A Beginner’s Guide to Tibetan Buddhism
Rating: A Beginner’s Guide to Tibetan Buddism: Notes from a Practitioner’s Journey, by Bruce Newman. Snow Lion Publications (2004), 212 pages. This is the must-have manual for any Westerner trying to understand the Vajrayana path. In the...
Pot Bellies and other Miniature Pigs
Rating: Pot Bellies and other Miniature Pigs, by Pat Storer. Barron’s Educational Series (1992), 64 pages. This book was a huge disappointment. I was looking for some basic information on pot bellies—what it’s like to live with them, how to...
Introduction to Tantra
Rating: Introduction to Tantra: The Transformation of Desire, by Lama Yeshe, Jonathan Landaw, ed. Wisdom Publications (1987) 167 pages. Although Tantra is, in general, too esoteric for many Buddhist readers, those looking for a beginning understanding of...
In Defense of Food
Rating: In Defense of Food, by Michael Pollan. Penguin Press (2008), 256 pages. Though I am a huge fan of The Omnivore’s Dilemma (a 2007 Gustine Award winner), I had some concerns about Pollan’s new book also being about the food we eat. Could...About Us
The Book Shark began as an independent book review website created by Cindy Pinto and Donna Long in 2002.
From the beginning our goal was not only to write great reviews, but also to recognize the most well-written books we read each year with an award...
Gustine Awards
The Gustine Awards were named in honor of the main character in one of our favorite books—The Dress Lodger, by Sheri Holman. Awards have been given out yearly since 2002 in three categories: fiction, nonfiction, and memoir...
Cover Art
A book’s cover is as important as the writing within it. We are aware that this may offend some authors who have toiled for years on their books and believe their words are the only thing that matters...
Reader Reviews
What’s the best or worst book you’ve ever read? What’s the most recent book that you’ve had a strong reaction to? Send us your thoughts, and we’ll post them in this spot.