Get Free Shipping on orders over $89
The Buddha : Biography of a Myth - Donald S. Lopez

The Buddha

Biography of a Myth

By: Donald S. Lopez

Hardcover | 29 December 2025 | Edition Number 1

At a Glance

Hardcover


RRP $45.95

$22.98

50%OFF

or 4 interest-free payments of $5.75 with

In Stock and Ships next day

From one of the world's leading Buddhist scholars, a deeply researched and unprecedented portrait of the Buddha

Like Jesus and Muhammad, the Buddha is one of the most significant figures in history. But is he a historical figure? In this revelatory book, Donald S. Lopez Jr. explores this question and considers what is at stake in the answer. Using stories of the Buddha's life—drawn from the earliest biographies, the work of other scholars, and his own research—Lopez traces a single narrative from the Buddha's birth to his enlightenment to his passage into nirvana.

Unlike those who transformed the Buddha into a rationalist philosopher, Lopez seeks to "remythologize" the Buddha, restoring the rainbow that encircled the Buddha for centuries, radiating his teachings around the world. Complementing traditional Buddhist sources with insights from Gustave Flaubert, Oscar Wilde, George Eliot, and others, Lopez produces a rich, accessible, and unprecedented portrait of one of the world's most important religious figures.

About the Author

Donald S. Lopez Jr. is Arthur E. Link Distinguished University Professor of Buddhist and Tibetan Studies at the University of Michigan. He is the author or editor of many books, including Buddhism: A Journey through History; The Scientific Buddha: His Short and Happy Life; and The Story of Buddhism. Lopez lives in New York City.

Industry Reviews
"In The Buddha: Biography of a Myth, Donald Lopez expertly retells one of the greatest religious stories of all time: the life story of the Buddha. Highly personal and imaginative, yet also thoroughly grounded in authoritative classical sources, Lopez's book uses the story as a gateway to reflect on enduring issues in the study of Buddhism, including the question of whether or not the Buddha was a historical person. A highly stimulating and enjoyable read."-Reiko Ohnuma, Dartmouth College

"The liveliest writer on all matters Buddhist, Lopez travels through the conflicting biographical accounts to arrive at the enigma of the Gautama Buddha's uncertain historical existence. Full of things one probably doesn't know, wonderfully written, this book is an illumination."-Eliot Weinberger, author of The Life of Tu Fu

"Among the many biographies of the Buddha that have appeared over the last century and a half, this one by Donald Lopez clearly stands out: Brilliantly written and original in its approach, it is much more than just 'another life of the Buddha,' and will be of interest to specialist scholars and general readers alike."-John S. Strong, Bates College

More in Religion & Beliefs

Norse-Gaelic Paganism : Viking and Irish Myth and Magic - Annie Cúglas Humphrey
The Great Cosmic Mother : Rediscovering the Religion of the Earth - Monica Sjoo
The Power of Now : A Guide to Spiritual Enlightenment - Eckhart Tolle
NRSV Catholic Bible Gift Edition [Brown] : Holy Bible - Thomas Nelson

RRP $69.99

$52.75

25%
OFF
NRSV Catholic Bible Gift Edition [White] : Holy Bible - Thomas Nelson

RRP $69.99

$52.75

25%
OFF
Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind : 50th Anniversary Edition - Shunryu Suzuki
The Jesus Bible [NIV Edition, Pink] : NIV Edition [Pink] - Zondervan

RRP $89.99

$64.99

28%
OFF
The Complete C. S. Lewis Signature Classics : Boxed Set - C. S. Lewis
Martyr! - Kaveh Akbar

Paperback

RRP $24.99

$21.75

13%
OFF
The Practice of Not Thinking : A Guide to Mindful Living - Ryunosuke Koike
Face to Face : ERIS gems - Carl Jung

RRP $12.95

$12.75

Anam Cara : Spiritual Wisdom from the Celtic World - John O'Donohue
Rasputin : And the Downfall of the Romanovs - Antony Beevor

RRP $55.00

$46.99

15%
OFF
HOW TO KILL A WITCH : A Guide For The Patriarchy - Claire Mitchell

RRP $24.99

$21.75

13%
OFF
The Book of Enoch - Enoch

$51.75