The novel is the first installment of The Peaceful Warrior saga, a series of four self-help novels about personal and spiritual growth. The series includes the following books in order of publication: Way of the Peaceful Warrior: A Book that Changes Lives (1980), Sacred Journey of the Peaceful Warrior (1991), The Journeys of Socrates (2005), The Hidden School: Return of the Peaceful Warrior (2017). In contrast to his nonfiction books that function as practical guides to his self-development teachings, Dan Millman uses fiction to inspire readers and explore life’s meaning and purpose. Part fictional and part autobiographical, the books blend reality and fiction to provide insight into Millman’s viewpoint and teachings about self-development and spiritual discovery.

Each novel that follows Way of the Peaceful Warrior connects to and complements the first main narrative. Millman adds details that bridge narrative gaps and illuminate the first novel’s characters and events. Way of the Peaceful Warrior follows the protagonist’s journey in search of meaning and purpose. The second and fourth books fall into the same narrative framework; Sacred Journey of the Peaceful Warrior follows Dan’s self-exploration by detailing transformative experiences that guide his path to personal growth, and The Hidden School explores the character’s spiritual quest in-depth, illuminating pivotal events that lead to his final realization and self-growth.