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Buddhism For Dummies

GavinGavin
edited July 2012 in Buddhism Basics
I have two questions about this book I'm hoping somebody can answer.

Firstly, is it any good? I'm thinking about downloading the e-book but I don't want to waste my money if it's not very good.

Secondly, most of the links I find to find independent reviews etc. link to Meditation For Dummies. I know meditation is integral to Buddhism, is it the same book or is there just a casual link?

Comments

  • RebeccaSRebeccaS Veteran
    edited July 2012
    I haven't read this one, but I think the "For Dummies" books are awesome. I have a few of them on various subjects, and they're written by people with so much knowledge on whatever in a really easy to understand and simple format.

    I'd definitely say go for it, but if you're not sure about spending the $$ maybe see if your library has it? They can usually order it for you if they don't.
  • karastikarasti Breathing Minnesota Moderator
    I really enjoy the dummies books too. I use them or a variety of subjects. Also, if you have a kindle or if you have ipod or iphone, or even just on pc if you don't mind reading on the computer, you can download amazon's kindle app (for free) and they have quite a lot of completely free Buddhist books. I think I have at least a dozen free Buddhism books from there, and that's only a sample of what they have, depending on what you are interested in learning.
  • RebeccaSRebeccaS Veteran
    Yeah, there's a couple of free ones on iBooks, too, but I have to admit the ones I've read there haven't been so great. I didn't know about the Kindle app though. Cheers, @Karasti
  • GavinGavin
    That's the good thing about e-books, I can convert them to whichever format I want to read them on. I've got a Kindle and an iPad with both the iBooks and Kindle apps and the app on my phone.
  • karastikarasti Breathing Minnesota Moderator
    The kindle books I found that were either free or really cheap (ie a buck or so) but mostly worth reading were:

    The 37 Practices of a Bodhisattva by David Duffey
    Siddhartha-Herman Hesse
    Dhammapada-various compliers
    Dying with Confidence by Anyen Rinpoche
    the 3 volumes of Modern Buddhism (it was all around ok but not stellar)
    The Zen Experience by Thomas Hoover
    Reincarnation and the Law of Karma

    I also have a few I have not read yet. You have to be kind of specific looking for the free kindle books. If you look up Buddhism, most of these won't come up. You have to look specifically for Bodhisattva, dhammapada, etc.
  • SabreSabre Veteran
    edited July 2012
    If you want to read good books on Buddhism, you should read books by genuine practitioners. The more they practice, the more wisdom they have. So that's a very good measure to check books. Therefore I always prefer books by monks, Buddhism is their entire life. This is especially true for books on meditation. I would stay away from 'meditation for dummies' books personally, although it may be good.

    Also, you can find a lot of material online, like:
    http://www.urbandharma.org/udharma4/mpe.html
    http://www.holybooks.com/meditation-a-way-of-awakening-by-ajahn-sucitto/

    There is plenty more if you google for it!
  • karastikarasti Breathing Minnesota Moderator
    The best books I've read are the same, Sabre, written mostly by monks and nuns. Just none of those are free, which is the only thing I was addressing in my list ;) The other ones except such as the Dhammapada and 37 practices, are very much take it or leave it. You read it for things that you might be able to use, but not as any sort of guide. I prefer to read the books where I might read a paragraph or a page and then have to put it down and think on what I just read. But sometimes, that kind of study/reading constantly gets exhausting! I don't know how monks do it their whole lives.
  • genkakugenkaku Northampton, Mass. U.S.A. Veteran
    I don't know how monks do it their whole lives.
    @karasti -- I think they generally have better things to do. :)
  • LesCLesC Bermuda Veteran
    edited July 2012
    @Gavin I have the Buddhism for Dummies book. Have read it several times - it is excellent. The kind of book that would not only hold the interest of a Buddhist, but the kind of book you would lend to someone who may be interested in learning more about Buddhism.

    It covers the history Buddhism, the important fundamentals, most major traditions, and the cultural aspects. In typical "Dummies" style it is easy to read and written so that the novice can easily absorb, yet will still bring new information to seasoned practitioner.

    I highly recommend the book. I also have the Complete Idiot's Guide to Buddhism... not nearly as good.
  • BonsaiDougBonsaiDoug Simply, on the path. Veteran
    Haven't read "Dummies," but I have read "Idiot's" (by Gary Gach) and found it covers all the basics quite nicely.
  • nobodhinobodhi
    Thank you, BonsaiDoug. Important to know I have a reader. Questions comments criticism always welcome.

    The Heart of the Buddha's Teachings by Thich Nhat Hanh is my Rx book for beginners at all levels. There are so many books available, and podcasts, and websites, and CD's, I hope people don't rely on them solely. If so, i would be like being a spoon that never tastes the soup.
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