[Buddha-l] bibliography

[Franz Metcalf]

Fellow denizens,

Professor Prebish's latest survey data came out in a paper he gave at  
the International Association of Buddhist Studies conference last  
Summer, but I don't know if or how it's headed for publication. Sorry  
about that.

Thanks, Gary, for continuing to like my old title, and of course  
anything I write is suitable only for beginners. But here's a few good  
books you might not have got to yet:

Soren Gordhamer, _Just Say Om!_, Avon, MA: Adams Media Corporation,  
2001.
This is a great little handbook on life for teenagers. It covers a  
whole slew of issues with great aplomb and humor but also a charming  
sincerity deeply grounded in practice.

John Makransky, _Awakening through Love: Unveiling your Deepest  
Goodness_, Boston: Wisdom, 2007.
Professor Makransky's (aka Lama John's) book puts Dzogchen practice in  
the service of love. He is totally convincing in de-esotericizing this  
Tibetan stuff without seeming to undermine its power. I found the book  
both moving and challenging.

Bhante Henepola Gunaratana, _Eight Mindful Steps to Happiness_,  
Boston: Wisdom, 2001.
Bhante Gunaratana works through the eightfold path, unpacking it with  
a kind of graceful simplicity. I haven't read his _Mindfulness in  
Plain English_, to which this is a sequel. This book definitely stands  
on its own as in introduction to Theravadin practice for laypersons.

Gunaratana's work on the eightfold path reminds me of Robert Aitken  
Roshi's work on the paramitas, _The Practice of Perfection_  
(Washington: Counterpoint, 1994). But I won't say more about Aitken  
because you've already read all his brilliant and poetic oeuvre.

Curious what other folks will recommend,

Franz