"A succinct but illuminating overview" of the Eastern religion that has grown so popular among spiritual seekers in the U.S. (Publishers Weekly).
Millions of Americans call themselves Buddhist or have an interest in Buddhism's philosophical tenets, attracted to an approach to spirituality that's grounded in logic and consistent with scientific knowledge. The Star-Spangled Buddhist is a provocative look at these American Buddhists through the three largest movements in the United States: the Soka Gakkai International, Tibetan/Vajrayana Buddhism, and Zen Buddhism.
The practice of each of these American schools, unlike most traditional Asian Buddhist sects, is grounded in the notion that all people are capable of attaining enlightenment in "this lifetime." But the differences between the American Buddhist schools are also profound, spanning the full spectrum of philosophical expression and doctrines.
Jeff Ourvan, a lifelong-practicing lay Buddhist, explores the American Buddhist movement through its most popular schools, giving a clearer understanding about what it means to be—and how one might choose to be—a Buddhist in America.