The Buddhist Catechism (Unabridged‪)‬

One of the best nonfictional explanations of the Buddha's life and teaching is found in Henry Steel Olcott's Buddhist Catechism in a question and answer format. Colonel Henry Steel Olcott (1832-1907) was the first Western Buddhist convert, probably since antiquity. He cofounded the Theosophical Society and was its first president. The only contributor to the 19th century southern Buddhist revival who was born a Protestant, Olcott was able to promote Eastern ideas to Western society.