book cover

What’s the story with this book?

Not into blind faith? Skeptical of organized religion? Not a fan of dogma?
 
Then Buddhism might be just right for you.
 
As an existential counselor who specializes in highly rational skeptics (ENTPs, INTPs, INTJs, etc.), I’ve found that many of my clients are curious about Buddhism. But when they’ve asked me for a beginner’s book recommendation, I’ve struggled to find one that truly speaks their language.
 
So, I decided to write my own.
 
This book is short and to the point, with as little fluff as possible. It makes no supernatural claims, relies on no scriptures, and avoids the quantum-physics-meets-New-Age vibe of so many modern books about spirituality.
 
My aim was to be precise and careful—examining what actually makes sense, and what can be verified through direct experience.
 
I wanted to walk a line that most spiritual books don’t: appealing to atheists and skeptics by using modern language and focusing on observable reality, while still preserving the depth and nuance at the heart of Buddhism.
 
This isn’t a watered-down mindfulness manual for using meditation merely as a tool for calming down and boosting productivity. There’s something deeper available here.
 
This book explores why dissatisfaction and suffering persist at a fundamental level—even when life seems fine—and how subtle shifts in how you relate to experience can meaningfully reduce that suffering.

I’ll offer a clear, modern exploration of Buddhism as a practical framework for understanding the mind, the self, and everyday dissatisfaction—written in plain language for analytical thinkers who value reason and direct experience. 

If that sounds intriguing, I humbly invite you to check it out.

How to access it:

  • Listen to the audio version on Spotify or Apple Podcasts.
  • Download the ebook version (then, go here on your desktop to easily upload it to your Kindle account so you can read it on your Kindle device or with the Kindle app on your phone).
  • Read the Google Docs version.

P.S. I’ve updated this book a few times already since releasing it:

  • January 20, 2026: I added some substantial new sections to Chapters 1 and 2 to better explain what exactly Buddhism is. I also added Chapter 12: Epilogue.
  • February 5, 2026: I added a major new chapter to more fully deliver on the promise implied in the title of the book—Chapter 9.1: Does Buddhism “Work”?

If you listened to the audio version, here are the links from the final section:

I’ve created a lot of videos and writing on the subject of meditation. Here are a few places to get started:

  1. My free step-by-step guide: My 7-day guided meditation series—for complete beginners (and intermediates too), Part 1
  2. My YouTube playlist of meditation videos I’ve made: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jLApFoytTkM&list=PLqBECElv7k9tlW_iRIs11thTgnLA8BSft&pp=gAQB. 
  3. The specific videos I most recommend from that playlist:
    1. How to Actually Start Meditating (for Skeptical Thinkers)
    2. Guided Meditation for Skeptical Overthinkers: Try This 1 Anchor
    3. The #1 Fix That Transformed My Meditation (5 Crucial Posture Tips)
    4. Why High Achievers Struggle with Meditation (and How to Actually Get It)
    5. Analytical Thinkers: Why Meditation Isn’t Working for You & How to Fix It
    6. The Most Crucial Moment in Meditation (And How to Catch It)

I also highly recommend pairing that posture video with buying proper meditation sitting supplies. Having the right cushion or bench makes a huge difference compared to just sitting on your bed or another non-ideal surface. 

  • For traditional sitting (I recommend sitting in either “burmese pose” or “quarter lotus pose”; just Google Image search both): https://amzn.to/48lprWd.
  • Or, a lot of people find it easier to kneel (I often start in quarter or half lotus pose on long meditation retreats but periodically switch to this bench to rest my knees): https://www.meditationbench.com/foldingbench/ (angled legs, not rounded).

Buddhism-related books I like:

Buddhism-related podcasts I like:

Try Buddhism in a more formal learning setting (this made a dramatic difference for me compared to just meditating at home and reading books):

  • Visit a Buddhist center in person. Go on Google Maps and search in your area for “zen center,” “zen temple,” “zen meditation,” or whatever other Buddhist lineage intrigues you, and find a place that’s highly rated, if possible. Visit their website and check if they have a regular weekly meeting (often those look like 1-2 periods of meditation followed by a dharma-talk, meaning an educational talk about Buddhism). Trust me: There’s something magical and very helpful about meditating in a room full of other people instead of alone at home. Going to my temple weekly has dramatically improved my meditation practice after many years of doing it alone at home.
  • If you feel ready to go deeper, find a multi-day meditation retreat to check out (again, I recommend Zen, but it’s up to you what resonates and what’s close to you and affordable). You can check retreat.guru for reviews. I personally recommend starting with either a 1-day retreat or a 3-day one, then progressing to a 5-day or 7-day one. But, if you really want to jump into the deep end (which is what I did, and it was the most important and most challenging experience of my life), try a 10-day Vipassana retreat in the Goenka tradition (which, to be clear, is not Zen).