Part of The Essential Wisdom Library, Buddhism provides an accessible, comprehensive guide for anyone looking to gain an understanding of the faith and practice of the religion. From central ideas like the Eight Fold Path and the Four Noble Truths to the role of meditation, Buddhism offers an indispensible introduction to the wisdom tradition that has shaped the lives of millions of people across centuries and continents. Writing in an engaging, approachable style, author Joan Duncan Oliver outlines the key tenants of Buddhism for every reader, unpacking complex philosophies and revealing the beauty of the timeless faith. A practitioner of Buddhist meditation for over thirty years, Oliver has written extensively on the subject and is uniquely well versed in Buddhist practice. Her expert knowledge and understanding make Buddhism an essential modern guidebook to an ancient tradition.

Discover the hidden power of nice.

"The Meaning of Nice" is a multi-faceted exploration of a simple word and how it has developed over time and among various disciplines. With emphasis on philosophy, positive psychology and interpersonal relationships, Joan Duncan Oliver probes theories and practices to explain why and how nice girls can get the corner office and nice guys can finish first. We tend to associate "nice" people with kindness and good manners - it's an indistinct, generic kind of praise. Joan Duncan Oliver restores the power of nice, and shows how this complex quality can change your life, and has never been more crucial to our well-being as individuals and as a society.

In 1986, the New York Times called William Zeckendorf Jr. "Manhattan's most active real-estate developer," a judgment borne out by Zeckendorf's fascinating memoir. The second generation of a legendary family of developers, "Bill" Zeckendorf was a developer with a social conscience, not only putting up buildings but opening neglected parts of the city and transforming whole communities. Among the projects Zeckendorf chronicles in detail-and with rich documentary illustrations-are the Columbia, which set off a building boom on the Upper West Side; the four-acre Worldwide Plaza, a landmark in West Midtown; Queens West, the first residential project on the waterfront in Queens; the enormous Ronald Reagan Office Building and International Trade Center in Washington, D.C.; and numerous projects in Santa Fe, his beloved second home.

This book brings together a broad range of Buddhist meditative techniques that have appeared in the magazine over the years. Contributors include some of the foremost voices in contemporary Buddhism: Pema Chödrön starts our journey with an inspirational Foreword. Lama Surya Das explores the definition of meditation, while Sharon Salzberg and Joseph Goldstein lay out a 28-day program for establishing a daily practice. Wherever you are on your search, you will find plenty of guidance in this book. Learn about insight meditation from Bhante Henepola Gunaratana and Sylvia Boorstein. Or about zazen from Barry Magid and Martine Batchelor. Gil Fronsdal offers instruction in metta (lovingkindness) meditation, while Judith Simmer-Brown teaches tonglen, a Tibetan Buddhist practice for cultivating compassion. We also learn about the crucial role the body plays in meditation from S. N. Goenka, Reginald Ray, Wes Nisker, and Cyndi Lee. We receive guidance on managing issues that arise in meditation from Jon Kabat-Zinn, Christina Feldman, Matthieu Ricard, Pat Enkyo O'Hara and others. And there are practices for bringing mindfulness and compassion to daily life from Thubten Chodron, Sayadaw U Tejaniya and Michael Carroll. Though targeted to the reader who would like to begin meditating, this collection also offers support and guidance to the experienced meditator working to sustain a lifelong practice. This is a guide to meditative practice for any seeker wishing to deepen their understanding of themselves and their world. Edited by Joan Duncan Oliver Launched in 1991, Tricycle: The Buddhist Review is the most inclusive and widely read vehicle for presenting Buddhist perspectives to a Western audience. By remaining unaffiliated with any one teacher, sect or lineage, Tricycle provides an independent forum for exploring Buddhist teachings and practices, bringing Buddhist thinking to Western disciplines, and establishing a dialogue between Buddhism and the broader culture. This approach has enabled the magazine to attract readers from all walks of life who wish to enrich their lives through a deeper knowledge of Buddhist traditions.