Buddha in Your Backpack: Everyday Buddhism for Teens [Paperback]

Franz Metcalf (Author), Monk Song Yonk (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 8, 2002

A guide for navigating the teen years, Buddha in Your Backpack is for young people who want to learn more about Buddhism or for those who simply want to understand what’s going on inside themselves and in the world around them. Buddha in Your Backpack tells Buddha’s life story in a fashion teens will relate to, describing Buddha as a young rebel not satisfied with the answers of his elders. It then introduces Buddha’s core teachings with chapters like “All About Me” and “Been There, Why’d I Do That?” The author presents thoughtful and spiritual insights on school, dating, hanging out, jobs, and other issues of special interest to teens — inviting readers to look inside themselves for answers.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 8 Up-Metcalf straddles an interesting line with great success: avowedly evangelistic, his book nevertheless repeatedly reminds readers that Buddhism in general and the specific form of it embraced here are not likely to appeal to everyone. As such, the tone is both enthusiastic and testimonial without being pushy or "in your face." Whether discussing home and the family, school, self-image, sex, or drugs, the author's advice aims always at what is healthy and what reduces the amount of suffering in the world. Unlike other guides to living produced from a religious viewpoint, this book eschews discussion of morality and hews close to a practical line-not what is "good" but rather what is good for you. The author also emphasizes the necessity of self-awareness and rational independent decision making over rote following of rules-a stance that will raise hackles in many communities when the subject is teen sexuality or substance abuse. Metcalf also surveys the life and basic teachings of Buddha and makes recommendations for those who want to attempt to walk the path of Buddhism. He examines various schools of the religion, gives instructions for types of meditation, and explains that incorporating Buddhist principles into one's life need not mean a conversion to Buddhism or renunciation of other religious affiliations. While its frank and nonjudgmental approach to certain areas of teenage life will likely lead to censure in some corners, Buddha in Your Backpack is flush with good advice, sensibly given. As such it should prove useful both to students interested in Buddhism and to others who simply need good counsel. In fact, Metcalf's approach is so down-to-earth and inviting that many adults may sneak it off the shelves for themselves.
Coop Renner, Blackshear Elementary School, Austin, TX
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

Gr. 7-12. Most YA guide-to-life books try to be hip by using lots of soon-to-be-dated slang, but here's a handbook to teendom that wins its hipness the hard way: by using good humor and the wisdom of a 2,500-year-old man. After introducing Siddhartha Buddha by focusing on his childhood, Metcalf outlines the four "simple" truths of Buddhism, using them as the foundation for his guidance. It's all about learning to live with dukkha, or suffering, whether that means overprotective parents, bratty siblings, or drama-queen pals. Taking inner action to resolve your outer problems, Metcalf says, is often (but not always) the best solution because teens (like the rest of us) often find themselves in situations of powerlessness. It may sound boring, but Metcalf makes Buddhism fun and funny ("Dukkha happens") without shying away from difficult issues like drugs and sex. His refusal to condemn such supposed vices might trouble some parents, but teens will treasure it. This is the rare advice book that kids won't be ashamed to have in their backpacks. John Green
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 12 and up
  
• Paperback: 244 pages
• Publisher: Ulysses Press (November 8, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1569753210
• ISBN-13: 978-1569753217
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.5 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #85,706 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #68 in Books > Teens > Religion & Spirituality

More About the Author

Franz's background and varied professional achievements combine the spiritual and the scholarly, religious feeling and critical thinking. He began his graduate studies of religion 25 years ago, getting his master's degree the Graduate Theological Union, comparing Buddhist and Catholic spiritual practices. He earned a doctoral fellowship at the University of Chicago and pursued his abiding personal interest in Zen by writing his dissertation on the question, "Why do Americans practice Zen Buddhism?" He was awarded distinction on both his doctoral exams and his dissertation, receiving his PhD in 1997.

In the ivory tower, Franz is president of the American Academy of Religion, Western Region, and has participated in numerous scholarly meetings, in addition to organizing one--which is harder. He has published various articles and chapters on contemporary Buddhism and is book review editor of the Journal of Global Buddhism (http://www.globalbuddhism.org). Franz teaches religious studies at California State University, Los Angeles.

