Why Buddhism is True: The Science and Philosophy of Meditation and Enlightenment
Written by Robert Wright
Narrated by Fred Sanders
4.5/5
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About this audiobook
At the heart of Buddhism is a simple claim: The reason we suffer—and the reason we make other people suffer—is that we don’t see the world clearly. At the heart of Buddhist meditative practice is a radical promise: We can learn to see the world, including ourselves, more clearly and so gain a deep and morally valid happiness.
In this “sublime” (The New Yorker), pathbreaking book, Robert Wright shows how taking this promise seriously can change your life—how it can loosen the grip of anxiety, regret, and hatred, and how it can deepen your appreciation of beauty and of other people. He also shows why this transformation works, drawing on the latest in neuroscience and psychology, and armed with an acute understanding of human evolution.
This book is the culmination of a personal journey that began with Wright’s landmark book on evolutionary psychology, The Moral Animal, and deepened as he immersed himself in meditative practice and conversed with some of the world’s most skilled meditators. The result is a story that is “provocative, informative and...deeply rewarding” (The New York Times Book Review), and as entertaining as it is illuminating. Written with the wit, clarity, and grace for which Wright is famous, Why Buddhism Is True lays the foundation for a spiritual life in a secular age and shows how, in a time of technological distraction and social division, we can save ourselves from ourselves, both as individuals and as a species.
Robert Wright
Robert Wright is the New York Times bestselling author of The Evolution of God (a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize), Nonzero, The Moral Animal, Three Scientists and their Gods (a finalist for the National Book Critics Circle Award), and Why Buddhism Is True. He is the co-founder and editor-in-chief of the widely respected Bloggingheads.tv and MeaningofLife.tv. He has written for The New Yorker, The Atlantic, The New York Times, Time, Slate, and The New Republic. He has taught at the University of Pennsylvania and at Princeton University, where he also created the popular online course “Buddhism and Modern Psychology.” He is currently Visiting Professor of Science and Religion at Union Theological Seminary in New York.
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Reviews for Why Buddhism is True
754 ratings59 reviews
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5brilliant writing, superb reading and just a complete total package for a very enlightening book.
1 person found this helpful
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Its definitly a book if you whant to find yourself. The information in it helped me so much :)
1 person found this helpful
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Great book. Great insight just the right tone. Great life advice.
1 person found this helpful
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5This book raised some ideas that could potentially change my views towards my actions.
1 person found this helpful
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Some really new points of view on Buddhism and meditation for me. Loved it.
1 person found this helpful
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5This has been the best Science/Phylosophy/Buddhist book I have read and the closest to matching Science brain and Buddhist mind.
And no my head did not explode, but then, I meditate therefore I am not.1 person found this helpful
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5easy to follow the layman terms for anyone new to the subject. a hidden little gem
1 person found this helpful
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5I guess it's okay for a skeptic. Not for me
1 person found this helpful
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Delightful. Even though, It´s not a very scientific neither philosophical book; Wright explores some concepts of Buddhism practice in an understandable way. The popularity of "yoga" as a comercial trend, misunderstood the spiritual benefits of real meditation practices which would lead to the true. I don´t think the aim of Wright was to present an extensive compilation of evidence, rather his own personal experiences and opinions about the matter of Buddhism as an accurate approach to life itself. I remembered took a few lecture of him in "Buddhism and Modern Psychology" in Coursera; they were really though. But now, after listened to this audiobook, many concepts seem more familiar and less intricate that they were. I listened to this book in audio format at the right time. I recommend the book to whoever wants a good relaxing time.
1 person found this helpful
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Brilliant and funny. A must for anyone considering meditation .
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The best American book about Buddhism in all aspects.Truly enjoyed.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Excellent cohesion of science and spirituality presented beautifuly.. balanced, interesting, and quite funny.. everything required to breeze right through while learning, laughing, and loving this book!
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5I'm fairly well versed in the tenets of secular Buddhism but I was impressed that he could take a lot of old ideas and give them his own personal flavor. I believe this book is great for beginners but also for seasoned students. He gave voice to many of my own experiences with Buddhism and meditation. It's not a how-to book but gives a great overview of common pitfalls when one tries to meditate. He shows how distraction common among beginners isn't a failure. And how you can make the most of it even if you can't pay attention to your breath for more than 5 seconds. I could go on and on about it but I'd say just give it a try and if you like the first chapter you'll probably be into the rest of it.
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5The author does a good job of using a scientific lens with western Buddhism. I found this helpful for finding objective truth in western Buddhist concepts. Scientific rigor is generally good for modern thought. Now for the bad. The book contains the problems inherent in western Buddhism, like applying western principles, like greek-style philosophical proofs and arguments in an Eastern philosophy. The content gets cringeworthy with the author's brand of metaphysics and pseudophilosophy and the extra cringe sections on dating and attraction, none of which are Eastern Buddhist concepts.
- Rating: 2 out of 5 stars2/5if it didn't make me depressed I'd give it 5 stars.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5A personable, well-researched book. An accessible introductory overview of contemporary "western Buddhism."
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Very insightful, a must read for anyone interested in this subject.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5There is a lot that we do not have to think about.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Having listened to the lectures before, this was really enjoyable in the audio format and was good to reflect on some of the ideas whilst even on the move myself.
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5A fascinating look at the correlation between Buddhist understanding of the psyche and modern psychology. Found it very interesting, although struggled at times with the audio as the narrator is very monotone, and at times the pauses and emphasis are distracting in the sense that they sound like an automated recording. 3 stars.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5A wonderfull work, full of informations. If you are interested in the science that can support buddhism, this book is for you.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Very good audiobook. The lessons were great. Will relisten in the future
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5This is a wonderful book. It as a great discussion of Buddhism thoughts held by an empathetic author
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Excellent book, but 4 starts rather than 5 because it can be a bit too long and winding in places so occasionally loses a bit of impact and requires some rewinding to get back into. I'll be buying a paper copy
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Thoroughly enjoyed the audiobook. I find listening to this somewhat relaxing.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Wonderfully reflective. A must read for those looking to reflect within and throughout.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Good book to get a sense of modern Buddhist ideas, science behind it and applications in daily lives
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Scientific explanations for why Buddhism works so well for so many people
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5This was a great introduction to Buddhism from a secular position and the science was interesting. It was a factor in convincing me to take up a regular meditation practice. This has inspired me to continue studying Buddhism in a non-secular way so I'll be doing some further reading; if you're looking for a spiritual or deeply philosophical text, this is probably not it, but I think it was worth the read for sure.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5I don't usually read reviews, but I had to leave one. This book covers so much, but I enjoyed it and probably will read it again.