great intro to the world of buddhismSeptember 5, 2007 3 out of 3 found this review helpful
easy to read, easy to follow and great, easy points to keep in mind after reading the book.
this was a perfect book to read to get the feel for buddhism and to feel confident to read something more advanced.
Easy Peasy!! Get this one FIRST.July 22, 2007 4 out of 4 found this review helpful
This HAS to be one of the BEST {["Introductions"]} to Buddhism I've ever come across. Plain (yes it is!!) simple - yes, & easy to understand & digest. Short, concise & to the point. In fact it's ALL of the positive comments made here above already. Refreshing & intelligently written. More importantly it's very "enlightening" (pun intended).
A perfect starter book if you want to get an inkling for what "all the rage" is about, especially if you're a student of any kind and short on study time.
Even if you're not a Buddhist, or not even thinking about becoming one, it's good to have some understanding of this "up and coming" religion so that you may have a better and more informed understanding of the people from the lands that practice it and where you may go one day on holiday too!
Simplicity opens the door.July 20, 2007 3 out of 3 found this review helpful
As a newcomer to Buddhism, I've encountered alot of mysticism and abstract philosophy in many of the books I've read so far. Buddhism Plain & Simple removes most of the complexity I've encountered in understanding awareness. Without sounding pretentious or self-righteous, Hagen introduces Buddhism in a plain, straight-talking midwestern style which made it palatable, acceptable, and desirable to my ears. I intend to absorb all of his books.
Simply vapidJuly 13, 2007 3 out of 13 found this review helpful
The author writes as though information about things that are easy to conceptualize but hard to do, like paying continuous and close attention to the present moment as it happens, is best conveyed as though writing for simpletons. The result is a prose style so cloying and insipid as to verge on the unreadable. If you want to find out about Buddhism or meditation (which are really interesting; more so than you might think) try Mindfulness in Plain English.
"Buddhism - Pain & Simple" by Steve HagenJune 6, 2007 3 out of 3 found this review helpful
There are few books that outline Buddhim quite like Steve Hagen's "Buddhism - Plain & Simple." The author outlines basic principles in Buddhism in a contemporary and clear way. The book is approximately 150 pages and is easy to understand and read. It emphasizes the importance of being aware and present in the here and now. The author also mentions that Buddhism is not a religion or belief system, but rather a way of seeing the world clearly.
