Books on the philosophy, or books of stories like these about the zen mindset would be nice. It should be a semi-popular book so the local library will have it. Any suggestions?
Alan Watts’ books, especially The Way of Zen, are some of my favorites as far as popular titles go. His writing style takes into account that he’s generally speaking to a western audience for whom some of the concepts are alien, but he doesn’t stray into oversimplification. If you haven’t read him, I’d recommend him.
The way of zen is missing from the local library, but they have a few other books of his. Have you read The wisdom of insecurity by him? It sounds interesting.
Zen Mind, Beginner’s Mind by Shunryu Suzuki
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0834800799
Although I read this book about 10 years ago (and didn’t quite understand all of it) I still think about the concept of “beginner’s mind” quite frequently.
That one is lost at the library too. Damn people stealing all the zen books, i’m about to explode with rage. I need my thorazine.
I haven’t read The Wisdom of Insecurity, but have been meaning to. If they have Three, that’s good–it’s a compliation of The Way of Zen, Nature, Man & Woman, and Psychotherapy East & West. This is It is a compilation of essays that’s good for a short read. Anything by D.T. Suzuki is good, but he makes my head hurt. 
I understand Thich Nhat Hanh is good as well, although I haven’t read much from him.
If you want a somewhat scholarly approach to the subject, there is D.T. Suzuki’s writings. His work has been influencial enough, both in the West and in Japan, that it’s pretty much essential reading for anyone interestied in the subject. Other books by him are also worth checking out.
If you want to have an idea as to what it’s like to practice Zen seriously, especially from a Western p.o.v., there is the classic Three Pillars of Zen by Philip Kapleau.
Now, if you want something very substantial, there is the huge Zen and the Brain by James H. Austin. It’s a big, dense book. The author is a researcher in neurology and he approaches the topic of Zen and “enlightenment” through the study of cognitive processes. While it might be a little much for an intro, the author does go through the basics and the tone and content of his book might make it more palatable to skeptics than some other works.
I would also second the Alan Watts books.
One book that I have read and found interesting was The empty mirror; experiences in a Japanese Zen monastery by Van de Wetering, Janwillem. It’s a pretty good firsthand account from a Westerners POV of a zen monastery.
Zen and the Brain was the first book I put on hold when I checked the libraries collection of zen material via their online catalog. Anything that shows the scientific reason(s) zen works or that shows how to develop a zen mindset is great.