This is a revised and updated edition of Huston Smith's “The Religions of Man.” The revision reflects feedback from the 5-part PBS series where Bill Moyers interviewed Huston Smith. (For his books I've read, click on his name.)

This book is considered by some as a classic on the world’s religions. It discusses Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism, Taoism, Islam, Judaism, and Christianity, plus (in the revision) native traditions of Australia, Africa, Oceania and America. It explores the essential elements and teachings of these faiths, emphasizing the inner – rather than the institutional – dimensions of these religions. He devotes special attention to Zen and Tibetan Buddhism, Sufism (the mystical dimension of Islam), and the teachings of Jesus. I feel that he has succeeded in his attempts to convey the special appeal and gifts of each of these traditions. He places special emphasis on their hold on the human heart and imagination. Smith has the knowledge to “cut to the essence.” I thoroughly enjoyed this book, since he writes so well and focuses on orthodoxy (people’s beliefs), which is my greatest interest. The institutional aspects Smith excludes are in John Renard’s “Handy Religion Answer Book” (book 12). Smith skips orthopraxy (practice or ritual), but orthodoxy and orthopraxy do interact, so Smith misses this aspect. However, he searches for and identifies the common elements in the “world’s wisdom traditions” and has the talent to express this quite well. Overall, I think Huston Smith's book The World’s Religions: Our Great Wisdom Traditions is far more stimulating, insightful and thought-provoking. And you may learn a lot!