Buddha: An Enlightened Life

Writer Moore ("Doctor Who" series) and artist Nagulakonda (Krishna: Defender of Dharma) tell the story of Siddhartha Gautama, the Buddha, who lived and taught between the sixth and fifth centuries BCE. As a young prince, Siddhartha is troubled when he hears of the suffering in the world and sets out to find a way to end it. He travels the land studying various yoga and meditative practices and finding enlightenment determines to share his wisdom with others. He is tempted by demons, gives council to kings, reunites with his family, starts a religious order, and faces betrayal from within. Despite his trials, he is calmly resolute in his quest to spread peace around the globe. This biography has an adventurous, mythic feel yet never strays from relating the central tenets of Buddhism. The art is equally mythic, blending exquisite colors; beautiful, ornate line work; a clean narrative; and expressive characters in a way that evokes distant lands and times without being unfamiliar.Verdict Those interested in history, mythology, and spirituality, or anyone looking for an introduction to the Buddha and his teachings will enjoy this book.—Lucy Roehrig, Ann Arbor Dist. Lib., MI