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<book id="74657">
  <title><![CDATA[Buddhism: A Very Short Introduction (Very Short Introductions)]]></title>
  <isbn><![CDATA[0192853864]]></isbn>
  <isbn13><![CDATA[9780192853868]]></isbn13>
    <image_url>http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1170858183m/74657.jpg</image_url>
    <work>
  <best_book_id type="integer">74657</best_book_id>
  <books_count type="integer">2</books_count>
  <default_description>This Very Short Introduction introduces the reader to the teachings of the Buddha and to the integration of Buddhism into daily life. What are the distinctive features of Buddhism? Who was the Buddha, and what are his teachings? How has Buddhist thought developed over the centuries, and how can contemporary dilemmas be faced from a Buddhist perspective? Words such as 'karma' and 'nirvana' have entered our vocabulary, but what do they mean? Damien Keown's book provides a lively, informative response to these frequently asked questions about Buddhism.</default_description>
  <id type="integer">72210</id>
  <media_type nil="true"></media_type>
  <original_language_id type="integer" nil="true"></original_language_id>
  <original_publication_day type="integer" nil="true"></original_publication_day>
  <original_publication_month type="integer" nil="true"></original_publication_month>
  <original_publication_year type="integer">1997</original_publication_year>
  <original_title>Buddhism: A Very Short Introduction (Very Short Introductions)</original_title>
  <rating_dist>total:65|5:11|4:26|3:22|2:5|1:1|</rating_dist>
  <ratings_count type="integer">65</ratings_count>
  <ratings_sum type="integer">236</ratings_sum>
  <reviews_count type="integer">111</reviews_count>
  <text_reviews_count type="integer">10</text_reviews_count>
</work>

  <average_rating><![CDATA[3.63]]></average_rating>
  <ratings_count><![CDATA[65]]></ratings_count>
  <text_reviews_count><![CDATA[10]]></text_reviews_count>
  <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/74657.Buddhism_A_Very_Short_Introduction]]></url>
  <authors>
        <author id="42320">
      <name><![CDATA[Damien Keown]]></name>
      <role><![CDATA[]]></role>
      <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/42320.Damien_Keown]]></url>
      <average_rating><![CDATA[3.59]]></average_rating>
      <ratings_count><![CDATA[78]]></ratings_count>
      <text_reviews_count><![CDATA[12]]></text_reviews_count>
    </author>
      </authors>
    <reviews start="1" end="20" total="111">
    <review id="67476006">
    <user id="2528560">
    <name><![CDATA[Lewis]]></name>
    <location><![CDATA[Bristol, B7, The United Kingdom]]></location>        
    <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/2528560-lewis]]></url>
  </user>
      <rating>4</rating>
  <votes>0</votes>
  <sell_flag>false</sell_flag>
  <spoiler_flag>false</spoiler_flag>
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      </shelves>
  <recommended_for><![CDATA[]]></recommended_for>
  <recommended_by><![CDATA[]]></recommended_by>
  <read_at>Sat Nov 01 00:00:00 -0700 2008</read_at>
  <date_added>Sat Aug 15 05:28:49 -0700 2009</date_added>
  <date_updated>Sat Aug 15 05:36:43 -0700 2009</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[A short book but one that brings a difficult and unknown subject into a manageable and understandable light. The book encompases the basic conception of the everyday buddhist religion and explains the background that started the faith.<br/>I think buddhism is a very approachable religion because it...<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/67476006">more...</a>]]></body>
    <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/67476006]]></url>
</review>
    <review id="1552031">
    <user id="7661">
    <name><![CDATA[Michelle]]></name>
    <location><![CDATA[Somerville, MA]]></location>        
    <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/7661-michelle]]></url>
  </user>
      <rating>4</rating>
  <votes>0</votes>
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      </shelves>
  <recommended_for><![CDATA[people interested in gaining a vague understanding of Buddhism]]></recommended_for>
  <recommended_by><![CDATA[]]></recommended_by>
  <read_at>Tue May 01 00:00:00 -0700 2007</read_at>
  <date_added>Wed May 30 16:14:55 -0700 2007</date_added>
  <date_updated>Wed May 30 16:19:09 -0700 2007</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[I read this text as a way to supplement my knowledge of Taoism and East Asian Architecture.  It was somewhat helpful in this capacity, but is careful to point out that Buddhism, similar to other major religions, has a huge history during which hundreds of different schools of thought have developed....<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1552031">more...</a>]]></body>
