Many know the Buddha only from the serene statues one sees everywhere. But what of the man himself and the world he lived in? What did he actually do in his roughly eightly years on earth that spawned one of the greatest religions in history? Renowned religious scholar Karen Armstrong anwsers these questions and more by examining the life and times of the Buddha in this engrossing philosophical biography. Against the background of cultural ferment that characterized the world at the time, Armstrong blends history, philosophy, mythology, and biography to create a compelling and illuminating portrait of a man whose awakening continues to inspire millions today, 2,500 years after his death. 

By Karen Armstrong

Published: Penguin Books; Reprint edition (September 28, 2004)

Format: SC, 240 pages

Product Dimensions: 5 x 7.1 x 0.7 inches

ISBN: 978-0143034360