A Modern Buddhist Bible: Essential Readings from East and West

Lopez's book is exactly what it says it is. He includes Western writings on buddhism so that the reader is able to understand the cultural meanings and interpretations that have accumulated in the West. While it may seem strange to have H.P. Blavatsky and the Dalai Lama included in the same book, or Kerouac, in the States these people have all greatly influenced the way buddhism is understood. Kerouac probably got more people in to buddhism than the Dalai Lama, so his writings are in some ways equally as important. Lopez is not someone who will write a feel-good, "esoteric" text about the compelling mysteries of buddhism, accessible until now only to the highest eschelon of monks, never before revealed to a westerner, as most pre-eminent western buddhist writers have. His honesty and desire to see buddhism in the very different way it is perceived here vs. in the East make his books invaluable, if you want to understand why you think the things you do about buddhism. I highly recommend his books.