• Breakfast with Buddha

  • A Novel
  • By: Roland Merullo
  • Narrated by: Sean Runnette
  • Length: 9 hrs and 34 mins
  • 4.4 out of 5 stars (4,141 ratings)

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Breakfast with Buddha  By  cover art

Breakfast with Buddha

By: Roland Merullo
Narrated by: Sean Runnette
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Publisher's summary

When his sister tricks him into taking her guru on a trip to their childhood home, Otto Ringling, a confirmed skeptic, is not amused. Six days on the road with an enigmatic holy man who answers every question with a riddle is not what he'd planned. But in an effort to westernize his passenger---and amuse himself---he decides to show the monk some "American fun" along the way. From a chocolate factory in Hershey to a bowling alley in South Bend, from a Cubs game at Wrigley field to his family farm near Bismarck, Otto is given the remarkable opportunity to see his world---and more important, his life---through someone else's eyes. Gradually, skepticism yields to amazement as he realizes that his companion might just be the real thing. In Roland Merullo's masterful hands, Otto tells his story with all the wonder, bemusement, and wry humor of a man who unwittingly finds what he's missing in the most unexpected place.

©2007 Roland Merullo (P)2011 Tantor

Critic reviews

"The skillful Merullo, using the lightest of touches, slowly turns this low-key comedy into a moving story of spiritual awakening." ( Booklist)

What listeners say about Breakfast with Buddha

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
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    2,382
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Story
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  • 3 Stars
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  • 2 Stars
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  • 1 Stars
    53

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Loved this book!

It was a calming book to listen to and a wonderful book to bring up past thoughts and patterns in my life.

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Enlighting Read

I absolutely enjoyed listening to this book. Otto and the Guru on their way across country. Even though this book was fiction it made you think.

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Thought provoking fiction

The story is of a 40-something year old man, married with two teenaged children. Having been brought up in a way that many white Americans are, making it easy to relate to the main character. Excellent story of crossing those beliefs with a more universal set of teachings. Certainly puts a lot of things in perspective, while offering a few laughs and many, many grins because I could associate with the characters and story.

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Thinking of life and everything in it

This simple novel invites the reader on a journey to enlightenment, which can come in simple, known to us matters of kindness, acceptance, and "watching life do her thing". An excellent narration adds to the experience.

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unexpected

I went in expectations for a long dreary and preaching book.
finished with a bit more humility and laughter than anticipated.

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This is a magnificent book

Breakfast with Buddha was so thought provoking, happy, and made me want to get in my car to see the MidWest by way of the back roads!

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A real game changer on the outlook of life

Between the gentle narration, the extraordinary detailed thoughts and memories and the life lessons and suggested outlook, this book will be a recurring addition to everyone's favorites list.

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Early Morning Musings

What made the experience of listening to Breakfast with Buddha the most enjoyable?

I have read - in college - a lot of Buddha's writings. They were interesting - but I never understood how they would be lived out as a part of life in a faithful Buddhist. This book, was an easy, "non-Preaching" way to learn a little more about Buddhist beliefs.

Who was your favorite character and why?

There were only two main characters - and I enjoyed them both. I could easily relate to Otto, a man on a journey to settle the estate of his deceased parents halfway across the U.S. The monk he travels with is almost a foil for Otto's discovery of the shallowness of his own life. I could almost feel Otto could have come to the same realizations through self-examination on a solitary drive to resolve the estate. Settling a family estate and tying up the loose ends of our own lives, seems the best natural opportunity for such introspection. I also can relate to the "holy man - monk" he travels with. The man is obviously a sincere believer - but he knows the futility of talking to a sceptic - so he just continues to live his life the way he normally does and only responds when questioned - and then in a very non assuming way.

What does Sean Runnette bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

He did an excellent job. He portrayed both characters without interfering with the writer's intentions - or the characters themselves.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I enjoyed the book and also enjoyed the self-examination it encouraged. After reading it, I went to a meditation - Tai Chi class and enjoyed it without feeling like it in anyway meant I was rejecting my own conservative Biblical faith. The book helped me see meditation as a way to relax and value your own life.

Any additional comments?

I wish my own life - was as good an example of my belief system as this "monk's" life was of his. I will pursue more meditation - without supplanting my own faith or threatening it in anyway.

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loved this audio book!

Just what I need to listen too....timing is everything and I enjoyed the tempo, the story and the lessons I took away from it! can't wait to listen to lunch with Buddha?

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Good book - Can't wait to listen to it again.

There's so much to take in; I think I'll go buy the printed version. I'm really glad I can listen to it again. Definitely worth getting!

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