A deeper wander into the ideas sketched out in The Book often feels like unlocking a secret garden—here’s a pathway lined with companion texts that light up different corners of the same landscape:

1. Alan Watts’ own follow-ups

   • The Way of Zen: Think of it as a guided tour through Zen’s roots, blending historical background with interpretive flair—perfect for seeing where the “no-self” notion blooms.
   • The Wisdom of Insecurity: It unpacks how clinging to a fixed identity breeds anxiety, almost picking up where On the Taboo leaves off.

2. Eastern classics, as home base

   • Tao Te Ching (Lao Tzu), ideally alongside a modern translation (Stephen Mitchell or Ursula K. Le Guin): Opens the door on “wu wei” (effortless action), dovetailing neatly with the idea that the self is fluid.
   • Bhagavad Gita: Arjuna’s journey wrestles with duty, ego, and divine identity. Scanning its dialogue with Krishna brings the notion “you are that” into vivid relief.
   • Selected Upanishads (e.g., Katha or Mandukya): They explore Atman and Brahman—“who you really are” in metaphysical terms.

3. Bridges to Western thought

   • William James’ The Varieties of Religious Experience: Offers a psychological lens on mystical experiences, echoing Watts’ fascination with altered states and self-transcendence.
   • Aldous Huxley’s The Perennial Philosophy: Frames the universal threads in world religions, underlining how “no-self” crops up across traditions.

4. Modern reflections

   • D.T. Suzuki’s Essays in Zen Buddhism: Short, punchy pieces that ground Zen practice in everyday life, much like Watts’ knack for weaving philosophy and humor.
   • Sam Harris’ Waking Up: A contemporary take on mindfulness and nondual awareness—shows how these age-old insights are thriving in today’s neuroscience labs.

A suggested sequence? Begin with The Way of Zen for context, dip into the Tao Te Ching alongside The Book to see common themes, then wander into the Gita and Upanishads for depth. Round it off with The Perennial Philosophy or The Varieties of Religious Experience to stitch Eastern and Western threads together. This reading pilgrimage turns abstract ideas into lived insights—sort of like discovering that the keys to the kingdom were tucked in your pocket all along.