Wide Awake: A Buddhist Guide for Teens

by Diana Winston

Many of today's teenagers are tired of the pressure to compete and consume-and are looking for a different way to live their lives. This book offers an alternative: the 2,500-year old practice of Buddhism. Written in a style that will have immediate appeal to young "seekers" and those wanting to understand the ancient teachings, this book addresses such relevant topics as peer pressure, emotional difficulties, stress, fostering peace, and even protecting the environment. For everyone looking for self-help, self-esteem, and self-awareness, this book offers advice on: •Discovering truth in a world of hype •Finding peace amid the ups and downs of life •Accepting ourselves •Working with difficult emotions •How to meditate •Dealing with temptations and making the right decisions about sex and drugs •Advice on volunteering, working for peace, and protecting the environment

Genres: Buddhism, Nonfiction, Religion, Spirituality, Self Help, Philosophy, Zen

304 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 2003

Reviews

[Hoyadaisy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I borrowed this from the library, then bought it for my teen, then bought my own copy, then bought one for another adult. That's how good this is. Clear, direct explanations of Buddhist concepts without oversimplification. (Hard to do, right?) Explains suffering, ethics, and meditation in a teenage context, but doesn't spoon-feed or promise quick solutions (takes the veeeery long view natural to Buddhism). The book should be compelling to teens because of this honesty and because it puts the teenager at the center of the struggle, the decisions, and the life that gets formed and re-formed from them. At the same time, the examples all worked for me as an adult. (Generally, how to deal with impulses of all kinds while trying not to hurt oneself or others. When do we get to be done with that?)

You couldn't do better for an introduction to Buddhism at any age, but for a teen--wow.

[Arminzerella · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was truly an eye-opening book. I came to it with all sorts of pre-conceived notions about Buddhism – that it was about being completely selfless and altruistic, to the point where you lose yourself. But it turns out that it’s very humanistic. It recognizes suffering and seeks to help people understand and be aware of themselves, their thoughts, and the world around them – thus, being “awake.” Reading this made me realize that I am already very “Buddhist” in thought and practice, which came as a surprise to me. It’s a very forgiving kind of practice and it’s all about noticing what you think and then examining why you think it – good for us introspective, philosophical types. I’m inclined to get a copy of my own, because I think I’ll want to reread it and remind myself of ways I can continue to be present and awake in my own life. I highly recommend it to anyone – teens and adults alike – especially those who are searching for themselves. I think Buddhist “practices” could benefit everyone, even if they decide not to become a Buddhist. And while this is a Buddhist guide for "teens," I think people of all ages could benefit from reading it.

[.*•. ☾ sephia ☾ .•*. · Rating 5 out of 5]

17th March 2019
This book has helped me a lot on my Buddhist journey. I would definitely recommend.

Re-Read 9th September 2023
This book always helps me a great deal, and the knowledge is extremely simple and easy to follow in your life, without getting preachy. This is one of my favourite books, and I recommend people to read it if they are interested in mindfulness and Buddhism. This book is one that resonates with me. A great read!

[Sofia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book, it taught me a lot about mindfulness, Buddhism and even mediation. I am a 14 year old girl who had recently been trying to mediate, do Yoga and understand the philosophy behind Buddhism. I looked at tons of other books about Buddhism and meditation but non of them I really liked. This book was the one I really loved. It explained Buddhism in a very simple and meaningful way. It put things into perspective for me. It taught me how the author Diana Winston started mediation and Buddhism which really helped me since I can really connect. I loved how I did not have to read this book cover to cover, I could jump to different sections and get tons of info about different things. I could read about Buddha and than switch to reading about mindfulness. I also love how she explained the very complex and complicated philosophy of Buddha in a very simple but educational way. I really love this book and the way it was written. I would totally recommend this book to anyone learning about the basics of Buddhism, especially teens who want to explore different philosophies.

[Charlie Reese · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this during lent and it really was a nice book especially in providing guidance for meditation and mindfulness. I am Christian not Buddhist but I feel reading this book helped me feel more balanced and I actually felt closer to god after.

[Kelly McCoy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Met Diana at Spirit Rock, she’s wonderful. So is this book.

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Met Diana at Spirit Rock, she’s wonderful. So is this book.

[Lingui5t · Rating 2 out of 5]

An astounding amount of fluff, but maybe that comes with the format. In any event, I thought it was just ok.

[Kerry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay, so I am no "teen" but this was the most concise, easy to understand book about Buddhism that I have encountered. I recommend it for people of all ages and refer back to it often when I feel that I need a little nudge back to the path...

[Michael · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book is sloppy with terminology. I found this too distracting to continue. Why is this a problem? Especially for a book intended for teens as their introduction to Buddhism, loading them up with inaccurate interpretations/definitions of the teachings does them a terrible disservice.

[Lucky · Rating 5 out of 5]

A book that is aimed at introducing Buddhism to teenagers; but, is so well written and easy to understand without being too simplified, I've given it to several friends who asked me to recommend a good overview of Buddhist beliefs. Great book.

[Adalheid · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great book to understand what Buddhism is, and is not. Very plain speaking and easy to read.

[Samantha]

turned me off from becoming Buddhist

[Christy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This author did a wonderful job of making a philosophical topic an interesting and insightful read. Buddhism would seem like a drawl topic, but Winston changes that completely! Very good read.

[Seung Eun · Rating 4 out of 5]

clear and easy to apply budhist idea in our life.

[Tracey Adamowski · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a must read for all - no matter your faith! It is thought provoking and full of new ways to approach life! I want both my kids to read it!

[Sheila Craig · Rating 4 out of 5]

Best book on meditation and Buddhism for teens (and the rest of us) I've found yet.

[Autumn · Rating 5 out of 5]

very informative. loved it.

[Angelina · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book! It is so informative and great for aspiring Buddhist teens. I would 100% recommend.