In the Buddha's words

This anthology gathers discourses attributed to the Buddha and presents them in translation, so that readers meet the teachings directly rather than through commentary. The selections come from the Pali Canon, the earliest record of what the Buddha taught. They are chosen and translated by Bhikkhu Bodhi, an American scholar monk known for his extensive translation work.

The book is arranged in ten thematic chapters. Together they cover a wide range of subjects, from family life and marriage to renunciation and the path of insight. Each chapter opens with a short introduction that sets out the ideas at stake and prepares the reader for the texts that follow.

This is non-fiction in the form of a primary-source reader, and it works as a systematic introduction to the early teachings. It assumes no prior knowledge of Buddhism, so a newcomer can start here without other background reading. Students of Buddhism and general readers on a spiritual search are the people it serves best.

Reading it means moving between the original discourses and the editor's guiding notes, with the structure by theme giving a clear route through the material. The pace is that of a reference work that can be read in order or dipped into by subject.