But I don’t really think we need another white anthropologist educating about a non-white religion. That doesn’t mean that you can’t look into it yourself and find value in it. Buddhist philosophies may be a tool that will help you find peace, which is why I made this list. Here I’ve collected 25 books that represent both an introduction to Buddhism and a selection of the core texts that have shaped Buddhist thought and practice along with a few titles on poetry & memoirs from practitioners. May you find joy on this journey for knowledge. Just a disclaimer: a lot of the authors here are going to be male. A lot of these books are historical in basis, and Buddhist women didn’t always have the same opportunities. Most bhikkhunī (Buddhist nuns) are ordained in the Mayahana branch, and are more common in East Asia. The first bhikkhunī was actually the Buddha’s foster mother Mahapajapati Gotami, but still most conservative Buddhists don’t view the ordination of women as valid, and either way bhikkhunī are still subordinate to bhikkhu (Buddhist monks). This is by no means an indictment against Buddhism, as a lot of western religions have similar issues. But it does mean when it comes to foundational and historical Buddhist texts, well, they can be a little male heavy.
Buddhism Books Covering The Basics
Buddhist Foundational Texts
Books Covering Buddhist Doctrine
Buddhist Poetry
Buddhist Memoirs
There’s so many more Buddhism books beyond just these, especially if you’re looking to go further towards self-actualization. If this has piqued your interest, you can pick up a few more books about Buddhism here or check out some more Buddhist poetry here.
