Educator, philosopher, and spiritual leader Daisaku Ikeda presents a wonderfully accessible approach to the timeless wisdom of Buddhism and its relevance to the problems and conditions of today's young people. Ikeda's The Way Of Youth: Buddhist Common Sense For Handling Life's Questions shows the reader how to flourish as a young person in the world today; how to build confidence and character in a modern society; learn to live with respect for oneself and others; how to contribute to a positive, free and peaceful society; and find true personal happiness. The Way Of Youth is a superb contribution to Buddhist "life style" literature and is especially recommended to teenage and young adult readers.

This book is an excellent collection of Buddhist responses to the questions of today's young people. "The Way of Youth" includes topics like building confidence, respecting yourself and others, developing happiness from within, dealing with peer pressure and contributing to a peaceful world. The book is written for a general audience and I believe it appeals to both teens and parents regardless of their religious beliefs. I also highly recommend a book called "Open Your Mind, Open Your Life: A Little Book of Eastern Wisdom" by a young Buddhist author named Taro Gold. Excellent!

Created from the popular "Discussions on Youth" series in the World Tribune (America's premier weekly Buddhist newspaper), this new book by Dr. Daisaku Ikeda, president of the Soka Gakkai International, is an excellent collection of Ikeda's responses to the questions of today's young people.

"The Way of Youth - Buddhist Common Sense for Handling Life's Questions" includes topics such as how to build confidence and character, learning to respect both yourself and those around you, developing lasting happiness from within, dealing with peer pressure and ways to contribute to a happy, free and peaceful society.

Although Dr. Ikeda is the current leader of the world's largest Buddhist organization, this book is written for a general audience and will appeal to both teens and parents regardless of their religious background.

As Arun Gandhi, grandson and founding director of the Gandhi Institute for Nonviolence recently said - "The Way of Youth is an outstanding guide to humanity. I recommend it to all who seek self-improvement."

Of the many children's books that are available to us these days, it is extremely rare to encounter one with such depth and insight. The author dares to explore difficult issues in a way that is accessible to young readers. The two main characters develop a bond of friendship which is based on not only their deep concern for one another, but also a shared dream to help others. Daisaku Ikeda shows through the inseparable connection of these two friends that true friendship transcends time and space and can never be destroyed. Very inspiring!

I don't know how anyone could not like this and all of Daisaku Ikeda's children's books. Especially with this book, Kanta and the Deer, unless you like killing defenseless animals for fun or don't believe in the power of hope, you will love this little tale!

This book is great to teach children respect for all life, including animals. It also well illustrates the destructive power that guns can have in the wrong hands. My kids were so much more concernced about animal welfare and the protection of endangered species after reading this book.

It also reinforced their understanding of the evil nature of weapons in general. This book also helped them to understand the great wisdom the Buddha expressed so long ago that one should only kill animals when it is needed for one's own survival.

For readers unfamiliar with the growing Peace Studies Movement this book will provide lucid, challenging and inspiring information for understanding contemporary world conditions. The dialogue format is excellent for both general and academic reader and it contains none of the alienating, arrogant and removed discourse of academe. For the intelligent reader who is interested in the relationship between spiritual health of communities and how the world arrived at the condition it is in today, this is an excellent starting point that will leave you wanting more from both authors.

Two leading figures in international peace studies explore the applications of Buddhism in nonviolent solutions to various forms of conflict. Well presented. Highly recommended for Buddhists as well as students of peace studies. Admirers of Professor Galtung will be delighted.

In this book, "Choose Peace: A Dialogue Between Johan Galtung and Daisaku Ikeda," world-renowned professor of peace studies at the University of Hawaii and founder of the International Peace Research Institute, Dr. Johan Galtung, and Daisaku Ikeda, Buddhist scholar and current president of Soka Gakkai International, the world's largest Buddhist organization, explore the interface between Buddhist philosophy and nonviolent solutions to war and political conflict.

