Star-Spangled Buddhist

Zen, Tibetan, and Soka Gakkai Buddhism and the Quest for Enlightenment in America

By: Jeff Ourvan

Narrated by: Kevin Young

The full story of Buddhism in the United States - illuminated and enlightened for today’s listener.

Approximately four million Americans claim to be Buddhist. Moreover, hundreds of thousands of Americans of various faiths read about Buddhism, are interested in its philosophical tenets, or fashionably view themselves as Buddhists. They’re part of what’s been described as the fastest growing religious movement in America: a large group of people dissatisfied with traditional religious offerings and thirsty for an approach to spirituality grounded in logic and consistent with scientific knowledge. Star-Spangled Buddhist is a provocative look at these American Buddhists through their 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 are also profound: The spectrum of philosophical expression among these American Buddhist schools is as varied as that observed between Reformed, Orthodox, and Hasidic Judaism.

Star-Spangled Buddhist isn’t written from the perspective of a monk or academic but rather from the irreverent view of author Jeff Ourvan, a lifelong practicing lay Buddhist. As Ourvan explores the American Buddhist movement through its most popular schools, he arrives at a clearer understanding for himself and the listener about what it means to be - and how one might choose to be - a Buddhist in America.

©2013 Jeff Ourvan (P)2013 Audible, Inc.

Clear and thorough

This is a very well researched and explained book. I knew very little about Buddhism - just enough to teach a Short unit to ninth graders -and now feel I have a much stronger grasp.

interesting if reductive but narration isn't great

To survey American Buddhist while leaving out Theravadan Buddhism and reducing the Mahayana schools into three broad categories is reductive. The author also gives short shrift to issues such as Buddhism and violence. Also, the narrator is wooden and seems to have no idea how to pronounce basic Buddhist words and names.

well intentioned but lots of mispronunciations

Would you try another book from Jeff Ourvan and/or Kevin Young?

Jeff is well intentioned, but is a bit of a Soka Gokkai cheerleader, and leaves out entire fundamental traditions of Buddhism which are practiced in the US. Kevin Young has a decent voice but his mispronunciations of basic words like "Rinpoche" are cringe inducing.

I should have listened to the reviews.

Would you try another book from Jeff Ourvan and/or Kevin Young?

No

Has Star-Spangled Buddhist turned you off from other books in this genre?

No

How could the performance have been better?

It was more the writing than the reader.

What character would you cut from Star-Spangled Buddhist?

N/A

Any additional comments?

Very disappointed in the blatant self promotion and lack of substance. Glossing over hypocritical statements for the benefit of the viewpoint.

This book is so boring!

This is just a very boring book. I found nothing useful or original about it. And the reader just put me to sleep.

Very disappointing

If you’re looking for a book that will bring out all the dirty laundry from Zen an Tibetan Buddhism while glossing over SGI issues, this is for you.

Heavily Biased

What disappointed you about Star-Spangled Buddhist?

It's a shame that such a great idea to introduce the differing sects of Buddhism and how they operate in the west can be marred by such an incredible lack of morality when it comes to following the Fourth Precept (truthfulness). The author goes into GREAT detail about how Zen priests are often accused of sexual immorality, how Tibetan Lamas are chain-smoking womanizers but when it comes to the sect (cult) of Buddhism the author belongs to (Sokka Gakkai) comes up almost nothing incriminating is mentioned. At no point in the book does he mention that the President (who he lovingly refers to as a "mentor to millions" rather than a millionaire cult-leader) has said"I recommend that you accumulate good fortune [through chanting] in this life, so that in the next existence of life, you can be born into a family possessing five Cadillacs."and has "encouraged to chant for the destruction" of rivaling sects of Buddhism and their respective priests.

Has Star-Spangled Buddhist turned you off from other books in this genre?

No