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Summary: It is the awakening
Review: The book has started me on my own path of awakening. I am not a religion scholar nor do I know much about Buddhism. But from reading the book, I think Stephen Batchelor gives a simple yet clear description of Buddhism beliefs. The title says it all for the book. It is an introductory to the beliefs and practice of Buddhism without the heavy religious aspect. It is "Buddhism Without Beliefs." I have now began to think of life and the special gift of life that I have in a different context. As a college student, I sometimes get too involve with all the work and forget to appreciate what I have or remember why I was doing all that I'm doing. The book teaches me to give myself time. I am not a Buddhist and I will probably not going to convert to be one. But I've adopted certain beliefs and practices mentioned in the book. The book is simply inspirational. You can't help but reflect on your own life during and after reading the book.
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Summary: A concise yet artfully written summary of buddhism
Review: I found this book a very compelling read, especially since I have recently been studying the subject of agnosticism and the ethical implications of a natural versus a supernatural universe. The author emphasizes the central Buddhist concept of "dharma" as a way of acting in your daily life to achieve enlightenment. He stresses again and again that the main purpose of dharma practice is to understand and, ultimately resolve, the problem of anguish; "The truth of anguish becomes an injunction to act." As for enlightenment, he goes to some lengths to explain that it is not something reserved only for the elite few, but readily accessible to anyone with a true need for changing their way of being in the world.
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Summary: A useful approach to Buddhism for westerners
Review: I enjoyed this book very much. There is a lot of good stuff written about Buddhism for westerners these days, and there is a lot of tripe too. The latter is often characterized by romantic and flowery misrepresentations of "enlightenment" as a state of bliss and profound cosmic consciousness. The authors of these books pay lip service to the central Buddhist idea of no-self, but in the end the idea is to build up a new and improved ego. Batchelor's book is characteristic of a more hard-headed and "take your medicine and deal with it" sort of Buddhism, not unlike that of Charlotte Beck. I particularly like the way he attacked the misuse of the concept of karma - i.e., as just another religious "behave yourself and you'll get a nice cookie when you die" salve for the ego. Most Buddhist writers dance around the topic of emptiness - Batchelor really gets into it and builds a useful approach to life around it. Recommended!
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Summary: A Beautiful Little Book
Review: Batchelor's approach to Buddhism is to treat it as a culture of awakening, and as an approach to everyday living, rather than as a religion. By taking this approach, he avoids dubious metaphysical belief systems, such as reincarnation, and focuses on the elements of the Buddha's teaching that shed light on the common aspects of all human experience. I loved the book, finding it well-written, insightful, and inviting. Great stuff if you are interested in the experiental aspects of Buddhism, rather than the metaphysical beliefs.
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Summary: worse than no introduction at all
Review: Watered down, missing the essence and the point of Buddhism, this is worse than no introduction at all. Avoid this book, pick up Entering the Stream instead or What the Buddha Taught, and go from there.
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Summary: A wonderful approach to "spiritual agnoticism"
Review: Stephen Batchelor simplifies Buddhism and the dharma path for the Western reader in this wonderful, approachable and timely book. Not only is this a "contemporary guide to awakening," as the subtitle suggests, but a practical answer to the volumes of New Age pseudo-spiritual fluff in the bookstores today. I came away thinking and knowing that NOT knowing is okay. Enjoy your life, live the moment, and have compassion for your fellow searchers!
Rating: 
Summary: Not really all that good, unfortunately.
Review: Batchelor takes the teeth out of Buddhism, and contributes to an unfortunate trend of trivializing eastern spirituality. It's the perfect book for the '90's, fashionable, non-threatening, and just not all that good. I would not argue that awakening is not a good thing. I would argue that awakening is not independent of some sort of theology. This is, I admit, my own personal bias, but it bothers me to see someone take a religion (yes, it's not a philosophy, it's a religion) and co-opt the parts that are convenient while ignoring or explaining away the parts that are difficult for westerners (like reincarnation). Some people may benefit from this book as a stepping stone to something more profound, which gives it some value. Then again, it could be that I just don't get it.
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Summary: Thoughtfully Written Guide to Awakening in the West
Review: Stephen Bachelor outlines the Buddhist path to enlightenment in an accessible, contemporary, and thoughtful way. This book was a joy to read - I almost didn't want to put it down. If you are looking for an easy-to-read text about Buddhism and how we in the West can relate to it, this is an excellent choice.
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Summary: Incredible
Review: I read other reviews before submitting mine and would like to say: This book is not an introduction to Buddhism, and I felt that Batchelor was clear that his own Western cultural influence was unavoidable. My impression: I thought it was perhaps the best Buddhist book I have read in my meager 15+ years of practice. For such a small book, it was clear, complete, and provocative. Somehow Batchelor managed to distill his thoughts into a little over 100 pages. Each sentence builds on the last, and he was able to bring me face-to-face with some very real and deep-seated fears. From my experience as a Zen Buddhist, I found him walking side by side with me through familiar territory, and then he quickens the pace, leading me to brand-new and terrifying self-examination. Had I followed my usual reading practice, I would have dog-eared this entire book. Every page invoked something fresh. But I did dog-ear one page, and went back to read it numerous times. He recommends this meditative question: "Since death alone is certain and the time of death uncertain, what should I do?" Hugs and bows.
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Summary: Peace, my friends.
Review: The argument and counter argument in these reviews illustrates why it is important to read books like Mr. Batchelor's "Buddhism Without Beliefs". There are those who vehemently believe in reincarnation and karma, and those who just as vehemently believe in the value of the philosophical search for universal truth. This book entreats you to consider "the middle path", to have compassion for others, and to constantly strive for self-improvement. It is true that Mr. Batchelor is calling for the de-mystification of the modern Buddhist tradition, but I believe that anyone following the Buddhist faith ought to rejoice that this book is opening the eyes of many. Perhaps the enlightenment to be found here isn't the same as the enlightenment to be found in their particular school, but I think that anyone with an open mind and an open heart should rejoice in people seeking enlightenment AT ALL in our American culture of rampant consumerism and egoistic self-absorption. Mr. Batchelor gives those of us who have been raised by the mass media a bridge to contemplation. I say, thank you sir.
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