Nirvana for Sale by Rachelle M. Scott is an anthropological investigation into the intersection of wealth and piety in Theravada Buddhism in Thailand. Through ethnographic methods, the book seeks to describe this relationship in a historically situated context. Thus, the book focuses on cultural praxis in the context of religious discourses on wealth and piety. As an ethnographic work, the work is competent, but draws little attention to the classic anthropological methodology of participant observation, characterized by long-term engagement. with local cultural practices. Instead, the claims made are gathered through an analysis of publications and dialogues within the Thai Buddhist community, primarily centered on a controversy surrounding the fundraising methods for the construction of the Dhammakaya Temple and situated in the context socio-historical of Thailand's changing economic climate in recent years. mid-twentieth century. This socio-historical situation is appropriate for work that seeks to illuminate and elucidate the discursive tradition of Theravada Buddhism in Thailand. This is accomplished by examining Thai Theravada Buddhism through several different analytical frameworks. First, Scott examines “discourses of wealth and piety” in “specific historical and cultural contexts” in order to demonstrate “the dynamic character of Buddhist renunciation” (17). She then provides us with a history of the Dhammakaya Temple, from its origins in Thailand's emerging economy to the Asian economic crisis of the late 1990s. Following this historical situation, Scott then examines how the Dhammakaya Temple used speeches on the creation of merit. within Buddhism to create a situation where "...... middle of paper ......o deessentializes and deorientalizes the religious system of Islam, and instead situates it within the framework of a tradition historical discursive where practices were contested and evolving. This challenges notions of authentic religious practices in Theravada Buddhism and, in doing so, broadens the understanding of what forms can take. For this reason, the work is useful and highly recommended to an aspiring religious or anthropological researcher. Works Cited Johnson, Jordan. “A Review of Nirvana for Sale?: Buddhism, Wealth and the Dhammakāya Temple in Contemporary Thailand.” Journal of Buddhist Ethics. 20. (2013): 105-109. Internet. December 19, 2013. .Scott, Rachelle M. Nirvana for sale? : Buddhism, wealth and the Dhammakaya temple in contemporary Thailand. New York: SUNY Press, 2009. Print.