"This quick read invites us to see the Buddha as a mythic figure who continues to intrigue Buddhist imaginations."-- Tricycle , "Our Scholarly Recommendations of 2025" "[Weaves] together a captivating tale that is both sensitive to beauty and masterfully well informed."--Eviatar Shulman, Marg: A Magazine of the Arts "A deeply learned, provocative investigation into history and myth."-- Kirkus Reviews "Donald Lopez expertly retells one of the greatest religious stories of all time: the life story of the Buddha. Highly personal and imaginative, yet also thoroughly grounded in authoritative classical sources, Lopez's book uses the story as a gateway to reflect on enduring issues in the study of Buddhism, including the question of whether or not the Buddha was a historical person. A highly stimulating and enjoyable read."--Reiko Ohnuma, Dartmouth College "The liveliest writer on all matters Buddhist, Lopez travels through the conflicting biographical accounts to arrive at the enigma of the Gautama Buddha's uncertain historical existence. Full of things one probably doesn't know, wonderfully written, this book is an illumination.

"--Eliot Weinberger, author of The Life of Tu Fu "Among the many biographies of the Buddha that have appeared over the last century and a half, this one by Donald Lopez clearly stands out: Brilliantly written and original in its approach, it is much more than just 'another life of the Buddha,' and will be of interest to specialist scholars and general readers alike."--John S. Strong, Bates College.