The following review was contributed by: WARREN THURSTON

REVIEW

The most difficult task for a government to tackle is that of putting in place cultural change. The new, often imposed culture never has its nurturing needs met. It finds itself thrown upon the seedbed of change and left to grow the best way it can.

What usually occurs is that the old culture consumes the new one. In doing this it adapts the imposed new ways to reflect the old philosophy. On the surface all appears well, but underneath the old style prevails.

Buddhism is an old and deeply ingrained way of life throughout Asia. It has felt the will of many warlords, dictators, despots and politicians trying to change it to suit their purpose. Several have made if wilt and flex, even caused it to fragment. None have ever conquered it to cause a permanent change.

Protect and revere peace, use only what is necessary; be tolerant of all things in nature. These are some of the ingredients of the Buddhist way. It was a way that came under severe attack in South Vietnam in 1966.

During that year America felt it was losing its grip on control of the war. Washington felt Premier Ky was a leader who could not to be trusted. The Buddhist monks also loomed as a threat to the status quo.

The monks in their turn looked on all Americans as the enemy of democracy in their country. In addressing how to implement a democratic state the Buddhist monks took the high moral ground view. They were completely out of touch with what was happening around them.

The 1966 elections held in South Vietnam were a farce. They formed the blue print for a military dictatorship set up to look like a democratic state. The driving force behind this approach was the United States.

Greed was the driving force behind the charade. It became the obsession a few individuals whose aim was to amass vast wealth. They did not care what damage they did to people, nations or the world. Only Money was God and God was all that mattered.

Bob Swartzel has created a story, which looks at a gentle culture that found itself under attack from within. It contains intrigue, suspense, and deception mixed in with the Asian culture. The structure of the story is well constructed and matches the moods portrayed in the story.

Being able to understand a complex foreign culture is not an easy task. Yet Diverting the Buddha makes this task very easy. It is a credit to the author's knowledge and penmanship.

This book shows just how mature original novels in the ebook format can be.