Lotus Girl

Lotus Girl is a brilliant memoir by Helen Tworkov that interweaves experience, research, and revelation to examine the developing landscape of Buddhism in the West.

Growing up as the daughter of an artist in the heady climate of the New York School of Abstract Expressionism, Tworkov questioned Western cultural norms from an early age.

Her life was transformed when she encountered the iconic photo of Thich Quang Duc, the Vietnamese monk who set himself on fire in protest.

The book presents an ongoing dialogue between Tworkov's busy, anxiety-ridden American self and her Buddhist self, offering insight into personal transformation and the ways we can better understand ourselves.