"A powerful and profound collection, alive with the voices of young Buddhists, whose sincere and honest personal stories deepen our understanding of the common life experiences we all share. I'd cut class to read this book!"

– Matthew Bortolin, author of The Dharma of Star Wars

"In The Buddha's Apprentices, the contributors bring a broader range of experiences. There is more representation from teens and there is also a selection of narratives from big-name, older practitioners who reflect on their youthful engagement with the dharma. Some of the stories offer genuinely touching and complex accounts of how practice has been important to their lives and self-formations. The stories in Buddha's Apprentices help us understand that in most sanghas today, you are considered young if you're under forty--because most everyone else is over fifty. This can be alienating. If you're a young person interested in the buddhadharma and you're far from a center or Buddhist community, you might feel even freakier. And so this book offers something to the lucky, isolated youth who manages to get her hands on it. The Buddha's Apprentices is a fine volume, and a solid successor to Blue Jean Buddha."

– Shambhala Sun

"Young Buddhists from several countries share their life experiences. Their ages range from very young teens to those in their twenties and thirties, closing with a section of reminiscences by longtime Buddhists as mature as the 76-year-old Thich Nhat Hanh. Remarkable first-hand accounts that resonate with eagerness and curiosity."

– Mandala

"Always insightful, sometimes sweet, and occasionally startling, these simply-told tales of being young and Buddhist, whether in a fundamentalist Christian, secular, traditionally Asian, or hip, Sixties-style family, are timely reminders that the dharma continues to thrive, even if Buddhism is not in the media spotlight today as it was during the 1990s. Loundon here provides the reader with a rich trans-generational look at Buddhism and youth. Opening with first-person accounts of the meaning Buddhist practice for contemporary teens, it then moves onto the edgier experiences of twenty and thirty-somethings. It concludes with fond reminiscences by some of today's senior leaders and teachers--Norman Fisher, Surya Das, Venerable Yifa, and Thich Nhat Hanh among others--about their own youthful search for meaning and their eventual discovery of the dharma. This is an engaging book that ought to be of interest to general readers, practitioners, and scholars with an interest in American Buddhism."

– Richard Hughes Seager, author of Buddhism in America and Encountering the Dharma: Daisaku Ikeda, Sokka Gakai, and the Globalization of Buddhist Humanism

"There's something profound and beautiful in every chapter."

– Franz Metcalf, author of Buddha in Your Backpack

"The Buddha's Apprentices is a stellar follow up to Sumi's first collection, Blue Jean Buddha. In this book she broadens the perspective of dharma practitioners in the west, diversifies the voices and shines light upon the important issues of age, race, and tradition. Reading this book is like having conversations with and hearing the stories of your friends, children, teachers and peers. A great introduction for newcomers to Buddhism and an inspiration to practitioners from all schools of Buddha Dharma."

– Noah Levine, author of Dharma Punx and Against the Stream

"It is a pleasure to listen to these voices. They point to the future of Buddhadharma in the West."

– Jack Kornfield, author of A Path with Heart

"Awesome in the beginning, awesome in the middle, and awesome in the end. Forget Chicken Soup for the whatever Soul, The Buddha's Apprentices is a four-course meal of spiritual food. Whether you are new to Buddhism or have read an assortment of books on the subject, The Buddha's Apprentices has something for everyone. Crisp, clear, honest writing reveals how these young adults (and a few elders) are living the teachings in our modern world--in high schools, colleges, and monasteries, through relating with parents, teachers, and friends. The book does an excellent job of showing more than telling the power and challenges of the path. If you are in the high school or college-age population and are looking to live your life with deeper wisdom, this book is for you."

– Soren Gordhamer, author of Just Say Om!

"Well-written and fascinating. It is inspiring to see how young people put the dharma into practice in all aspects of their lives."

– Martine Batchelor, author of Thorsons Principles of Zen and Meditation for Life

"Don't think of this book as merely a sociology of young western Buddhism. These riveting stories are timeless classics, with authentic voices of 'beginner's mind' shared by every genuine practitioner. You won't be able to put it down."

– Judith Simmer-Brown, Naropa University professor and author of Dakini's Warm Breath: The Feminine Principle in Tibetan Buddhism