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Why Buddhism Is True
- The Science and Philosophy of Meditation and Enlightenment
- Narrated by: Fred Sanders
- Length: 10 hrs and 29 mins
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Publisher's Summary
From one of America's greatest minds, a journey through psychology, philosophy, and lots of meditation to show how Buddhism holds the key to moral clarity and enduring happiness.
Robert Wright famously explained in The Moral Animal how evolution shaped the human brain. The mind is designed to often delude us, he argued, about ourselves and about the world. And it is designed to make happiness hard to sustain.
But if we know our minds are rigged for anxiety, depression, anger, and greed, what do we do? Wright locates the answer in Buddhism, which figured out thousands of years ago what scientists are discovering only now. Buddhism holds that human suffering is a result of not seeing the world clearly - and proposes that seeing the world more clearly, through meditation, will make us better, happier people.
In Why Buddhism Is True, Wright leads listeners on a journey through psychology, philosophy, and a great many silent retreats to show how and why meditation can serve as the foundation for a spiritual life in a secular age. At once excitingly ambitious and wittily accessible, this is the first book to combine evolutionary psychology with cutting-edge neuroscience to defend the radical claims at the heart of Buddhist philosophy. With bracing honesty and fierce wisdom, it will persuade you not just that Buddhism is true - which is to say, a way out of our delusion - but that it can ultimately save us from ourselves, as individuals and as a species.
Critic Reviews
Featured Article: 20 Best Spiritual Audiobooks for Finding Fulfillment
In our everyday lives, we are obliged to take care of certain things—we must advance in our work lives, we must progress in our social lives, and a variety of aches and pains force us to be constantly concerned about our physical well-being. With such a litany of concerns, it can be difficult to find time to work on our spiritual lives. Isn’t it time to focus on nurturing your soul and spirit? Here are the 20 best spiritual audiobooks to get you in the right headspace.
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What listeners say about Why Buddhism Is True
Average Customer RatingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- rugger
- 09-12-17
More than a beginner's guide...
Would you consider the audio edition of Why Buddhism Is True to be better than the print version?
Having purchased and read/listened to both, consider them equal. One caveat: it's not a beginner's guide to Buddhism. Therefore, would suggest others choose the medium best suited for taking in information. In either instance, however, the text flows easily as if having a conversation with a knowledgeable friend about a topic of mutual interest.
What was one of the most memorable moments of Why Buddhism Is True?
Wright's explanation of subjects typically glossed over such as emptiness and non-self stood out for their clarity. Most books on Buddhism cover the basics such as the branches of Buddhism, an explanation of the four noble truths, and the virtues of the eight-fold path. Instead of a general overview, Wright writes about some of the more compelling/provocative areas of secular Buddhism. He does this while integrating both personal experience as well as helpful examples. He then pulls the threads together to demonstrate the importance of understanding these topics and why they are relevant to how we relate to our selves and the world around us.
Have you listened to any of Fred Sanders’s other performances before? How does this one compare?
Yes. Sanders strikes a good tone in conveying the material, though sometimes the emphasis of a line or two may have been different than the author's internal voice while writing.
If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?
If you will give two hours of time for your entertainment, why not invest 20 minutes to an hour a day in meditation to (re)claim your life?
Any additional comments?
Wright commented in the book that one his teachers suggested that writing the book may impede his progress toward enlightenment. Hopefully, this is not so. Ideally, the book, instead, provided reason for him to explore further and record his discoveries along the way, Regardless, he left firm footing for others following a similar path.
Thus, it's easy to recommend this book for someone with a basic to intermediate understanding of Buddhism looking for further reading on the topic from a contemporary, secular point of view. While this sounds like a relatively small group, perhaps so—for now. Just maybe this book will continue to bring this valuable wisdom to a wider audience.
65 people found this helpful
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- Jeffrey D
- 01-10-20
Buddhism lite meets evolutionary biology lite
I am an evolutionary biologist. I am interested in Buddhism. You can certainly make a story about their intersection. But would you use a title like Why Buddhism is True? I understand that it is something of a provocation, but the title recalls the author's childhood as a Southern Baptist, which I am afraid he has in no way transcended. In fact, in various instances when his Christian morality is threatened by his quasi-Buddhism, he picks the former, no reasons given, no questions asked, no insight evident, no self-awareness displayed. His view of human evolution is very simplistic. Although I am no expert, my impression is that the treatment of Buddhism is the same. Interesting as a memoir of what he happens to believe and his struggles to reconcile his varied beliefs.
23 people found this helpful
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- B. Margerum
- 09-22-17
Best book on Buddhism and Mediation ever written
Would you listen to Why Buddhism Is True again? Why?
I have already listened to it 3 times. Even though the explanations are clear and logical, the book is filled with rich information and paradoxes that you can't just listen to it once and get the full meaning. Just an outstanding book! Kudos to Robert Wright!
What was one of the most memorable moments of Why Buddhism Is True?