Down from the tower, Franz is a founding member of the Forge Institute for Spirituality and Social Change. He is also author of four other books, including What Would Buddha Do?, a best seller published in a dozen languages. He continues to inquire into Buddhism and psychology, both academically and personally. And he says hi to his daughter Pearl. He's also working on a historical-spiritual detective novel. Prayers might be in order.

You can reach Franz at [e-mail]. For seminars, keynote speeches, workshops, and kvetching, you can reach both Franz and BJ at their Web site http://www.buddhaatwork.com.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars No better Buddha than this, January 11, 2003

By 

Paddy Russell (ON, Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Buddha in Your Backpack: Everyday Buddhism for Teens (Paperback)

If your looking for a new path in life or just looking for a good read about self improvement this book is perfect. I have been searching for long time for a I have been searching for something to relate Budhism to me and Franz Metcalf has written it. It does not preach about buddhism but relates to it every day things in the life of a teen, such as homework, relationships, bullys etc. It also includes quotes and thoughts of teen buddhist so you can relate your thoughts with them. But it also teaches the basics of buddhism like meditation, the four noble truths, the eight fold path and how to use them in daily life. I would HIGHLY recomend this book to anyone intrested in Buddhism or a great gift idea for a teen intrested in Buddhism.

I could only put five stars put this book deserves many more. I could not suggest a better book to open the world of buddhism to teens.

17 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I can't recommend this enough., September 1, 2006

By 

Gabe (Massachusetts, US) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Buddha in Your Backpack: Everyday Buddhism for Teens (Paperback)

Out of all the "self-help" or advice books I've purchased or been given over the years, Buddha in Your Backpack is the only one I've ever been able to read without cringing, and the first with advice I've tried to apply to my life. The author presents Buddhism not just as a religion but as a set of ideas of which anyone can take advantage.

I'm the sort of person who absolutely hates being preached to, whichever religion happens to be doing it, and I'm pleased to report that Buddha in Your Backpack does none of that. It doesn't need to - one great advantage of Buddhism is that many of its teachings are so practical that they don't need a justification like "do this or our God will smite you." In fact, there's no pressure in the book to treat Buddha as a god, and not every Buddhist does so.

Besides guidance towards the answers of many Big Questions, and advice for life that anyone can appreciate, there is also guidance on practices such as various forms of meditation. Whether or not this sort of thing appeals to you, there is plenty in the book that can positively influence your thinking and perhaps even provide a bit of hope for an otherwise bleak mind.

And the other strength of Buddha in Your Backpack? The tone is nearly flawless, something difficult to pull off for an adult author writing for teenagers. I didn't feel either talked down to or that the author was making too much of an effort to be appealing. He's very straightforward - funny, but blunt and sensible on sensitive issues. Again, he doesn't preach, he advises.

I'll admit that it's difficult to change one's lifestyle based on the advice of any book, but Buddha in Your Backpack is the best motivation I've come across. Whether you're interested in Buddhism as a religion or simply looking for a path in a muddled, confusing and generally difficult world, I can't recommend this book enough. It won't change your life, but it may well inspire you to do just that.

All that, by the way, came from the fingers of a total cynic, so you'd better believe it.

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An Easy Read...Buddhism Plain and Simple, May 13, 2004

By 

mlk2 "mlk2" (Marshall, MI United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Buddha in Your Backpack: Everyday Buddhism for Teens (Paperback)

As a 40-something mother of 2 teenagers, I first picked up this book at the local library to pass time while my children researched school projects. As someone who has just spent the last 2 months with the works of Chogyam Trungpa, I was ready for a little "lite" spiritual reading. What I found was a book that, yes, was simplistic in word yet still provided ample room for contemplation. Buddha in Your Backpack may be geared towards teens, but the objects of consideration presented in this book can appeal to someone of any age who is beginning their search for insight on the Eight-Fold Path and the Four Noble Truths.