Tuwhiri is preparing a series of short books for publication. The series title will be Buddhism In A Nutshell and each title will focus on a particular theme or practice, and how secular dharma informs it.
Small enough to fit into a bag or a coat pocket, each book will have between 10,000 and 15,000 words in it, and the template book title will be X and secular dharma.
These books are intended for a popular audience – so definitely not academic – and if at all possible will not have footnotes. We ask that your manuscript is written in clear, publishable prose, which is vigorous and enticing. Among the characteristics of good prose are that it should have no unnecessary words; use active verbs; have minimal use of adverbs and adjectives; and mainly short sentences.
We want authors to relate their subject area specifically to secular dharma as it emerges typically from Stephen Batchelor’s development of it, that is from a bedrock of re-examined canonical texts which are chosen for their pertinence to modern culture and ways of life.
Like humans in every time and place, we all have to confront two ur-questions. How shal I live? What sort of person should I become? Time, place and culture will inflect our responses to these questions. The questions themselves are above all else ethical.
We ask that authors minimises the use of Pali, Tibetan, Chinese, Korean, and Japanese. Translate those concepts into English and, if necessary, provide the original expressions – it italics and brackets – straight after.
The books may be conversational, reflective and/or practical, depending on the subject matter. We want readers to be able to finish a book in one sitting, if they so choose.
What you can expect
Right now, we talking to some potential authors about the possibility of publishing books on a wide range of topics, including:
- Addiction, freedom and secular dharma
- Ethics and secular dharma
- Jazz and secular dharma
- Exploring a secular dharma
- Feeling tones and secular dharma
- Karma, rebirth and secular dharma
- Creating a culture of awakening and secular dharma
- Focusing and secular dharma
- Relationships and secular dharma
- Work and secular dharma
- Identity and secular dharma
- Narrative themes and secular dharma
- Happiness and secular dharma
Each title will end with ‘and secular dharma’ and have the subtitle Buddhism In A Nutshell, and we will introduce the series to the world by launching the first three books together in 2026, raising much of the funds needed through a Kickstarter campaign. Right now, though, we’re not sure which titles these will be.
Supporting the series
Importantly, we welcome support for a particular book, a particular author, or a particular topic. This is where fiscal sponsorship of Tuwhiri from US taxpayers through Secular Buddhist Network’s 501(c)(3) and New Zealand taxpayers through Aotearoa Buddhist Education Trust is going to be so worthwhile.
Donors in any country are welcome to make their donation to Tuwhiri through SBN or ABET, and will be sent a receipt. US and Aotearoa New Zealand donors will a receive a tax receipt.
And while we have a tentative list of other possible titles, if you would like to write a book for this series, let us know what you’d want to write about by sending us an email.
• updated 27 January 2026