2007-12-22 One of the best in the OUP series

This book is both factual and easy to read. It does not claim to deal with every aspect of Buddhism, which is a complex and fragmented belief system. What I particularly liked was Keown's references to this incompleteness within the text, and his suggestions for further readings and clear labelling of the things he has either left out or skimmed over.
This is an incredibly useful book. The breakdown of information in text boxes and clearly divided chapters with useful sub-headings made it even easier to read.
It is useful in that it gives both a history of Buddhism and its influence across the world as well as the central tenets of the beliefs it encompasses. It also tries to understand the impact of Buddhism on modern Western culture, positing ideas of what developments may come to pass in the future.
It also deals with the problem of whether Buddhism actually constitutes a religion at all, and attempts to define and understand what is meant by religion and how Buddhism works within this.
A necessary read for anyone interested in understanding Buddhism at a basic level.