Publishers Weekly
01/17/2022
Salguero (A Global History of Buddhism and Medicine), professor of Asian history and religious studies at Pennsylvania State University, offers an informative, skeptic-friendly introduction to 20 fundamental Buddhist concepts. In accessible language, Salguero covers topics such as awakening, suffering, karma, non-self, mindfulness, and more, raising questions that stimulate critical thinking without condescending to provide definitive answers: “Only you can say whether or not this perspective helps you.” The author states upfront that he identifies as “Buddhish” and disagrees with many of Buddhism’s philosophies, despite his experience as a monk and academic interest in the religion. As such, his evenhanded approach empathizes without tempering critique as he tackles devotional rituals, misogyny and patriarchy, and the social implications of karma. Salguero exercises remarkable facility and care in faithfully capturing an unromanticized Buddhism as a living tradition while encouraging readers to draw their own conclusions, offering up a balanced and broad overview of the faith. Those new to Buddhism will find this a nuanced and approachable explanation of its essential concepts. (Mar.)
From the Publisher
An informative, skeptic-friendly introduction . . . Salguero exercises remarkable facility and care in faithfully capturing an unromanticized Buddhism as a living tradition while encouraging readers to draw their own conclusions, offering up a balanced and broad overview of the faith . . . [N]uanced and approachable.”
—Publishers Weekly
“[A] thoughtful introductory guide to Buddhism...Salguero, a scholar and professor of Buddhism, explains the classic texts well. But he also opens up the spiritual practices in understandable, applicable ways.”
—Spirituality & Practice
“Reading this book is like talking with an intelligent, funny, cool, and down-to-earth friend who is actually an expert on Buddhism. The Buddhist teachings and practices come to life through Salguero’s insights, stories, and thoughtfully organized treatment as he guides you through fundamental historical, philosophical, and cultural dimensions of Buddhism. In other words, it’s an accurate and accessible book. It offers thought-provoking questions that prime the pump for deeper inquiry and self-reflection.”
—Paula Arai, author of Bringing Zen Home
“As an antidote to the Hollywood romanticizing of Asian monks in red robes, the proliferation of platitudes from mindfulness and sappy Buddhist self-help peace, love, and happiness books, and the dry, scholastic, and hair-splitting treatises on Buddhism from academics, Pierce Salguero’s Buddhish provides an honest, personal, and refreshing middle-way journey that neither mystifies nor dismisses what this tradition has to offer.”
—Ron Purser, author of McMindfulness
“I often hesitate when asked for recommendations for Introduction to Buddhism books. On the one side, academic books are rigorous but dry; on the other, practitioner books on Buddhism can be overly focused on meditation practice and lack depth. Buddhish bridges the two genres perfectly. It is an accessible, relevant, and fresh take on core influential concepts and practices in Buddhism that draws on the author’s significant lived and academic background in the tradition. Buddhish will be my go-to beginner’s guide. It should be yours, too.”
—Ann Gleig, author of American Dharma
“Buddhish has unexpectedly changed my life as a practicing Buddhist and Buddhist teacher, and I am astounded, angry, and joyful. From his opening salvo in declaring there is no historical evidence that ‘the Buddha’ existed, to his ending exhortation to ‘be skeptical,’ C. Pierce Salguero nevertheless creates a rich and nuanced appreciation and description of the major lineages and teachings of Buddhism as a global faith tradition with much to offer the curious and open-minded. The limpid writing and confident organization of the chapters covering key subjects such as non-self and Buddha-nature assure that this book is destined to become a nondogmatic source of information, conversation, and fruitful inquiry for readers who are ready not to become Buddhist, but Buddhish.”
—Mushim Patricia Ikeda, Buddhist and secular mindfulness teacher; diversity, equity, and inclusion consultant; and community activist
“For those who are curious but skeptical about Buddhism, Salguero’s Buddhish offers an introduction that is informed by real-world experience of traditional Buddhism but never dogmatic. It is an approachable guide to foundational and timeless ideas from Buddhism that are relevant to real life. Its presentation of Buddhist thought is at once critical, sensitive, and personal, and it will help any reader to not just understand Buddhist ideas but also to feel what makes Buddhism transformative, difficult, and fascinating.”
—Nicolas Bommarito, author of Seeing Clearly: A Buddhist Guide to Life
Library Journal
12/30/2021
Salguero (Asian history, medicine, and religion, Abington Coll. at Penn State Univ.; Translating Buddhist Medicine in Medieval China) presents straightforward discussions of 20 key Buddhist ideas in his latest book. He has a unique lens, as a transdisciplinary humanities scholar with more than three decades of focused research in Buddhism, including experiential learning in Buddhist monasteries and across the Asian continent. The author is not a Buddhist himself; here states that his approach is skeptical of aspects of Buddhist philosophy. (This book is intended as a layperson's introduction to basic Buddhist concepts, rather than a guide to meditation or how to be Buddhist.) Salguero organizes the book logically, introducing formative Buddhist ideas that will be built upon to discuss more complex ideologies, which are then explained within a practical context; a guide to terminology and a list of further reading conclude the volume. VERDICT Salguero's is not a work for academic researchers or readers already versed in Buddhist philosophy; in fact, he dissuades such readers in the introduction. It will most suit niche readers with a skeptic's mindset who are seeking basic information about Buddhism. Not a necessary acquisition.—Angela Forret, State Lib. of Iowa, Des Moines
