This book is not meant for one testing the waters of Buddhism or even the Buddhist beginner. Rather, it addresses ways for the committed student to further their practice of Buddhism. The book is often anecdotal, always easy to read, and even humorous at times.
Aitken explains each of the ten practices with an introductory essay that includes examples from the way ancient Zen masters taught or exemplified the practice. He then includes a dialogue that takes the place of the interview a student would have with the master in formal training using questions he commonly receives. It's a nice structure and the dialogue often brings the practice into the real world.
The practices themselves start out rather simple, concepts many of us know we should strive for: generosity, morality, patience, passion, wisdom, focused meditation. But the later ones become more difficult to grasp and seemed repetitive likely because I am not a practitioner.
The many Asian names and terms in the book are a bit trying but the glossary is helpful. As Aitken states, Buddhism is a religion of the East and to provide translations of many of the key terms would water down the meaning and be disrespectful of tradition.
In all, the book is a great reminder of good practices we all should be striving for as we work our way through life. ( )

This book presents the Ten Paramitas, or Transcendental Perfections - namely, giving, morality, forbearance, zeal, focused meditation, wisdom, compassionate means, aspiration, spiritual power, and knowledge - 2,000-year-old ideals that can serve us as both methods and goals. The Paramitas are the "skillful means" a person may employ to nurture and develop his or her spiritual and moral life. In religious instruction we are often met by restrictions, and are told what not to do.The Paramitas, explained from a Zen perspective, offer the seeker 10 positive means of action, 10 ways to live a life of clarity and grace in a modern world where neither seems easy or even possible. The transcendental perfections can lead us toward a life that is both spiritually invigorated and socially engaged. Aitken Roshi's way of teaching - anecdotal, careful, insightful, and easily accessible - leads us further along the path of harmony and balance. Each of the inspiring and instructional essays in this book is followed by a section in which Aitken answers questions most often asked by his own students in their course of study.