Understanding essence and how you need to look at it from a more universal view, i.e. as Einstein did for his Theory of Relativity
16 people found this helpful
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- George
- 08-10-17
Clear Explanation of How the Mind Works
Most books on Buddhism teach you how to drive; this book is like having Click and Clack lift the hood of the car and explain very clearly why the engine works. I think it may be one of the most helpful books I've ever read. The clarity with which emotions are explained is amazing. The author convinced me of the effectiveness of mindfulness. He is always careful to say where the science is uncertain or where the Buddhism is not grounded in science. I think I can now read other Buddhism texts, like the Suttas, with a framework for understanding that I did not have before. The author has a conversational, self-depreciating, and personal style of writing that I like. Narration is good.
96 people found this helpful
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- Metta Bhavana
- 08-19-17
Worth some of your time...
Worth some of your time...
The author makes a number of important observations. However, there is also quite a bit of filler to work through.
For example, there are numerous personal anecdotes many of which are rather banal.
So, I think your time would be better spent with essential Buddhist texts. Plus, it seems to me that the more analytical parts of the book are at least partly based on speculation; precisely what the Buddha advised us not to spend time on.
As you can see, the author's argument and presentation left me with mixed feelings.
31 people found this helpful
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- Gustavo Carneiro
- 05-04-18
Not quite what I expected, but good
The author doesn't spend as much time actually scientifically defending Buddhism as he spends explaining the basics of it, but he does it pretty well. Recommend it to people that aren't familiar with the Buddhist concepts
8 people found this helpful
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- Roger
- 09-18-17
Weak on Science; Okay on Philosophy
I really wanted to like this book but it was not a book I would recommend to people who are looking for a book on Buddhism and Science. I agree with many of the authors' conclusions but is was not compelling and little of what was said was new or interesting. If you are considering a book on the subject of Science and Buddhism, then please consider "The Science of Enlightenment" by Shinzen Young. Shinzen is far more accomplished as a meditator and he is truly gifted in terms of articulation. I also found "Buddha's Brain" by Rick Hanson to be far more interesting in terms of Neuroscience and the benefits of Insight Meditation. The reader was really bland and did not do the book any favors.
51 people found this helpful
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- feeble
- 09-09-17
So hard to listen to.
Fred Sanders makes it hard to listen to this book. He sounds like a computer program. You could get the same mundane tone from a text-to-speech app. Because of this, I found it hard to concentrate on the books material. Truthfully, this should be reread by another narrator and republished. I am not joking.
38 people found this helpful
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- Dave Ferguson
- 10-03-17
Presentation Matters
I'm sure professor Wright is interesting in class or he wouldn't be teaching. The approach is thorough, the theories well researched, but the reader is devoid of emotion. I prefer to have the author read his own work for non-fiction titles because it's not just the words that matter. This is meaningful content and a valuable tool when you are able to use it in life.
11 people found this helpful
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- CaptainSuperDave2000
- 11-26-18
I want my credit back
I suffered through the extensive Matrix references because I had expectations that this book would prove meaningful. I should have known from the deliberately controversial title that this would be shovel-lit.
The performance was so flat it was comical. The author tried to be funny at times but the only laughs I got we're at the expense of the performer.
The author used Tara Brach's RAIN acronym as if it was common knowledge and without mentioning her name which was aggravating to me. She is brilliant and hands down better at this topic.
Finally, the author mentioned Kurt Cobain's death and that his band was called Nirvana. He implied that Cobain died because he used drugs to seek a false sense of bliss rather than pursuing Nirvana correctly through intensive and challenging meditation practice. I find this to be exploitative, nonsensical, absolutely baseless, offensive, trite, disrespectful, and ignorant. I am not a big time Nirvana fanboy but I am an intelligent person and I am deeply offended by this passage.
Skip this mess.
4 people found this helpful
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- Amazon Customer
- 09-12-17
One of the best books on secular Buddhism and it's relationship to natural selection and neuroscience
I would recommend this book to anyone interested how we are programmed towards dissatisfaction and suffering in this world and how Buddhism's solutions to this dilemma are backed up by modern science. An amazing, well written and read masterpiece.
13 people found this helpful
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- BigBear
- 03-23-18
Thoughtful, thorough and inspiring...
À scientific exploration of secular Buddhism that leaves one in no doubt as to its validity. At times intellectually challenging, especially when endeavouring to unravel some of Buddhism's more paradoxical elements. But well worth persevering.
7 people found this helpful
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- Ewan Melling
- 05-15-18
A handbook for open-ness
Having sat on Roberts original course with Princeton University online I was very excited to see the publication of his book. I wasn't disappointed with insights, and arguments beautifully made Robert has created a brilliant work as a handbook to support one in the development of their practise of mindfulness.
5 people found this helpful
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- Laura
- 10-29-17
Good narrator, easy to follow
I really enjoyed this book, following the authors introduction and experience of meditation and sharing some of the science behind it.
5 people found this helpful
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- John Ex
- 01-03-18
Brilliant Overview
Buddhism, given its very nature, can appear enigmatic and paradoxical. The writer explores the nature of the belief system, as well as his own gradual enlightenment over the course of many retreats.
