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 | The Origin of Humankind |
 | "Concise and Precise Introduction" | 2009-10-25 |
Nice, concise, and also precise! With rhyme and reason, Richard Leakey examines some of the major theories about human evolution, and has composed a very readable account. This book will serve as a very useful and engaging introduction to scientific theories on the origins of human evolution. I high recommend it!
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 | Seven Years in Tibet |
 | "A Worthy Read" | 2009-09-24 |
The movie is powerful, but I certainly also recommend the book. Seven Years in Tibet tells the story of Harrer's escape from British imprisonment, and his exile in Tibet. Written in very plain and accessible English, it nonetheless conveys the powerful impressions - the danger, the cold, and the exotic experience of a new and foreign culture. Readers will undoubtedly be moved and impressed with his account of the Tibetan people. There is, unfortunately, relatively little of the book dedicated to his immediate tutoring experience of the Dalai Lama (only one chapter - but it is a valuable one). Much of the book discusses his escape and the trials and tribulations he and his mountaineering companion faced en-route to Lhasa. In spite of that shortcoming, the book remains a vital perspective on the Tibetan culture as it existed prior to the Chinese takeover in 1950. Anyone concerned about the Tibetans should read this book by a very trusted friend of the Dalai Lama.
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 | In Exile from the Land of Snows: The Definitive Account of the Dalai Lama and Tibet Since the Chinese Conquest |
| "A Moving Tale of Exile" | 2009-09-17 |
John Avedon's book is about half devoted to the Dalai Lama himself, and the other half to other persons exiled from Tibet, as well as the story of Tibet's traumatic occupation by Communist Chinese. This book should not disappoint you, even if you were expecting a more biographical account of the Dalai Lama. Avedon tells a very moving story of exile, political oppression, and conflict. The brutality under Mao's occupation is as unimaginable as the justification for invasion was absurd. Those wishing primarily to understand the situation of the Tibetan occupation and exile, and also how the Dalai Lama fits into this context, should read this book. You will learn in vivid detail what the Tibetan people have experienced. Avedon's style is not academic, but very readable. I highly recommend the book.
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 | Holy War, Inc.: Inside The Secret World of Osama Bin Laden |
| "Provoking Portrait of a Disturbed Man" | 2009-09-09 |
Bergen's first book on Osama bin Laden and the Al-Qaeda network, this is still an excellent and dependable resource for learning about one of the world's most infamous men. Bergen is a reliable source, and one of the few men in the world to have personally met Bin Laden in very dangerous circumstances. Those wishing to know who Bin Laden is and what he wants would be well-advised to read this accurate, clearly written volume.
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 | Holy War, Inc.: Inside the Secret World of Osama bin Laden |
| "Provoking Portrait of a Disturbed Man" | 2009-09-09 |
Bergen's first book on Osama bin Laden and the Al-Qaeda network, this is still an excellent and dependable resource for learning about one of the world's most infamous men. Bergen is a reliable source, and one of the few men in the world to have personally met Bin Laden in very dangerous circumstances. Those wishing to know who Bin Laden is and what he wants would be well-advised to read this accurate, clearly written volume.
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 | When Science Meets Religion : Enemies, Strangers, or Partners? |
| "A Sound Overview of a Very Current and Relevant Field" | 2009-08-28 |
This is a good book, but it can be a dense read. Barbour introduces four views as to whether science and religion are ultimately compatible. (These four views are much similar to the categories introduced by John Haught's book "Religion and Science") Barbour treats the subject with an objective, and serious mind. While he is certainly favorable to religion, science is also extremely important to him. Readers will no doubt be enriched by his knowledge of this very lively and relevant topic.
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 | Freedom in Exile |
| "A Very Important Story to Know" | 2009-08-28 |
The Dalai Lama, a winner of the Nobel Prize in 1989, tells his life's story in this readable, gripping account of himself and his country. He clarifies that this is not a book about Buddhism, and he is correct. He does not expound upon Buddhist philosophy much, but he does present some of his own core views: such as the essentially universal nature of human beings all over the world, and basic core ethics of loving kindness, non-violence, and justice. Readers will learn who this man is, where he was born, how he became the Dalai Lama, and how the Chinese government cruelly and savagely ripped away Tibet's independence. Written in clear, simple English, the book nonetheless succeeds in painting a rich portrait of Tibet. It illustrates also some of the customs of Tibetan culture that are in so much danger of being forgotten, or at least drown-out in a country that is rapidly becoming subsumed under the Chinese influence. A strongly recommended read.
