The Empty Mirror by Janwillem van de Wetering

This is the nonfiction account of a westerner who spent over a year in a Japanese Zen monastery in the early 60’s. He deals with intense culture shock and an even more intense meditation regimen that pushes him to his limit. It’s certainly contemplative, as he really is looking for answers about “life, the universe, and everything,” but it’s also just plain funny and interesting. This is part of a trilogy of books he wrote about his experiences with Zen, but I would say this one is the most accessible to a wide audience.