    <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1552031]]></url>
</review>
    <review id="67516569">
    <user id="2621120">
    <name><![CDATA[Stephen]]></name>
    <location><![CDATA[Bath, N4, The United Kingdom]]></location>        
    <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/2621120-stephen-shellard]]></url>
  </user>
      <rating>4</rating>
  <votes>0</votes>
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  <recommended_for><![CDATA[]]></recommended_for>
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  <read_at></read_at>
  <date_added>Sat Aug 15 13:00:05 -0700 2009</date_added>
  <date_updated>Sat Aug 15 13:06:45 -0700 2009</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[A perfect pocket sized reference for people who want to expand their beliefs to something new, or a refresh. This book is not a definitive guide to the practices and beliefs to complete Buddhism, but can be a great starter. Pretty good if you are just interested on religion in a 'minimalistic' way.]]></body>
    <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/67516569]]></url>
</review>
    <review id="22470603">
    <user id="24542">
    <name><![CDATA[Zachary]]></name>
    <location><![CDATA[Athol, MA]]></location>        
    <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/24542-zachary]]></url>
  </user>
      <rating>3</rating>
  <votes>0</votes>
  <sell_flag>false</sell_flag>
  <spoiler_flag>false</spoiler_flag>
  <shelves>
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        <shelf name="for-a-class" />
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  <recommended_for><![CDATA[]]></recommended_for>
  <recommended_by><![CDATA[]]></recommended_by>
  <read_at>Tue Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2008</read_at>
  <date_added>Sat May 17 23:48:35 -0700 2008</date_added>
  <date_updated>Sat May 17 23:51:18 -0700 2008</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[I don't usually like these sorts of books when it comes to Buddhism - they tend to under-represent Theravada Buddhism or lump together all of the Buddhist traditions into one giant mess that doesn't really represent any of them. This book does a good job of clarifying the difference between the Ther...<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/22470603">more...</a>]]></body>
    <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/22470603]]></url>
</review>
    <review id="67746873">
    <user id="2410876">
    <name><![CDATA[James]]></name>
    <location><![CDATA[Hampshire, N7, The United Kingdom]]></location>        
    <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/2410876-james]]></url>
  </user>
      <rating>3</rating>
  <votes>0</votes>
  <sell_flag>false</sell_flag>
  <spoiler_flag>false</spoiler_flag>
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      </shelves>
  <recommended_for><![CDATA[]]></recommended_for>
  <recommended_by><![CDATA[]]></recommended_by>
  <read_at>Sun Aug 23 00:00:00 -0700 2009</read_at>
  <date_added>Mon Aug 17 10:05:00 -0700 2009</date_added>
  <date_updated>Sun Aug 23 11:24:46 -0700 2009</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[Concise and impartial.]]></body>
    <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/67746873]]></url>
</review>
    <review id="18744290">
    <user id="52544">
    <name><![CDATA[Bryan]]></name>
    <location><![CDATA[Long Island City, NY]]></location>        
    <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/52544-bryan]]></url>
  </user>
      <rating>4</rating>
  <votes>0</votes>
  <sell_flag>false</sell_flag>
  <spoiler_flag>false</spoiler_flag>
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  <recommended_for><![CDATA[]]></recommended_for>
  <recommended_by><![CDATA[]]></recommended_by>
  <read_at>Sat Mar 01 00:00:00 -0800 2008</read_at>
  <date_added>Thu Mar 27 06:06:38 -0700 2008</date_added>
  <date_updated>Thu Mar 27 06:10:29 -0700 2008</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[Very concise and to the point.  I had only the faintest picture of Buddhism as a religion.  This was a great starting point for further inquiry.<br/><br/>Also, it was nice to learn that attaining superpowers is as easy (or as hard) as reaching the 4th stage of trance through meditation.]]></body>
    <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/18744290]]></url>
</review>
    <review id="4658394">
    <user id="33941">
    <name><![CDATA[Rahat]]></name>
    <location><![CDATA[Newtown Square, PA]]></location>        