This is a well-read and insightful book. Wright doesn't shy away from the philosophy, nor does he try to give a one-size-fits all approach. Though he clearly advocates what he sees to be the merits of mindfulness meditation, he leaves the choices with the reader, encouraging them to discover (or not) themselves.
I've read a lot of fluff in the subject, and this one is both accessible and substantial.
Recommended.
4 people found this helpful
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- Tompospostos
- 11-21-17
Fantastic book, it will enlighten you!
I got so much out of this book. It synthesised so many ideas that I had wondered about through my own secular meditation practice and brought deeper meaning to them for me. I'm not a Buddhist, but I am spiritual, and this book was able to
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- John
- 10-28-17
Loved this
I'm a regular mediator but had little understanding of Buddhism. I thought the author did an excellent job of putting across complex ideas with clarity, humility and humour.
I can't recommend this book highly enough.
4 people found this helpful
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- Wildman
- 06-26-18
much better than title suggested
I nearly gave this a miss, expecting dry examples of lab studies that show benefits gained from meditation. luckily a friend recommended the book to me, and I am so pleased that he did. The author does a fantastic job of positioning natural selection as the boogyman who controls our lives, bringing to light research in psychology and evolutionary science. He then shows how Buddhism was ahead of the curve, identifying the same issues way before western science caught up... but also working on the solution - meditation.
3 people found this helpful
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- James S.
- 10-21-17
the case for everyone to benefit from meditation
the case for everyone to benefit from meditation to improve the lives of all of us put in a very clear and readable account. a must read for anyone who cares about there own and others wellbeing
3 people found this helpful
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- Rumcelt
- 05-03-21
Why its true
I found the book very interesting as it laid out a reasoned argument for why meditation has benefits and how meditation has benefits for an individual, whether they be Buddhist or not. The book was well written and had well formulated idea of what it wanted to achieve. Not always the easiest read but worth sticking with.
2 people found this helpful
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- Amazon Customer
- 10-04-17
Incredible!
Absolutely amazing book. The information itself is fascinating and intensely thought provoking but the way it is presented is so natural and easy to follow. Found myself laughing out loud more than once! Would recommend 100% especially for those who value the scientific approach. Superb! Narration was great too!
3 people found this helpful
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- Paula Stokes
- 11-16-17
Why Evolution is sometimes fake news
Robert Wright’s persuasive argument of the benefits of meditation - that it makes us all more aware of when our emotions are not aligned with our values or even our short term interests - was a profound insight for me.
It is written for someone who may not understand Buddhism at all, and in an accessible style.
The narrator has a calm voice well suited to the text.
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- Anonymous User
- 10-06-20
Convincing
A highly accessible and well ordered book with seriously convincing arguments, with perspectives rarely considered. Any fluff you come across is well worth the overall message. A great combination of modern psychology, neuroscience, Darwinian evolution, evolutionary psychology and of course, Buddhism! Get mediating!
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- Kindle Customer
- 06-06-22
Nice
Nice book. That's it for you. Kek. Thank you for reading my review on Audible.
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- Anonymous User
- 03-14-22
Incredibly thought provoking.
I’ve been listening to this and some of the concepts are so hard to get my head around, that I’ve been listening to it over and over. Then the lightbulb moment happens and multiple of the confused concepts merge and become clear. Interesting that days later I watch a new Netflix series surviving death, that challenges my beliefs that reincarnation was impossible. Where is all this going… just start by listening.
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- Benjimite
- 05-20-21
Terrible narration
Can’t actually believe the author would choose this narrator. Monotonous delivery that made me switch off al the time
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- Greg Mewkill
- 01-15-21
It had so much potential...
The first three chapters suggested a potential to fulfil it’s goal of connecting Buddhist doctrine and practises with ‘scientific truth’. Unfortunately it soon descended into a monologue of conflicted personal experience and incessantly contradictory and poorly argued opinions. When you hear the word “paradox” used as a celebration of “reality” you know the author really doesn’t want to dig too deeply. Yes, I am disappointed.
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- RedRen
- 10-23-20
Well written book!
This book I found to be perfect as someone starting to study Buddhism. It creates recognisable links with the way our minds operate, natural selection, the way we live and Buddhist beliefs and practices. One of the greatest books I’ve ever read. Has been very helpful to me even after just a couple of chapters.
Have recommended it to many others.
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- Robert Fletcher
- 05-29-20
Why Buddhism is True is True
I first bought this book several years ago when I was first getting interested in Buddhism. On my first listening I thought that the book was interesting and the points it makes made sense. I have now been studying Theravada Buddhism and Vipassana for a few years and have been seriously meditating daily for a while which has had some subtle but profound effects on me.
I had forgotten most of the contents of the book but recently decided to listen to it again. I discovered that what the author was talking about was very similar to the experiences that I have had from meditating and studying Buddhist philosophy. Just listening to the book was almost a meditative experience, and has enhanced my understanding and meditation practice.
This book is basically non mystical Buddhism in a nutshell.
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- johnsoke
- 05-24-20
Great Insight into Buddhism from a non-buddhist!
Wonderful insight into Buddhism and the power of meditation
Great narrator and I highly recommend this book to anybody with an interest in Buddhist philosophy