Zen Judaism: For You, a Little Enlightenment

On the lighter side is David Bader's Zen Judaism: For You, A Little Enlightenment, a pocket book of laughs. The chuckles begin with the introduction, where Bader claims that Siddartha Buddha (aka Sidney Arthur Buddha) announced early on to his family that he intended to become a great sage. ""The idea thrilled his parents, as long as he went to law school first,"" Bader quips. What follows are short, pithy ""koans"" that elicit some groans but mostly good-natured smiles: ""Do not kvetch. Be a kvetch. Become one with your whining,"" he advises. This little book will appeal to the growing ""Bu-Jew"" movement (Jews who seek to incorporate elements of Buddhist practice into their spirituality), but it will also find a wider audience among those who appreciate loving, perceptive humor about religion, the family and other sacred cows. (Aug.)