    <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/33941-rahat]]></url>
  </user>
      <rating>4</rating>
  <votes>0</votes>
  <sell_flag>false</sell_flag>
  <spoiler_flag>false</spoiler_flag>
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      </shelves>
  <recommended_for><![CDATA[]]></recommended_for>
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  <read_at></read_at>
  <date_added>Thu Aug 16 14:55:05 -0700 2007</date_added>
  <date_updated>Mon Sep 03 15:45:55 -0700 2007</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[While the author himself admits that he doesn't go into tremendous detail, this was a great read for those who want a basic understanding of Buddhism in a little over 100 pages.  ]]></body>
    <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4658394]]></url>
</review>
    <review id="14259476">
    <user id="640038">
    <name><![CDATA[Eric]]></name>
    <location><![CDATA[Baltimore, MD]]></location>        
    <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/640038-eric]]></url>
  </user>
      <rating>4</rating>
  <votes>0</votes>
  <sell_flag>false</sell_flag>
  <spoiler_flag>false</spoiler_flag>
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      </shelves>
  <recommended_for><![CDATA[]]></recommended_for>
  <recommended_by><![CDATA[]]></recommended_by>
  <read_at></read_at>
  <date_added>Fri Feb 01 07:44:04 -0800 2008</date_added>
  <date_updated>Fri Feb 01 07:44:47 -0800 2008</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[I've read a lot of books in this series.  They are almost always wonderful reads!]]></body>
    <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/14259476]]></url>
</review>
    <review id="55885047">
    <user id="122926">
    <name><![CDATA[Bekah]]></name>
    <location><![CDATA[The United States]]></location>        
    <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/122926-bekah]]></url>
  </user>
      <rating>3</rating>
  <votes>0</votes>
  <sell_flag>false</sell_flag>
  <spoiler_flag>false</spoiler_flag>
  <shelves>
      </shelves>
  <recommended_for><![CDATA[]]></recommended_for>
  <recommended_by><![CDATA[]]></recommended_by>
  <read_at></read_at>
  <date_added>Tue May 12 20:37:17 -0700 2009</date_added>
  <date_updated>Wed Jul 22 15:27:49 -0700 2009</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[Basic, good for beginners. Boring if you've done any study on Buddhism already.]]></body>
    <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/55885047]]></url>
</review>
    <review id="22114924">
    <user id="36060">
    <name><![CDATA[mia]]></name>
    <location><![CDATA[Astoria, NY]]></location>        
    <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/36060-mia]]></url>
  </user>
      <rating>3</rating>
  <votes>0</votes>
  <sell_flag>false</sell_flag>
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      </shelves>
  <recommended_for><![CDATA[]]></recommended_for>
  <recommended_by><![CDATA[]]></recommended_by>
  <read_at>Sun May 18 17:29:19 -0700 2008</read_at>
  <date_added>Mon May 12 19:31:27 -0700 2008</date_added>
  <date_updated>Sun May 18 17:29:19 -0700 2008</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[It occurred to me one day that I knew nothing at all about it. ]]></body>
    <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/22114924]]></url>
</review>
    <review id="75604079">
    <user id="124777">
    <name><![CDATA[Cole]]></name>
    <location><![CDATA[San Francisco, CA]]></location>        
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      <rating>0</rating>
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  <read_at></read_at>
  <date_added>Sat Oct 24 13:38:16 -0700 2009</date_added>
  <date_updated>Sat Oct 24 13:38:16 -0700 2009</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[]]></body>
    <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/75604079]]></url>
</review>
    <review id="73531003">
    <user id="2702707">
    <name><![CDATA[Brad]]></name>
    <location><![CDATA[Waterloo, IN]]></location>        
    <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/2702707-brad-thompson]]></url>
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      <rating>5</rating>
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  <read_at></read_at>
  <date_added>Mon Oct 05 12:38:25 -0700 2009</date_added>
  <date_updated>Mon Oct 05 12:38:25 -0700 2009</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[]]></body>
    <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/73531003]]></url>
</review>
    <review id="70933009">
    <user id="2299020">
    <name><![CDATA[Dana]]></name>
    <location><![CDATA[Brockton, MA]]></location>        
    <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/2299020-dana-miranda]]></url>
