From Stone to Flesh: A Short History of the Buddha

Buddhism today generally encounters little opposition or skepticism from people toward its central tenets on life and suffering. This was not always the case, however. Lopez, University of Michigan professor of Buddhist studies, offers an expertly crafted history of the Buddha that has been left by the wayside and forgotten. Lopez masterfully stitches together obscure and esoteric texts from missionaries, diplomats, travelers, and others, giving them room to breathe and speak for themselves, instead of overwhelming his readers with historical analysis. There is a profound satisfaction in accompanying Lopez in his journey to find the historical Buddha, whom Westerners first denounced as an idolater and demon and, much later, came to praise his teachings. This is an exceptional and even riveting account of Western civilization's attempts to reconcile a foreign religion with its own beliefs, as well as an insightful view into how historical development has shaped Western knowledge of the world. (Apr.)