The two scholars share various painful memories of growing up during World War II. Mr. Ikeda suffered illness as well as the loss of his dear older brother who died in combat, adding to the anguish his family sufferred. In Dr. Galtung's case, during the Nazi occupation of his homeland, Norway, Dr. Galtung's father was imprisoned in a concentration camp in retaliation for his resistance activities.

Their shared quest inspires concrete proposals that are directly relevant to conflict resoulution today, including such hot topics as the death penalty, nationalism and regional unification, religious fundamentalism, the proliferation of nuclear arms, and the role of the United Nations in peacekeeping around the world.

"Choose Peace" is presented as a dialogue between these two scholars, and identifies the various sources of violence and unrest, while demonstrating the role of Buddhist philosophy in formulating solutions that will lead to lasting peace.

An excellent book for children and adults. It's a beautiful well told story about a little girl who turns from mean and bad tempered to sweet and happy. The moon rabbit shows her how to do this. The moral of this story reminds us all how we should really treat one another. Everyone should read this book at least once a year. If I could find more copies I would buy one for every child I know.

I have donated this book and others by Dr. Ikeda to my school's library. The illustrations by Brian Wildsmith are outstanding. The entire book itself is a work of art.

I don't know what book the person who didn't like this was reading, but it certainly wasn't "The Princess and the Moon." I love it and highly recommend it!

This gem of a little book is a collection of essays by Daisaku Ikeda, spiritual leader to over 12 million Soka Gakkai members throughout the world. The essays consider the weighty and numerous problems of our global society - and are collectively titled "Treasures of the Heart."

Commensurate with humanity's brilliant intellectual ability are a multitude of problematic issues which have resulted from the misuse of our naturally-endowed gifts. Humanity's lack of purpose, wisdom and appreciation for life itself are the fundamental flaws which push us down the path of self-destructiveness.

In this book, Mr. Ikeda discusses these issues from the viewpoint of daily life and the wisdom of Buddhism. His views, based on Nichiren Daishonin's Buddhism, are well respected by people of every faith.

This book is of great interest in particular to female readers, as the essays in it were originally written for a Japanese woman's magazine. Therefore, readers familiar with Japanese society will probably find the essays of even more value than others.

In any case, as another reviewer stated, the wisdom expressed in this book is certainly not limited to any one race or gender. Although the majority of essays in "Treasures of the Heart" refer to Buddhist parables, their relevance to contemporary problems is universal. I believe anyone can relate to the wide range of topics it covers, and gain much from the Buddhist wisdom expressed.

I first looked up the title of this book, "Treasures of the Heart," after seeing Rosa Parks speak at an SGI-USA meeting in Atlanta. She spoke very highly of Daisaku Ikeda, saying he was one of her favorite people in the world today, and she emphasized a quote from this book that "the treasures of the heart are the most valuable of all" (taken from the writings of Nichiren).

Although this book is very hard to find now, I have been happy to find so many more of Daisaku Ikeda's books here on Amazon.com... over 60 now! At the same lecture by Mrs. Rosa Parks, she discussed the same spirit of compassion and wisdom that is contained in this book, "Treasures of the Heart," and in all of the books I have read by Mr. Ikeda.

Mrs. Parks, emphasizing the "Treasures of the Heart" she has found in her friendship with Daisaku Ikeda commended Mr. Ikeda and his fellow Soka Gakkai members for being some of the most wise and compassionate people she has ever met. She even said that in the making of her book "Rosa Parks: A Picture Book Biography," which is also available here on Amazon.com, her favorite photo was the one taken of her at Soka University with Mr. Ikeda and his students. If you are fortunate enough to read some of Mr. Ikeda's writings, as I have, I'm sure you will see why Mrs. Parks feels this way.

