<p>This book can't be beat for beginners: <a href="http://rads.stackoverflow.com/amzn/click/0861711769" rel="nofollow">Eight Mindful Steps to Happiness: Walking the Buddha's Path</a> (by  Bhante Henepola Gunaratana).</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-11-27T14:25:29.563Z
2015-11-27T15:05:27.317Z
2015-11-27T15:05:27.317Z
m2015
<p>Books by Tibetan Buddhist Master Dzongsar Jamyang Khyentse can help raise the right questions early on, and help avoid forming mistaken views:</p>

<p>"What Makes You Not a Buddhist?"</p>

<p>"Not For Happiness"</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-04-30T05:09:06.700Z
2017-04-30T05:09:06.700Z
drolmal
<p>Books by Pema Chodron are warmly well received and recommended by teachers of many Tibetan Buddhist branches.</p>

<p>They adddress many practical aspects of life, yet are deeply rooted in traditional Tibetan Buddhism.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-04-24T04:33:56.460Z
2017-04-24T04:33:56.460Z
drolmal
<p>I would recommend "Introducing Buddhism" by Charles S. Prebish and Damien Keown. 
@2005 Journal of Buddhist Ethics Online Books</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-01-01T16:37:55.843Z
Why do you recommend that in particular? Did you select/recommend it because of the OP's writing, "especially the pursuit of happiness"?
ChrisW
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-01-06T00:04:31.387Z
If you want to grow a flower/fruit, you don't water the flower/fruit, but you water the root.
hide2may
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-01-06T00:40:25.427Z
Fair enough. I asked because a bare link or reference isn't as informative as an answer which also explains why you recommend it (information which could help the OP to decide whether to select your recommendation among others, as the recommendation which might best suit their needs).
ChrisW
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-01-01T15:13:24.920Z
2016-01-01T15:13:24.920Z
hide2may
<p>Also books by Thay (Thich Nhat Hanh), specifically the "Miracle of Mindfulness" are wonderful so many different ways.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-04-24T06:30:16.007Z
2017-04-24T10:42:05.433Z
2017-04-24T10:42:05.433Z
drolmal
<p>I higly reccomend H. H. The Dalai Lama's "How to See Yourself as You Really Are". A wonderful and easy to read introducion to Buddhist philosophy and practice. His Holiness is mahayana, but this book gives a very general introduction. </p>

<p>I also reccomend his "The Art of Happiness", for a book more specifically on happiness.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-11-27T09:52:29.767Z
2015-11-27T09:52:29.767Z
Mr. Concept
<p>I would recommend:</p>

<ul>
<li><a href="http://urbandharma.org/pdf2/InTheBuddhasWordsBookPreview.pdf" rel="noreferrer">In the Buddha's Words: An Anthology of Discourses from the Pali Canon</a> edited by Bhikkhu Bodhi (alternate download <a href="http://www.pacificbuddha.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/In-the-Buddhas-Words.pdf" rel="noreferrer">link</a>)</li>
<li><a href="http://store.pariyatti.org/Art-of-Living-The--PDF-eBook-All-Languages_p_4734.html" rel="noreferrer">Art of Living</a> by William Hart</li>
</ul>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-11-27T10:49:00.470Z
2015-11-27T10:49:00.470Z
Suminda Sirinath S. Dharmasena
<p>For a classic introduction to the Buddha's teachings, I recommend the book "<a href="https://rads.stackoverflow.com/amzn/click/com/0802130313" rel="nofollow noreferrer" rel="nofollow noreferrer">What the Buddha Taught</a>" by <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walpola_Rahula_Thero" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Walpola Rahula</a>. You can find the PDF version <a href="http://www.ahandfulofleaves.org/documents/What%20the%20Buddha%20Taught_Rahula.pdf" rel="nofollow noreferrer">here</a>. There is also a very short collection of the suttas at the back of the book.</p>

<p>The ebook "<a href="https://www.amaravati.org/dhamma-books/without-and-within/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Without and Within</a>" by <a href="https://www.amaravati.org/biographies/ajahn-jayasaro/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Ajahn Jayasaro</a>, available in PDF and epub formats, is 127-pages long and is meant to be a collection of questions and answers on Buddhism for beginners.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-08-09T06:07:19.200Z
2019-02-07T12:57:11.253Z
2019-02-07T12:57:11.253Z
ruben2020
<p>I am interested in knowing more about Buddhism especially the pursuit of happiness. 
Which book would you recommend me for introducing me to Buddhism philosophy on this subject?</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-11-27T10:00:47.680Z
A lot of Dalai Lama's books are translated, even to Norwegian, so probably also French. If you are Frech, that is.
Mr. Concept
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-11-27T10:21:22.723Z
I was surprised to find that "Zen" has entered everyday French, for example in advertisements: '[rester zen](http://www.linguee.fr/francais-anglais/traduction/rester+zen.html)'.
ChrisW
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-11-27T11:20:01.783Z
Language is not a problem since I like reading in English in order to improve my language skills.
SwissFr
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-11-27T11:21:20.070Z
You are right, "rester zen" is part of everyday language.
SwissFr
<reference-request><beginner>
Recommendation - Book for beginner
# Recommendation - Book for beginner

