With such bestsellers as A History of God and Islam; Karen Armstrong has consistently delivered "penetrating; readable; and prescient" (The New York Times) works that have lucidly engaged a wide range of religions and religious issues. In Buddha she turns to a figure whose thought is still reverberating throughout the world 2;500 years after his death.Many know the Buddha only from seeing countless serene; iconic images. But what of the man himself and the world he lived in? What did he actually do in his roughly eighty years on earth that spawned one of the greatest religions in world history? Armstrong tackles these questions and more by examining the life and times of the Buddha in this engrossing philosophical biography. Against the tumultuous cultural background of his world; she blends history; philosophy; mythology; and biography to create a compelling and illuminating portrait of a man whose awakening continues to inspire millions.
#108777 in Books 2003-05-27 2003-05-27Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 7.72 x .73 x 5.07l; .63 #File Name: 0142437522432 pages
Review
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful. Amazing.By Arthur W. BrownI read this through like a novel; it was a great book. I admire Powell quite a bit; so I'm biased; but his narrative flows well and you can really feel the difficulty and adventure that they went through. You really feel the loss when the party splits up; and you feel the accomplishment when they finally reach another human being. I also enjoy the illustrations; especially the cover. For anyone who wants to read the inspiring; honest account of this adventure of exploration firsthand; don't be afraid of the fact that this is a journal. I think it is much easier to read than the journals of Lewis and Clark; and any other book explaining Powell's trip is just going to be a rewording of this; and not likely to do it justice.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Four StarsBy JustinPretty good. Read it before rafting down the Grand.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Great insight into the man and his adventuresBy John H.John Wesley Powell is one of those rare heros and a real humanitarian. He predicted the dust bowl and water issues that plague this part of the world even today. This is an important book for anyone who is interested in this part of the world. I highly recommend it. John Horst; author of The Mule Tamer saga.