The world is inundated with problems and crises whose solutions seem to have all but escaped our modern knowledge. In this jewel of a little book, a collection of essays, Mr. Ikeda considers the weighty and numerous problems of our global society - and titles it "Treasures of the Heart." Commensurate with humanity's brilliant ingenuity and ability to perceive our own existence are problems which have resulted from the mishandling of these naturally-endowed gifts. Lack of wisdom, lack of direction and little sense of appreciation for life itself are the fundamental flaws which lead humanity down the path of destructiveness.

In this book, Mr. Ikeda covers these issues but from the viewpoint of daily life. His unique views, based on the life philosophy of Nichiren Daishonin's Buddhism, are worthy of high regard by people of all faiths.

This book is of great interest in particular to female readers, as the essays in it are mostly addressed to a female audience. However, the essays cover a wide variety of issues which concern both men and women. Those readers familiar with Japanese society will probably find this book of even more interest than the rest of us.

In any case, the wisdom expressed in this book is certainly not limited to one gender or race. Anyone can relate to the wide range of topics it covers, and gain much from the Buddhistic wisdom expressed in its pages.

Being a 22 year old mother and one who grew up in this philosophy, this book provides a truly wonderful explanation of why we believe in the eternity of life. In fact, before reading this book I was confused on certain aspects of this practice which I was able to understand afterwards. It was also very comforting in terms of dealing with a recent suicide of a friend, knowing that for lifetimes to come I will always be with my friends and family again.

This in-depth look at the very nature of life and death portrays the extensive knowledge and wisdom of Dr. Ikeda on the title subject. I found it to be fascinating and informative and would highly recommend a look at this profound view of our own humanity.

This thought-provoking book is a clear, concise introduction to life and death as viewed by Buddhism. Daisaku Ikeda writes that Buddhist philosophy and its practice provide a vehicle by which people can understand the essence of the universe and therefore surmount the anger, despair, greed, and envy that often arise from ignorance about the true nature of life. Daisaku Ikeda finds a particularly relevant message - that enlightenment can be found in the daily lives of ordinary people - in the teachings of the thirteenth-century Japanese Buddhist sage Nichiren.

In the first part of the book, the author examines issues of birth, longevity, health, sickness, and death as they affect people today. Later chapters are concerned with explaining fundamental concepts in Buddhist theory. Throughout the book, he illustrates the fascinating correspondence between Buddhism and current scientific thought. Complete with a glossary, index, and foreword by noted astronomer Professor N. C. Wickramasinghe, this book is a wide-ranging, vigorously-written exposition which will challenge and absorb the non-Buddhist reader as well as those more familiar with Buddhism.

This book is a wonderful portrayal of nature and is a very good book for every child to read.

I have used The Cherry Tree in 4th and 5th grade inner-city classrooms for many years. Even though it is a picture book, upper elementary school children relate to the notion of hope and reconstruction thriving in an environment of loss and destruction. My students have been greatly moved by the final flowering of the cherry tree at the end of the story--a metaphor about the strength of the will to live.

After losing their father and their home during war - and while their mother is busy during the day struggling to earn a living for her young family - a young boy and his sister try to help an old man wrap a damaged cherry tree as protection against the winter cold, hoping that for the first time since the war started the tree will bloom again in the spring.

During the winter, animals find a home beneath the tree and finally spring brings a family of flowers around it, a comforting sign that renewal may also come to the war-torn village.

The great illustrations are by the renowned Brian Wildsmith, who many say contributed some of his best work in many years to this beautiful little book.

This is a wonderful little book for kids from 4-8 or so, but will also be enjoyed by adults as well. It teaches to never give up hope, for hope is life itself. It teaches that with hope, even the most horrible of circumstances can be overcome and we can find happiness in even the smallest pleasures in life.

Ikeda's biography of Shakyamuni Buddha made him very real. The reader is taken into the life and times of Shakyamuni, providing a rich history that kept me turning the pages for more. I have read this book twice and each time I enjoy it more than the last. Most important, Ikeda uses language and concepts that Buddhists and non Buddhists alike can readily understand.

