Title: In Search of Buddha's Daughters: The Hidden Lives and Fearless Work of Buddhist Nuns
Author: Christine Toomey
Published: 2016
Language: English
Pages: 384
Rating: 4/5
Summary:
This is a book about the authors 60.000 mile odyssey around the world in search of buddhist nuns to find out who they are, what motivates them and how they fit into our modern world.
Review:
I thought this book was absolutely fascinating.
I find religion in general to be an interesting topic and I've always found Buddhism to be one of the most fascinating ones. I didn't really know that much about either monks or nuns though, and for that, this was educational and intriguing. But my favorite part was reading about how these women fit into what is, in short sum, a male dominated world. It didn't really occur to me that that was even an issue, so it was engrossing to read about their struggles, their views and thoughts, and how they've paved the way for the future.
The book is split into different parts, each part taking place in a different part of the world, which I thought worked well, as you get a good overview of the various groups, as well as their different takes on Buddhism and being a nun. You also get to know the women well, there's just enough time spent with each one, and I thought the author painted a picture of the individual women wonderfully.
There is a bit of a personal backstory as to why the author decided to go in search of these women and I appreciated that it didn't take up to much of the book. It's mentioned in the beginning, in very small doses throughout the book, and then we get a bit of closure at the end. I felt it was done very well. I also like that the book doesn't glorify the religion. There are lovely things about it, but it isn't without its flaws and its conflicts.
Overall, I thought this was an engrossing and great read, and I would recommend it if you're interested in the topic, but I will say that I do think having an general idea of the Buddhist religion and what it stands for probably helps.
You can get this book at The Book Depository*
You can read more about it on Goodreads
Author: Christine Toomey
Published: 2016
Language: English
Pages: 384
Rating: 4/5
Summary:
This is a book about the authors 60.000 mile odyssey around the world in search of buddhist nuns to find out who they are, what motivates them and how they fit into our modern world.
Review:
I thought this book was absolutely fascinating.
I find religion in general to be an interesting topic and I've always found Buddhism to be one of the most fascinating ones. I didn't really know that much about either monks or nuns though, and for that, this was educational and intriguing. But my favorite part was reading about how these women fit into what is, in short sum, a male dominated world. It didn't really occur to me that that was even an issue, so it was engrossing to read about their struggles, their views and thoughts, and how they've paved the way for the future.
The book is split into different parts, each part taking place in a different part of the world, which I thought worked well, as you get a good overview of the various groups, as well as their different takes on Buddhism and being a nun. You also get to know the women well, there's just enough time spent with each one, and I thought the author painted a picture of the individual women wonderfully.
There is a bit of a personal backstory as to why the author decided to go in search of these women and I appreciated that it didn't take up to much of the book. It's mentioned in the beginning, in very small doses throughout the book, and then we get a bit of closure at the end. I felt it was done very well. I also like that the book doesn't glorify the religion. There are lovely things about it, but it isn't without its flaws and its conflicts.
Overall, I thought this was an engrossing and great read, and I would recommend it if you're interested in the topic, but I will say that I do think having an general idea of the Buddhist religion and what it stands for probably helps.
You can read more about it on Goodreads
*AFFILIATE LINK