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 | Sleeping With the Devil: How Washington Sold Our Soul for Saudi Crude |
| "Provoking, Disturbing - a Worthy Read." | 2009-08-22 |
Robert Baer asks some disturbing questions about the security of Saudi Arabian oil, and indeed about the U.S. relationship to Saudi Arabia. Of course everyone knows that Saudi Oil is important, but few are capable of illustrating in such vivid and unsettling detail the sheer power of oil, as well as the great fragility inherent in being so dependent upon it. Those wishing to understand Saudi Arabia and the politics of oil would be advised to read this book.
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 | Letters from Burma |
| "A Powerful Collection of Portraits" | 2009-08-22 |
Aung San Suu Kyi, winner of the 1991 Nobel Peace Prize, shows a remarkable character for appreciating the beauty of nature and religion, as well as the savage reality of authoritarian politics. Her writing style is easy and concise, and for those interested in an overview introduction to Burmese culture, religion, and politics, this book could serve as a very good starting point. The "Letters from Burma" are exactly that - a series of letters on a variety of topics about Burma, its people, and its politics. Kyi is of course renown for her commitment to justice and her resistance of tyranny. Readers will begin to see into her mind, her trials and tribulations, as well as the present nature of Burma and its inhabitants. The only fault with this book is perhaps the format. Letters are a difficult way to construct a cohesive, integrated whole, so readers will be left with some task in building their own image from a serious of these 52 portrait-letters. That task, for this gifted writer, should not however be too difficult to discern.
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 | Muhammad: A Biography of the Prophet |
| "Good work - recommended." | 2009-08-07 |
If you are interested in understanding the Prophet Muhammad, you should read this book. While there are many out there who are highly critical of Muhammad, Armstrong acts as a good counter-weight to their influence. Doing a good deal to defend the Prophet Muhammad from many of his critics, she presents a sympathetic and informative account of the founder of Islam. I have come to trust her scholarship more than most. Many will be wary of possible bias - especially if they have an innate phobia of Muslims, but I would hope that most will overcome this unfortunate prejudice and see how much Islam is like the Prophetic religions of Judaism and Christianity. I certainly recommend this work, together with Armstrong's short history on Islam.
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 | The Battle for God |
 | "Detailed but could be better organized" | 2009-08-07 |
As a history of the development of religion fundamentalism (in the Abrahamic faiths - Judaism, Christianity, and Islam), this book is very detailed and will not disappoint the reader who is committed to learning something new. I would, however, take issue with the organization of the book. Constantly lapsing between one religion and another, the structure of the book does not make for easy reading or comprehension. You will have to be a committed enthusiast for understanding religious fanaticism to get through it. That said, I think Armstrong's book is overall a fascinating look at a dark and disturbing topic.
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 | The Battle For God |
| "Detailed but could be better organized" | 2009-08-07 |
As a history of the development of religion fundamentalism (in the Abrahamic faiths - Judaism, Christianity, and Islam), this book is very detailed and will not disappoint the reader who is committed to learning something new. I would, however, take issue with the organization of the book. Constantly lapsing between one religion and another, the structure of the book does not make for easy reading or comprehension. You will have to be a committed enthusiast for understanding religious fanaticism to get through it. That said, I think Armstrong's book is overall a fascinating look at a dark and disturbing topic.
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 | Islam: A Short History |
| "A sound introduction." | 2009-08-07 |
Karen Armstrong, true to her usual form, gives a dense and fact-packed work that provides the reader with a wealth of information about the religion of Islam. Admittedly a "liberal apologist" for the religion, she is more sympathetic than critical of Islam, but in spite of this slight bias I have found he works to be dependable and very informative. I certainly recommend this book for those interested in getting some accurate details and perspective on the roots and development of Islam.
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 | Islam : A Short History |
| "A sound introduction." | 2009-08-07 |
Karen Armstrong, true to her usual form, gives a dense and fact-packed work that provides the reader with a wealth of information about the religion of Islam. Admittedly a "liberal apologist" for the religion, she is more sympathetic than critical of Islam, but in spite of this slight bias I have found he works to be dependable and very informative. I certainly recommend this book for those interested in getting some accurate details and perspective on the roots and development of Islam.
