Book Reviews

Reviews of my new book, Discovering Buddhism

 

Raymond Lam (Buddhist Door Global)

Dominique Side, a teacher of Buddhist practice and published author, approached her task of writing an introduction to Buddhism as a teacher of over three decades; in other words, the book is pedagogical. It functions as a critical textbook that contextualizes the Buddhist tradition in history while allowing it to speak for itself. […] Unlike Gethin (Foundations of Buddhism (1998)) and Harvey (Introduction to Buddhism (1990)), whose introductions to Buddhism I was exposed to as a student, Side provides a slight twist by investing the student in thinking about what basic Buddhism means for them. This is not just a book for the Buddhist Studies learner. It is an introduction fit for today’s curious seeker of knowledge of Buddhism’s ancient faith.

  • Most of the parents who send their children to the Middle Way School do not identify as Buddhists but they are curious and open and want to learn more. To introduce these parents to the history, philosophy and culture of Buddhism, we have long relied on a textbook for high school students in the UK that was written by Dominique Side, wishing that it was more readily available. We are so happy that she has now published this even more comprehensive and clear book. We highly recommend Discovering Buddhism for any dharma library.

    Noa Jones, Executive Director, Middle Way Education, New York

  • Discovering Buddhism is a go-to resource for us all; If you are a teacher looking for inspiring lesson content, you will find it here. If you are a teenager questioning life and death’s big questions, you will find satisfying material here. If you are a Buddhist and want a clear overview of the Path, you will find it here. All readers interested in experiencing wisdom, cultivating it as it has been cultivated through the ages, will find avenues to explore here.

    This reliable resource is written with both clarity and warmth. The clarity helps us understand the depth and breadth of Buddhist culture. The warmth invites us to experiment with the content, bringing colour to as-yet unexplored areas of our lives.

    David Rycroft, director of Mind With Heart

  • I'm not a full newbie to Buddhism but do still have a lot to learn. So I was eager to read this one. It was easy to read, informative and I felt like I learned facts not only about the Buddha and Buddhism, but other teachings as well.

    I appreciate the fact the author added time lines and charts to sum up information presented. This was an ebook copy, which was difficult to highlight and note, so I would be interested in a print copy that I could flag, highlight and note for easy reference. For those curious or learning about Buddhism I would recommend this book.

    Reviewer, USA, NetGalley - Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

  • Dominique Side writes a book that is helpful to newcomers to Buddhism but not in the usual way. Side posits Buddhism through the lens of changing one’s life with what are principles of Buddhism but is not wed to Buddhism itself.

    A new way of looking at oneself and the world around us is quite enlightening – at least for me. The contextualization, history, and culture of Buddhism offer a grounding in a wider area of Buddhist thought. It is presented in the way of an author without an agenda. I enjoyed this book.

    Librarian, NetGalley - Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

  • Great book. Always had interest in Buddhism and it’s rare to find a book that honours it as a way of life. This book is perfect for learning about the way of life within Buddhism.

    Reviewer, UK, NetGalley - Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

  • I wish I had this book when I was taking religion in college. This is one book that gives Buddhism in its basics and in an understandable manner. I recommend this book.

    Reviewer, NetGalley - Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

  • I have not finished this cover to cover but I must say it’s so informative without being boring. I have always been intrigued by Buddhism and this is a beginner friendly book! It is a must read for anyone interested in the subject.

    Reviewer, USA, NetGalley - Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Reviews of my first book, Buddhism

 
 

Dominique Side’s textbook “Buddhism”, which was created for use in the British education system, is our go-to text for parents who are admitting their children to our Buddhist school. Many have very little, if any, understanding of the fundamentals of the dharma. This book offers a clear, factual, non-sectarian overview of the key aspects of Buddhism. We go out of our way to get copies of it but since it is out of print, their cost is often many times more than the original price. Our school administration would be really happy if an updated edition was made available.

Noa Jones, Director, Middle Way Education, New York

  • This book is a go-to resource for us all. If you are an RE teacher looking for inspiring lesson content, you will find it here. If you are a teenager questioning life and death’s big questions, you will find satisfying material here. If you are a Buddhist and want a clear overview of the path, you will find it here. Even if you are a hard-core materialist, you will find the treatment of profound concepts very engaging. This reliable resource is written with both clarity and warmth. The clarity helps us understand this formidable philosophical ecosystem. And the warmth invites us to experiment with the content, bringing colour to as-yet unexplored areas of our lives.

    David Rycroft, Director, Mind with Heart

  • I have been using Dominique Side's book on "Buddhism" for several years. I find it extremely useful when I am teaching about Buddhism to teenagers. This book gives a very authentic, thorough and complete overview of all aspects of Buddhism which helped me to deepen my own understanding of Buddhism and made it easy for me to prepare my classes. The fact that the content is not related to one specific school of Buddhism offers a broad perspective on the subject. The summaries and questions at the end of each chapter are really useful.

    Daniela Dalal, school teacher, Heidelberg, Germany

  • An excellent introduction. I bought the book out of curiosity. I have written books about contingencies between Buddhism and Christianity, so I was not looking for an introduction, really. But to be honest, for me it is not introductory, but really interesting, engaging and deepening my understanding of Buddhism. And I wonder why it is not reprinted and translated? The author is well-informed about Buddhism and a talented teacher at that.

    H.G. Posthuma, UK 4.0 out of 5 stars on Amazon