This was the first comprehensive book on Buddhism that I read and it had a profound impact on my life. I thoroughly recommend it to anybody starting out on the Mahayana Buddhist path or evaluating it. This book covers all the essentials. While most of the thoughts are from a Nyingma point of view, I really don' think it really matters even if you are more of a Gelug, Sakya or Kagyu...The book is written in a very down to earth manner and considering that the subject it tackles is mostly esoteric it does a brilliant job. There are numerous day-to-day examples and illustrations from the lives of Buddhist saints which are used to drive home the points. If you're going to buy only one book on Buddhism, make this the one...