Top Ten Introductions to Buddhism

There are a huge number of books that present themselves as introductions to Buddhism, and sorting out the genuinely useful from the misnamed or plain poor is difficult. Introductions can be roughly divided into academic-oriented and practitioner-oriented approaches. Academic-oriented approaches tend to be well researched, comprehensive, and balanced in their judgement. But they can be rather cold and detached in tone, and are often ‘information heavy' at the expense of communicating something of the spirit of Buddhism.

Practitioner-oriented approaches, on the other hand, are often quite personal or even sectarian. They tend to generalise about Buddhism from the particular author's take on it and are consequently less comprehensive. At the same time, they often grow from personal spiritual insights and so have a vigour and existential engagement that can inspire both understanding and enthusiasm.

In truth, there is no single perfect introduction and to gain a broad understanding of Buddhism will require reading several books, perhaps from slightly different standpoints.

1. Keown, Damien. 2000. Buddhism: a Very Short Introduction, Oxford: OUP.

This book has the great merit of being short, cheap to buy, and relatively easy to read. It is more oriented towards the general, and even academic reader rather than someone whose interest in Buddhism is more personal and practical but is a very good place to start.

2. Sangharakshita, 1998. What is the Dharma? The Essential Teachings of the Buddha, Windhorse Publications.

This is a book by my own teacher and, I think, the most accessible and lucid introduction to Buddhism that he has published. It is very much a practitioner-oriented introduction and consequently lacks the comprehensiveness of some academic works. In addition, it is very much a personal approach and so the reader should beware seeing it as some kind of authoritative overview. At the same time, it offers a wealth of insights into a range of Buddhist ideas and practices and is written in a simple and direct style. It represents a great way in to Buddhism, especially for someone with a practical interest in the Buddhist way of life.

3. Skilton, A. 1997. A Concise History of Buddhism, Birmingham: Windhorse Publications.

This is precisely what it says on the tin. It is a substantial book and best read in bite-sized chunks. It covers a huge amount of material with clarity but may prove a heavy read for someone with no background in Buddhism. It tends to focus more on the development of Buddhist thought and schools rather than on broader cultural material. This is my personal favourite as a general overview of Buddhist history.

4. Side, Dominique. 2005. Buddhism, Philip Allan Updates.

This book was designed as an introduction to the study of Buddhism at Advanced Level in the UK. This means that for an adult it is pitched at a very accessible level. It manages to incorporate a wide range of material in highly readable format. The writer is from a Tibetan Buddhist background and this clearly informs her approach to many issues. The fact that the book is designed for A level also influences the orientation of the book.

5. Trainor, Kevin (Editor). 2001. Buddhism: the Illustrated Guide, Duncan Baird Publishers.

I have included this book partly because it incorporates a large number of illustrations. It is very well laid out with short articles by leading scholars on many central Buddhist topics, together with photographs that illustrate important visual material. Buddhism is a very visual tradition, and without some exposure to this visual culture it is hard to get a real grasp of it.

6. Prebish, Charles and Keown, Damien. 2006. Introducing Buddhism (World Religions), Routledge.

This book was specifically designed as an introduction for undergraduates. It is well organized and laid out and covers a wealth of material in an authoritative manner. It may leave someone with a more practical interest a bit cold since it is not the most engaging introduction.

7. Conze, Edward. 2002. Buddhism: its Essence and Development, Windhorse Publications.

Edward Conze was a giant of Buddhist studies who combined immense scholarship with existential engagement with Buddhism. His writing is vidid, even trenchant, and always engaging. While some of his scholarship is now a little dated, his work nevertheless remains highly readable. A favourite writer of mine.

8. Gethin, Rupert. 1998. The Foundations of Buddhism, Oxford: OUP.

This is a good introduction to Buddhism. It is academically-oriented and certainly favours early mainstream Buddhism and Theravada above other forms, but it introduces many basic Buddhist teachings clearly and authoritatively.

9. Harvey, Peter. 1990. An Introduction to Buddhism: Teachings, History, and Practices, Cambridge University Press.

This has been regarded by many as the standard academic overview of Buddhism for some years. It is very much an academic approach, and includes a wealth of information. For a practice oriented person this may not be the best place to start but it would constitute a very good reference book to be dipped into from time to time to develop one's knowledge.

10. Harvey, Peter (ed.). 2001. Buddhism, London: Continuum.

Rather than following a historical approach, this book adopts a thematic one. So, for instance, there is a chapter on sacred writings, a chapter on rituals, and a chapter on women. Each of the themes is considered in relation to a range of Buddhist materials. This is a significant strength since it avoids unduly privileging early Buddhism at the expense of later developments. It is very much an academic overview, aimed more at undergraduates than general readers. It contains a lot of useful information, although often rather compressed. Each of the chapters is written by a different scholar, which means that it is somewhat uneven.

Agree or disagree?

Let me know your favourite introduction to Buddhism.