It deals not only with the religious and philosophical concepts and teachings of the Buddha and his followers, but also tries to show how Buddhist practices and attitudes function in their social, cultural and historical setting. In doing so, it refers to the developments of Buddhism from its very beginnings to its modern history and current status in Asia as well as in the West. It would not be appropriate to expect any significant research contribution from a book of this type. Indeed, this book does not try to explore unknown or unclarified materials. Likewise, it does not provide innovative interpretations or a critical assessment of earlier research.
Notes are generally absent.
The bibliography is almost entirely restricted to works in the English language. Textual references are usually to English translations or anthologies. Considering the purpose and the intended readership of the book, this approach seems to be basically acceptable. The book ought to be judged by its pedagogic qualities. And in this respect, we may say that the materials are presented in a clear and intelligent fashion.