Stephen Batchelor – Verses from the Center
Poetic translation of Nagarjuna’s classic. Brilliant.

Jean-Fran̤ois Revel and Matthieu Ricard РThe Monk and the Philosopher

Orhan Pamuk – Istanbul: Memories and the City

HERE is what Bruce Sterling says about the last author:

Orhan Pamuk publicly faces down the darker elements of his Turkish heritage.

He put his own life on the line and he won a fine victory for Turkish civil society here. My fez is off to this guy. Pamuk is a major 21st century literary figure. He’s the kind of writer who gets streets and parks and high schools and statues named after him. (Once the authorities have him safely shoveled under, that is.)

I loved visiting Istanbul and am looking forward to reading this last book.