Buddhism is one of those things that a lot people hear about but comparatively few people know about. There are a lot of misconceptions that stem from antics we've seen in movies or misrepresentations we've seen in the media or even isolated examples of a Buddhist, such as how they pray or chant, so we assume the one anecdote of Buddhism as being everything to do with Buddhism. This is, of course, not at all the case.

Awakening the Buddha Within is a book for western society and people of all beliefs, be it religious or atheist. This is because Buddhism deals more with the individual rather than an external entity or third party. The fellow who wrote this book, Lama Surya Das, was Jewish before he became a lama in Tibetan Buddhism. He has studied with many great teachers, including the Dalai Lama. Surya Das has wonderful anecdotes and lessons to offer in this book, including his own successes and challenges. This material really shows how Buddhism does not conflict with any religion; rather, it can help strengthen any beliefs you already have.

Particularly for people new to Buddhism, I can't think of another book that comes across as well and will leave the reader with a profound sense of understanding.