(Asked by: username_0 on 2015-11-27)

I am interested in knowing more about Buddhism especially the pursuit of happiness.
Which book would you recommend me for introducing me to Buddhism philosophy on this subject?

**Tags:** reference-request, beginner

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: A lot of Dalai Lama's books are translated, even to Norwegian, so probably also French. If you are Frech, that is.  
> **username_2**: I was surprised to find that "Zen" has entered everyday French, for example in advertisements: '[rester zen](http://www.linguee.fr/francais-anglais/traduction/rester+zen.html)'.  
> **username_0**: Language is not a problem since I like reading in English in order to improve my language skills.  
> **username_0**: You are right, "rester zen" is part of everyday language.  

---

## 8 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2015-11-27. Score: 6 | Accepted answer

I higly reccomend H. H. The Dalai Lama's "How to See Yourself as You Really Are". A wonderful and easy to read introducion to Buddhist philosophy and practice. His Holiness is mahayana, but this book gives a very general introduction.

I also reccomend his "The Art of Happiness", for a book more specifically on happiness.


---

### Answer by username_6 on 2015-11-27. Score: 7

I would recommend:

* [In the Buddha's Words: An Anthology of Discourses from the Pali Canon](http://urbandharma.org/pdf2/InTheBuddhasWordsBookPreview.pdf) edited by Bhikkhu Bodhi (alternate download [link](http://www.pacificbuddha.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/In-the-Buddhas-Words.pdf))
* [Art of Living](http://store.pariyatti.org/Art-of-Living-The--PDF-eBook-All-Languages_p_4734.html) by William Hart


---

### Answer by username_7 on 2018-08-09. Score: 4

For a classic introduction to the Buddha's teachings, I recommend the book "[What the Buddha Taught](https://rads.stackoverflow.com/amzn/click/com/0802130313)" by [Walpola Rahula](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walpola_Rahula_Thero). You can find the PDF version [here](http://www.ahandfulofleaves.org/documents/What%20the%20Buddha%20Taught_Rahula.pdf). There is also a very short collection of the suttas at the back of the book.

The ebook "[Without and Within](https://www.amaravati.org/dhamma-books/without-and-within/)" by [Ajahn Jayasaro](https://www.amaravati.org/biographies/ajahn-jayasaro/), available in PDF and epub formats, is 127-pages long and is meant to be a collection of questions and answers on Buddhism for beginners.


---

### Answer by username_3 on 2015-11-27. Score: 2

This book can't be beat for beginners: [Eight Mindful Steps to Happiness: Walking the Buddha's Path](http://rads.stackoverflow.com/amzn/click/0861711769) (by Bhante Henepola Gunaratana).


---

### Answer by username_4 on 2017-04-30. Score: 1

Books by Tibetan Buddhist Master Dzongsar Jamyang Khyentse can help raise the right questions early on, and help avoid forming mistaken views:

"What Makes You Not a Buddhist?"

"Not For Happiness"


---

### Answer by username_4 on 2017-04-24. Score: 1

Books by Pema Chodron are warmly well received and recommended by teachers of many Tibetan Buddhist branches.

They adddress many practical aspects of life, yet are deeply rooted in traditional Tibetan Buddhism.


---

### Answer by username_5 on 2016-01-01. Score: 1

I would recommend "Introducing Buddhism" by Charles S. Prebish and Damien Keown.
@2005 Journal of Buddhist Ethics Online Books

> **Comments:**
> **username_2**: Why do you recommend that in particular? Did you select/recommend it because of the OP's writing, "especially the pursuit of happiness"?  
> **username_5**: If you want to grow a flower/fruit, you don't water the flower/fruit, but you water the root.  
> **username_2**: Fair enough. I asked because a bare link or reference isn't as informative as an answer which also explains why you recommend it (information which could help the OP to decide whether to select your recommendation among others, as the recommendation which might best suit their needs).  

---

### Answer by username_4 on 2017-04-24. Score: 1

Also books by Thay (Thich Nhat Hanh), specifically the "Miracle of Mindfulness" are wonderful so many different ways.


---