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 | Scriptures of the East |
| "Good, basic overview of the East" | 2009-07-14 |
Fieser and Powers have become established names in the trade of world religious texts. This introduction will certainly not disappoint, as it has presents a wide and responsible sampling of the major religious traditions living today. While I might quibble with some of their interpretations, or the rationale for some of their selections (I would have preferred much more on the Bhagavad Gita and less on the Laws of Manu, for example), I think they have produced a very useful and informative basic overview the scriptures of Eastern Traditions. Teachers will not be disappointed in selecting it, and students will be informed in reading it. It ranks very favorably with the Mary Pat Fisher editions and should be widely read. [please also note, I believe this text is a mere exact copy of the first half of their "Scriptures of World Religions"; Mary Pat Fisher has done much the same]
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 | Darsan |
 | "Not too helpful for me" | 2009-07-06 |
Having read this book twice, it simply is not for me, nor would I strongly recommend it. While the scholarship is evidently good, I can't see anything in here which an accomplished scholar of Hinduism wouldn't already know, nor can I see this as a particularly helpful introduction to Hinduism for beginners. Yes, it does get the idea of "Darsan - seeing the divine" down well, and debunks the Western criticisms and shallow reactions to Hinduism. I cannot see, however, how this would be useful to an introductory student of Hinduism, because it is far too brief and the manuscript wanders freely from topic to topic, asking far too many questions, giving too little context and in-depth answers. I feel like this was originally a scholarly essay which turned into a book, and which probably worked better as a shorter scholarly essay. A good topic, but not the best read I would say.
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 | Gandhi : A Life |
| "A Masterful Work" | 2009-06-24 |
Yogesh Chadha has produced a wonderful biography of Mohandas K. Gandhi, known to the world as the Great Mahatma, but in reality a man with a noble spirit as well as faults and weaknesses that he would readily admit to. Chadha's biography is a masterful work of comprehensive detail spanning from Gandhi's childhood to his death. He has rivaled the classic Louis Fischer biography and surpassed it in many respects, including details of politics, intrigue, and the assassination, which Fischer did not go into with as much depth. Both biographies are truly excellent. Chadha manages to tell the story of Gandhi without excessive glamorization or unjust criticism. Those wishing to know the Mahatma, and to fully understand his life, should make a point of reading the Chadha biography. Though many of the details are indeed revealed in other published works (Gandhi, Fischer, Tendulkar, for example), and in many respects Chadha leaves the basic story of Gandhi intact, he has composed the work with impressive depth, scope, and readability. Most highly recommended.
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 | Mahabharata |
| "A Well-Condensed Classic" | 2009-06-12 |
The Mahabharata is a classic Hindu tale of the struggle of the Pandavas and the Kauravas for the Kingdom of Hastinapura. Arjuna leads the Pandavas to champion the cause of Prince Yudhishthira against the corrupt Duryodhana. Krishna (an incarnation of Vishnu) and other gods make routine appearances, bestowing blessings or curses on the major heroes. The Mahabharata in full form contains the Bhagavad Gita, which is of course classic Hindu scripture. The Mahabharata as it is retold here is not a direct translation, but an abbreviated retelling and summary the immense Hindu epic. Those fascinated with the fantastic and wild tales of Hindu heroes and gods, or simply intrigued by Hindu religion and culture in general should read this book.
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 | Upanisads |
| "A classic to know, but not a sparkling read" | 2009-06-05 |
The Upanisads make up part of the classic Hindu holy scriptures, so anyone wishing to more fully understand appreciate Hinduism must read them. Olivelle does a fine job of putting them into context and providing plenty of explanatory footnotes. That said, the Upanisads are not always the most invigorating read. Many are highly formulaic, antiquated expressions of humanistic science and spirituality. For the rare gems of wisdom, however, which express the Hindu ideas about the unity of the self (atman) with Brahman, the cosmic importance of OM, and a few details about the afterlife, the read does ultimately become worthwhile. Certainly not for the lighthearted reader, but for the serious student a recommended read.