This book is excellent ! The first in a series of three on the origin and history of Buddhism, it offers valuable insights from a unique perspective on the first man to reveal the Dharma and turn the Wheel of the Excellent Law. Dr. Ikedas' 'interpretive biography', approach is interesting and honest in it's effort to aknowledge the difficulties of putting such a work together at such a great chronological remove, and I feel he has dealt with these difficulties in a very useful way. I would reccomend this book to anyone seeking to acquire a knowledge of general Buddhist history, and even more so to those seeking to use this knowledge as the Buddha himself intended; to improve their lives, and the world itself.

Reading this book evokes the spirit of Shakyamuni as an enlightened person living in a troubled society who offers wisdom to humanity on how to overcome life's sufferings. The stories of his relationships with his followers and the guidance he imparts to inspire them to live noble lives transcends any specific time or age. A wonderful book to pick up whenever you want to feel close to the Buddha within you.

This book, "Dawn After Dark," is a discussion between an acclaimed French art critic, writer and expert on French painting, René Huyghe, a member of the Académie Français, and an international Buddhist leader, Daisaku Ikeda. The dialogue aims at gaining an overall perspective on humanity's current predicaments and the reforms needed to move forward and avert disaster.

To paraphrase Huyghe's introduction, never before has humanity had to face problems on so vast a scale as those confronting us today. Until recent times, human groups had no interest in knowing anything but their own needs, customs and beliefs. Rejecting or ignoring the beliefs of others, they attempted to enforce their own set of values wherever they went. Today, a more universal awareness is emerging. Humanity has come to realize that it is essential to examine the characteristics, causes and effects of current problems and to establish reforms to avert them.

In this book, Huyghe and Ikeda bring together and compare ways of thought from opposite sides of the world, France and Japan. Through an objective comparison of traditions, cultures, and religions from East and West, they provide us with a global view of problems at hand.

Their discussion is divided into five parts. In the first, the nature of the varous dilemma we confront is exposed and shown to be first and foremost a moral crisis. The second part points to its historical roots, and the third investigates the changes that humanity is now undergoing, the social tasks before us and what is needed from within ourselves to build a new, more peaceful society.

The fourth part turns to solutions - the key to harmony in life and the means to reform the inner lives of human beings. Part five discusses major resources for peace that are uniquely human, art and religion, which are linked by a sense of the sacred. With their distinct but complementary viewpoints, Huyghe and Ikeda take different paths that eventually converge to illuminate the increasingly complex world in which we live with clarity and profound optimism.

In this book, Rene Huyghe, writer of dozens of books on Art, Art History and Collections, one of Europe's great intellectual masters of the Art World, meets with Daisaku Ikeda, writer of dozens of books on philosophy and Buddhism, one of the world's great Buddhist leaders. Throught their exchanges, we learn not only about each man and his fields of expertise, but about the wisdom each has gained by their keen observations of life itself - through their fields of expertise, and well as their incredibly rich and diverse sets of experiences. Both men have lived through the untold horrors of war, both know that Art and Culture holds keys to leading humanity toward a new "Dawn After Dark."

Tina Turner is the reason I found this book, and all others by Daisaku Ikeda, president of the Soka Gakkai International. After hearing Tina Turner speak about her Buddhist practice in interviews, and hearing her give credit to Buddhism for her happiness and in life, I decided to look further into it myself.

Tina mentioned Daisaku Ikeda as the person who brought Nichiren Daishonin's Buddhism, the practice of Nam-myoho-renge-kyo, to America. This is the Buddhist practice to which Tina attributes her spiritual fulfillment and strength. Thanks to Tina's explanations, I was able to locate the Soka Gakkai International and from there I discovered many profound, inspirational and educational writings by Daisaku Ikeda. This book is just one of Mr. Ikeda's many contributions to further the understanding of Buddhist principles and their application in every day life.

I highly recommend that anyone interested in the Buddhist practice of Nam-myoho-renge-kyo read the writings of Daisaku Ikeda to learn more about Nichiren Daishonin's Buddhism.

