[Bookclub] Did You Find This to Be a Valuable Book for Others?

Dakini

Would you recommend this book to other Buddhists? For beginners, or for more advanced? Does the book represent Buddhism well? Why or why not?
--courtesy of Bravehawk

BuckyG

I sad "yes" here:
http://newbuddhist.com/discussion/10638/bookclub-introduction#Item_19
Metta

Cloud

I think it would a good read regardless of whether one is a beginner or more along the path. Each different way that the Buddha's teachings are expressed has the potential to reach certain minds (that are conditioned "just so" to understand). The audiobook version narrated by Batchelor is easy to follow, as well.

Dakini

The audiobook version narrated by Batchelor is easy to follow, as well.

That's kinda cool, Cloud--so you got something almost like a private lecture by Batchelor himself.

I'm wondering about the question: does the book represent Buddhism well. Until I came to this forum, I thought Buddhism involved belief in rebirth (although for most of my life I didn't believe in it). In order to fairly represent Buddhism, the book would have to give equal time to rebirth and agnosticism (or perhaps even "no rebirth", too). I think the book represent's Batchelor's Buddhism. But aside from the rebirth issue, yes, the rest of it does.

bravehawk

I think it was a good book for anyone who finds the technical Sanskrit words to throw them off. I know when I started my pursuit of the Buddhist religion/theology that the big Sanskrit words threw me off some, especially when I when I laid down at night and tried to mental process it in my head. Though, it gets easier and easier when you see the names more often.

This book is Buddhism with the kid gloves on, eventually though, the reader will have to get into learning some of the harder stuff if they decide to pursue more readings(especially if it's on the internet).

so far in my reading, I found the material to be grade 'A' material and not only does it give you good information the subjects, but gives you something to think about and process, which is what i look for in my books.

grade rating: A
recommendation to others: Most definitely

TiaP

I would say definitely yes, I really enjoyed it but my view was not shared by my partner..

He bought and read it over a year ago. He has read countless varied books on Buddhism out of intellectual curiosity over the years however he's not practicing although did attempt meditation a few years ago (low commitment level, little success!). When I picked the book up a few weeks ago I asked if he'd read it and his reply was 'Yes, it's a bit crap'. Hmmm I'll come back to that! Of course I read it anyway. And I really enjoyed it. I asked him hey this is quite interesting, why didn't you like it? He had a think about it and said 'I didn't feel like it was about Buddhism to be honest'. I'm not sure what he was looking for (and I think neither does he) but it obviously missed the mark with him. I wonder then if this book is best for someone who has started a regular practice, has done more than just read about it or dabbled half-heartedly. Or someone who at least has a very high level of interest and commitment to start at some point in the near future. My partner has been reading about Buddhism on and off for years, well before I showed an interest, yet he's never taken the next step to practicing it (curiously...) and unfortunately this book didn't propel him into practice.

As for me I really enjoyed it. I've been reading mostly books on meditation practice lately so it was a nice change of pace and got my brain thinking about what I was doing and why, not just how.

Dakini

TiaP, I think I know what he was looking for. And it's precisely the quality that others think make the book readable and appealing to beginners (as well as more advanced practitioners, like BuckyG, who said "it cuts through the crap". The reason your partner thought it wasn't about Buddhism is possibly that it's missing the Buddhist lingo. I confess, I found it a little difficult to get enthused about because of this. But this is exactly what others liked about it, so..."chacun a son gout" (that's French for: different strokes for different folks.