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  <date_added>Sat Sep 12 02:25:10 -0700 2009</date_added>
  <date_updated>Sat Sep 12 02:25:10 -0700 2009</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[]]></body>
    <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/70933009]]></url>
</review>
    <review id="70127907">
    <user id="2694521">
    <name><![CDATA[Mistress]]></name>
    <location><![CDATA[The United States]]></location>        
    <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/2694521-mistress-esme]]></url>
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      <rating>0</rating>
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  <read_at></read_at>
  <date_added>Sat Sep 05 01:23:11 -0700 2009</date_added>
  <date_updated>Sat Sep 05 01:23:11 -0700 2009</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[]]></body>
    <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/70127907]]></url>
</review>
    <review id="69669194">
    <user id="489381">
    <name><![CDATA[Elizabeth]]></name>
    <location><![CDATA[Medford, MA]]></location>        
    <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/489381-elizabeth]]></url>
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      <rating>0</rating>
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  <recommended_for><![CDATA[]]></recommended_for>
  <recommended_by><![CDATA[]]></recommended_by>
  <read_at></read_at>
  <date_added>Tue Sep 01 07:02:01 -0700 2009</date_added>
  <date_updated>Tue Sep 01 07:02:22 -0700 2009</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[]]></body>
    <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/69669194]]></url>
</review>
    <review id="66765687">
    <user id="313473">
    <name><![CDATA[Ken]]></name>
    <location><![CDATA[San Francisco, CA]]></location>        
    <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/313473-ken]]></url>
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      <rating>3</rating>
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  <recommended_for><![CDATA[]]></recommended_for>
  <recommended_by><![CDATA[]]></recommended_by>
  <read_at>Wed Aug 19 20:09:19 -0700 2009</read_at>
  <date_added>Sun Aug 09 13:41:21 -0700 2009</date_added>
  <date_updated>Wed Aug 19 20:09:19 -0700 2009</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[]]></body>
    <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/66765687]]></url>
</review>
    <review id="65189764">
    <user id="2567635">
    <name><![CDATA[Alvarado]]></name>
    <location><![CDATA[Central District, 00, Hong Kong]]></location>        
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      <rating>2</rating>
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  <read_at></read_at>
  <date_added>Mon Jul 27 17:10:27 -0700 2009</date_added>
  <date_updated>Mon Jul 27 17:10:27 -0700 2009</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[]]></body>
    <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/65189764]]></url>
</review>
    <review id="65038421">
    <user id="2563209">
    <name><![CDATA[David]]></name>
    <location><![CDATA[The United States]]></location>        
    <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/2563209-david]]></url>
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  <read_at></read_at>
  <date_added>Sun Jul 26 14:35:13 -0700 2009</date_added>
  <date_updated>Sun Jul 26 14:35:16 -0700 2009</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[]]></body>
    <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/65038421]]></url>
</review>
    <review id="64309395">
    <user id="394848">
    <name><![CDATA[Kate]]></name>
    <location><![CDATA[Redondo Beach, CA]]></location>        
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  <recommended_for><![CDATA[]]></recommended_for>
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  <read_at></read_at>
  <date_added>Mon Jul 20 20:26:43 -0700 2009</date_added>
  <date_updated>Mon Jul 20 20:26:43 -0700 2009</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[]]></body>
    <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/64309395]]></url>
</review>
    <review id="63130424">
    <user id="2116632">
    <name><![CDATA[Lazarus]]></name>
    <location><![CDATA[Littlehampton, The United Kingdom]]></location>        
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  <recommended_for><![CDATA[]]></recommended_for>
  <recommended_by><![CDATA[]]></recommended_by>
  <read_at></read_at>
  <date_added>Sun Jul 12 04:45:16 -0700 2009</date_added>
  <date_updated>Sun Jul 12 04:45:30 -0700 2009</date_updated>
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