Thanks to Mrs. Rosa Parks, whom I heard speak at a Soka Gakkai International meeting in Los Angeles several years ago, I was first introduced to the books of Daisaku Ikeda and the SGI-USA. This book, "The Human Revolution," like all of its previous volumes, documents the history of the building of a Buddhist religious organization during the hectic post-war era in Japan. This organization is called "Soka Gakkai" or "Society for the Creation of Value."

Although I am not a member of this group, I am a theologian, a civil rights advocate, and a staunch supporter of the United Nations. Therefore, I have found that I have much in common with the author of this book and the members of the Soka Gakkai as detailed in "The Human Revolution."

The basic premise of "Human Revolution" is that it will not be the great institutions of the world, nor will it be religious organizations or clergy, but it will be each individual opening up their lives and realizing that he or she is in control of his or her own destiny, and therefore the destiny of his or her family, community, and even the world - this is the "revolution" that will bring an authentic peace to our world.

Now I see why Mrs. Rosa Parks told us that, while making her "Rosa Parks Picture Book Biography" that one of her favorite photos from her life was one taken with Mr. Daisaku Ikeda and his students at Soka Univeristy. If you read any of Daisaku Ikeda's books, you'll see, as I have come to see, why Mrs. Parks feels this way.

This book is mostly written for members of the Soka Gakkai International, to document the proud history of their organization's early days in post-war Japan. As a non-Buddhist reader myself, I don't believe it is intended for general audiences, as there are many Soka Gakkai-specific nuances and Buddhist-related stories of faith and conviction to which non-members may not readily relate.

However, as a student of Buddhist studies, I personally found it to be quite interesting and would highly recommend it to anyone interested in learning about the founding spirit of the Soka Gakkai.

I also highly recommend a British book called "The Buddha in Daily Life," which I believe is only available at www.amazon.co.uk or at Soka Gakkai International community centers, and is probably the best book ever written on Nichiren Daishonin's Buddhism and the Soka Gakkai.

I sought out books by Daisaku Ikeda after I heard about him on a Larry King Live interview with Tina Turner. I had never heard of Daisaku Ikeda or Soka Gakkai International before Tina mentioned them on that show. I am so glad I found Mr. Ikeda and Soka Gakkai here on Amazon.com!

Of the various titles I've found from Daisaku Ikeda, I must say this one is probably the most difficult for non-Soka members to connect with on an emotional level. It is basically a history of Soka Gakkai and its incredible growth, as well as the spread of its Buddhism across Japan (and eventually the whole world). Nevertheless, I am looking forward to reading the previous 5 volumes as well!

I have already read a few children's books by Daisaku Ikeda, and it is easy to see the influence his life and times from The Human Revolution play in his other writings. He uses his struggles and obstacles in life to teach the truth of Buddhism - that we are all equal and equally precious in the eyes of Buddha and the Universe. My daughter's favorite children's book is now "The Princess and the Moon," by Daisaku Ikeda, which embodies these Buddhistic concepts in a format that is both entertaining and heartwarming.

Although The Human Revolution is not a book about Buddhism itslef, its easy to learn about the spirit of Buddhism through it. One observes the actions of true Buddhists in the pages of The Human Revolution. If one is looking for an explanation of the Buddhism that Soka Gakkai members practice, Mr. Ikeda's other writings on Buddhism itself are incredibly profound, and I highly recommend them. "The Buddha in Daily Life," by Richard Causton, a British protege of Daisaku Ikeda, is probably the best book I've seen on that subject. In it, he also covers The Human Revolution.

I have read that Mr. Ikeda is also a gifted poet, a Poet Laureate of Japan in fact. Although the Human Revolution only shows glimpses of poetry by Ikeda as well as his mentor, they are truly beautiful and encouraging. I hope Amazon.com can soon start carrying some of his collections of poems as well!