Winner of the Grawemeyer Award in ReligionA Los Angeles Times Bestseller“Raises timely and important questions about what religious freedom in America truly means.”―Ruth Ozeki“A must-read for anyone interested in the implacable quest for civil liberties, social and racial justice, religious freedom, and American belonging.”―George TakeiOn December 7, 1941, as the bombs fell on Pearl Harbor, the first person detained was the leader of the Nishi Hongwanji Buddhist sect in Hawai‘i. Nearly all Japanese Americans were subject to accusations of disloyalty, but Buddhists aroused particular suspicion. From the White House to the local town council, many believed that Buddhism was incompatible with American values. Intelligence agencies targeted the Buddhist community, and Buddhist priests were deemed a threat to national security.In this pathbreaking account, based on personal accounts and extensive research in untapped archives, Duncan Ryūken Williams reveals how, even as they were stripped of their homes and imprisoned in camps, Japanese American Buddhists launched one of the most inspiring defenses of religious freedom in our nation’s history, insisting that they could be both Buddhist and American.“A searingly instructive story…from which all Americans might learn.”―Smithsonian“Williams’ moving account shows how Japanese Americans transformed Buddhism into an American religion, and, through that struggle, changed the United States for the better.”―Viet Thanh Nguyen, author of The Sympathizer“Reading this book, one cannot help but think of the current racial and religious tensions that have gripped this nation―and shudder.”―Reza Aslan, author of Zealot
✔ Author(s): Duncan Ryūken Williams
✔ Title: American Sutra: A Story of Faith and Freedom in the Second World War
✔ Rating : 4.7 out of 5 base on (47 reviews)
✔ ISBN-10: 0674244850
✔ ISBN-13: 9780674244856
✔ Language: English
✔ Format ebook: PDF, EPUB, Kindle, Audio, HTML and MOBI
✔ Device compatibles: Android, iOS, PC and Amazon Kindle
Readers' opinions about American Sutra by Duncan Ryūken Williams
Beata Shepard
I must confess, this book made me shed tears like never before. The themes of love, loss, and resilience struck a chord with my soul. It was an emotional journey I'm grateful to have taken.
Rosa Bax
The author's writing style is so captivating; I couldn't put the book down. Every sentence was beautifully crafted, and the descriptions painted vivid images in my mind. A true literary gem.
Tasha Cobbett
The depth of character development was astounding. I felt like I knew each person intimately, understanding their hopes, fears, and dreams. It made the story so much more meaningful.