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 | The Bhagavad Gita |
| "A Powerful and Helpful Translation" | 2009-06-01 |
Easwaran has produced a very accessible translation of the classic Hindu text, with very helpful commentary and preparatory remarks. Students of the Gita for the first time, or those who wish to revisit a classic, will appreciate the effort that Easwaran has gone to, so that the Gita is intelligible in the full context of its Hindu background. Easwaran has dug out the meaning and the spirit of the Gita very effectively, and has helped explain why it was Gandhi's favorite text.
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 | The Sikhs of the Punjab (The New Cambridge History of India) |
| "A Dense, Fact-Packed Read" | 2009-05-19 |
This is a dense, fact-packed book. It is not lightly written, but a rigorous and serious academic study of the Sikh people from their inception with the Guru Nanak up to the period of political turmoil that both preceded and followed the Operation Bluestar raid in Amritsar. Academics will no doubt find this a valuable treasure to have on their shelves, but the reader who is not anointed in the history or religion of the Sikhs will find this a difficult, arduous read. So, for the initiated I would give it five stars, but for the novice more like three - so I have compromised on four. If you want to know about the Sikhs and their history, you should read this book, but if you don't know anything about them, you should start elsewhere and work your way towards this book.
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 | A Simple Path: Basic Buddhist Teachings by His Holiness Teh Dalai Lama |
| "Almost a Successful Introduction" | 2009-04-14 |
The Dalai Lama's books are usually very simply and lightly written, so that the average reader has no difficulty accessing them. This book is some exception to that, as the Dalai Lama wanders into topics that the introductory student of Buddhism might find a bit arcane. His intent is to explain the basic Buddhist Path of the Four Noble Truths, and he almost accomplished that here. I would hesitate to recommend this book to an introductory student on Buddhism, with the caveat of not getting discouraged on the Dalai Lama period. He has produced many wonderful ideas and is justifiably celebrated as a religious leader, but I could not conclude that this is his strongest or most accessible work. The book is wonderfully illustrated with pictures of Buddhists and their monasteries from Tibet to India, and one wishes there had been much more attention to the vibrancy of Tibetan and Buddhist culture, than merely incidentally commentary along the way. Alas, it succeeds more as a nicely illustrated coffee-table book than a substantive introduction to Buddhism.
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 | A Simple Path: Basic Buddhist Teachings by His Holiness the Dalai Lama |
| "Almost a Successful Introduction" | 2009-04-14 |
The Dalai Lama's books are usually very simply and lightly written, so that the average reader has no difficulty accessing them. This book is some exception to that, as the Dalai Lama wanders into topics that the introductory student of Buddhism might find a bit arcane. His intent is to explain the basic Buddhist Path of the Four Noble Truths, and he almost accomplished that here. I would hesitate to recommend this book to an introductory student on Buddhism, with the caveat of not getting discouraged on the Dalai Lama period. He has produced many wonderful ideas and is justifiably celebrated as a religious leader, but I could not conclude that this is his strongest or most accessible work. The book is wonderfully illustrated with pictures of Buddhists and their monasteries from Tibet to India, and one wishes there had been much more attention to the vibrancy of Tibetan and Buddhist culture, than merely incidentally commentary along the way. Alas, it succeeds more as a nicely illustrated coffee-table book than a substantive introduction to Buddhism.
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 | Heart of Buddha's Teaching |
| "Some good seeds of moral wisdom" | 2009-04-07 |
Thich Nhat Hanh has a gift for rendering the Buddhist religion into simple, direct and compelling language. Using analogy and a very patient method of explanation, Hanh gives the reader a great deal about Buddhism. Intellectually and morally fulfilling in many ways, this work serves as an effective introduction to the Buddhist religion. While there are some parts of the Buddhist belief and ideas that I do not share, and do not find fully compelling, there are many seeds of wisdom which people of all backgrounds and religious dispositions could find useful. My major criticism is that Hanh recounts Buddhism with somewhat obsessive preoccupation of "number schemes." This is not wholly his fault, the sutras and religion itself might be blamed. For example "the twelve turnings, the five aggregates, the three jewels, or three dharma seals. . ." - that all gets to be somewhat tedious and tiresome, frankly. In spite of this shortcoming, the strengths of the book outweigh the minuses, and I would recommend it to the beginning student of Buddhism.
