Zen for Americans Book

Zen for Americans is a deceptive title for this book. It collects translations of speeches given by Soyen Shaku when he toured the US in the early-twentieth century, translated and compiled by his student D.T. Suzuki. This book, as a whole, isn't as much an introduction to Zen Buddhism as a defense to clear up common (at the time) Western misconceptions. While Shaku does a wonderful job explaining basic concepts and ideals of Buddhism, this is not an instruction or introduction. If you are already familiar with most basic precepts of Zen teaching, this book is a compelling, enriching explanation of many central ideals. If not, a primer may be in order before picking up this text.