Audience:  General Public
Issues:  Buddhism for the western mind.
Rating: ¶¶¶¶¶

Comments:  One of my favorite books.  Batchelor describes an approach of Buddhism-as-method instead of Buddhism as a belief system or religion.  He argues for a secularized spiritual path that marries Eastern wisdom with Western skepticism and sensibilities.

I highly recommend other titles by Stephen Batchelor.

Audience:  General Public
Issues:  Coping with difficult moments in life; Buddhism.
Rating: No rating

Comments:  Pema Chodron has a wonderful, accessible way of relating Eastern wisdom to daily difficulties.

Also recommended: Pema Chodron Collection.
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Audience:  General Public
Issues:  Classic introduction to Zen.
Rating: ¶¶¶¶¶

Comments:  I love this book.  Suzuki had such a down-to-earth approach to Zen.  His direct style makes some of the headier and more obtuse Zen writers seem misguided.

More titles by/about Shunryu Suzuki.
More titles about Zen Buddhism.

Comments:  Thich Nhat Hanh speaks so simply and directly about mindfulness and its power.  This is a great starting point for seekers of all ages.

More titles by Thich Nhat Hanh
More titles on Mindfulness and Meditation.

DT Suzuki
The Dalai Lama
Jack Kornfield
Sogyal Rinpoche
Sharon Salzberg