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 | The Buddhist Tradition : In India, China and Japan |
| "An Informative Introduction" | 2009-03-23 |
Theodore de Bary has produced a fine summary of the Buddhist Tradition in India, China, and Japan. For the introductory student of Buddhism, who wants to get a bit beyond the cursory introduction of most college world religion texts, de Bary's compilation offers a very useful and informative introduction. Inside are collected excerpts of some Buddhist texts, from the time of Buddhism's inception in India to it final arrival in Japan centuries later. The text excludes much of Southeast Asia, so it has very little on the Theravada or Hinayana tradition, but it explains in concise form the differentiation of the Mahayana and Hinayana schools. Most dense and difficult (or perhaps just the most tedious) are the Chinese sources on Buddhism and emptiness, following the period of Nagarjuna. There are, however, many sources of rich information that a student of Buddhism will still find useful today.
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 | Siddhartha |
| "A Classic Look at Hindu and Buddhist Wisdom" | 2009-02-05 |
Hermann Hesse's "Siddartha" is not exactly an account of the historical Buddha, but a fictional account of a man named Siddartha who is looking for spiritual meaning at the time of Buddha's life. Siddartha drifts through several stages of life, as a Hindu ascetic, as a worldly businessman in love with a beautiful woman, and finally as a ferryboat man. Siddartha's voyage to enlightenment is far from direct, but illumines several fascinating aspects about human life, its meaning, love and suffering. If Hesse has not captured the essence of the spiritual pursuits of Hinduism and Buddhism, he has at least captured key aspects of them; and of the essential meaning of life.
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 | Buddha (Penguin Lives) |
| "A Good Short Biography" | 2009-02-02 |
This is a short, compact read on the life of the Buddha by a scholar of excellent reputation. Armstrong has lived up to that reputation here by delivering another quality work of scholarship that is more accessible to the reader than some of her other writings. If you are interested in a short overview of the facts and mythologies built up around the life of Siddatta Gotama - the historical Buddha - then Armstrong's work should be a quick and rewarding read. There are not too many substantiated facts about the Buddha, but Armstrong has done a skillful job weaving an engaging story around the reports that do exist.
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 | Buddha |
| "A Good Short Biography" | 2009-02-02 |
This is a short, compact read on the life of the Buddha by a scholar of excellent reputation. Armstrong has lived up to that reputation here by delivering another quality work of scholarship that is more accessible to the reader than some of her other writings. If you are interested in a short overview of the facts and mythologies built up around the life of Siddatta Gotama - the historical Buddha - then Armstrong's work should be a quick and rewarding read. There are not too many substantiated facts about the Buddha, but Armstrong has done a skillful job weaving an engaging story around the reports that do exist.
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 | Sun Tzu: The Art of War for Managers; 50 Strategic Rules |
| "A good but not extraordinary read" | 2008-12-15 |
Michaelson uses a new translation of Sun Tzu The Art of War to illustrate how the wisdom of ancient principles of combat can be applied to modern business. While much of what Sun Tzu says does not seem extraordinary or extremely profound, it might be remembered that "common sense is not so common." Though much of what Sun Tzu says might be taken for granted, it is likely human nature's propensity to ignore the obvious and the time-tested which makes Sun Tzu's work a classic. Michaelson is successful in pointing out some timeless precepts and ideas that can be applied from Sun Tzu's thought to the business world. It is also a dynamic and creative approach to an ancient text. That said, there seems to be a superficial feel to the book, as a hundred brief, different case examples of businesses (as opposed to a few in depth) don't quite illustrate with full impact the meaning and import of the wisdom of Sun Tzu's classic. So I would rate this between 3 and 4 stars - a good, but not extraordinary read.
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 | Sexism and God-Talk |
| "A Classic of Christian Feminism" | 2008-12-09 |
Ruether lays out the basic principles of a Christian Feminist ethic in this book, and outlines a number of alternative feminists views from the radical to the liberal and socialist perspective. She illustrates convincingly the male bias of much of the theological perspective of the Christian tradition, and suggests how a feminist ethic can help rectify the domineering, hierarchical model of society that this tradition has been all-too-comfortable with. A male Jesus can save feminists too, because Jesus was all about leveling inequalities and promoting social justice, from her point of view. Ruether's writing style and language ranges from accessible to somewhat inaccessible. Beginning students of feminism may find some of the language and background hard to follow, but in a concise work Ruether's book still remains a successful illustration of the feminist ideas of Christianity.
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