bowen pretty much steered clear of philosophy and instead advised students on how to become better writers.
“Surround yourself with open and creative people,” he told them, and “if you want to be a writer, write!”
He also urged students to “come to trust yourself,” and “write for yourself, and let the writing bring out your passion and really expose it.”
His writing exposes his passions: Tears came to his eyes when he started to read aloud from his book.
Mr. Bowen says he spent five years on the book, working whenever he had free time between coaching and teaching, jotting down notes on pads of paper at Cafe Borrone, or sitting at his computer in a “crummy shed by the pool.”
He self-published the book under a pen name, and gave it to his philosophy students at De Anza College to read and critique. He made changes based on their feedback and used the book to teach his students.
After receiving about 25 rejection letters from publishers, he secured a contract, one in which he promises to write a second book, too. Mr. Bowen says he did all this without an agent.
His next book, he says, will be a collection of readings that works as a companion piece with “Dream Weaver.” He says his publisher has lined up a half-dozen colleges that want to adopt “Dream Weaver” as their primary introduction to philosophy.
Mr. Bowen’s target audience is high school and college kids — the group he feels comfortable teaching and coaching.
All-American water polo player
Here on the Peninsula Jack Bowen is well known for his water polo career.
He grew up playing water polo in Coronado, and at Stanford earned an all-American title twice.
He was alternate goalie on the 1996 Olympic team, and a member of the 2000 Olympic Training Team. In 2002, he was assistant coach of the men’s national water polo team.
Now he is aquatics director and water polo coach at Menlo School.
Mr. Bowen travels to give clinics and talks on water polo and philosophy when his schedule permits. Right now, he is taking time off from teaching to promote his book on the West Coast.
