The Naked Buddha

A Practical Guide to the Buddha's Life and Teachings

By: Venerable Adrienne Howley

Narrated by: Deidre Rubenstein

Buddhism is the fastest-growing religion in Australia. For the many people who are interested in learning more about it, here is a primer on Buddhism and Buddhist practice written in a deceptively simple manner, with an engaging, gentle humor and flavor. Adrienne Howley's purpose is to demystify Buddhism, stripping away the layers of ritual and iconography that have grown up around it over the centuries, and to present the original, basic tenets and practices in a way that will be appealing to Western readers.©1999, 2002, and 2003 Venerable Adrienne Howley (P)2005 Bolinda Publishing Pty Ltd.

Critic reviews

"A streamlined, appealing primer for everything you wanted to know about Buddhism but were afraid to ask." (Publishers Weekly)

great book

absolutely loved it I've read this book three or four times and I learn something new with each read.

Naked but with substance

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Most definitely, I would recommend this audiobook to friends and strangers who are drawn to a spiritual path without being religious.

Who was your favorite character and why?

The Buddha, of course.

What does Deidre Rubenstein bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Breath.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

I wouldn't call it

Any additional comments?

Thank goodness for my Episcopal upbringing for without it I would never have sought a spiritual path more suited to my needs.

Well Written and Wonderfully Narrated

If you could sum up The Naked Buddha in three words, what would they be?

Simple, Direct, and Delightful.

What other book might you compare The Naked Buddha to and why?

Like Rebel Buddha this book attempts to strip away layers of tradition and culture in order to allow the reader a more accessible look at what Buddhism is.

An excellent extrication of buddhism

Where does The Naked Buddha rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

This is an excellent dissection of buddhism for the non-religious. Howley does a fantastic job of separating fact from fiction from religious construct.

A very good place to start

I have always been interested in Buddhism and found this audio book to be an excellent introduction to future study. The narration is done well and I found it very easy to pay attention to. Perhaps most helpful is the list of questions she answers at the end that most beginners would have. To her, Buddhism is not a religion but a way of looking at the world. It is completely compatible with other religions. If you are just curious about Buddhism, this is a good place to start.