Author: Bhante (Dr.) Henepola Gunaratana (Nayaka Mahathera), Aka: Bhante G.
Publisher: Wisdom Publications
Clear cut simple jhana instruction by the senior most theravadan monastic in the western hemisphere.

Well if he is the most senior theravadan monastic in the West, then that's a very good sign, because his first book was excellent, in my opinion. Thanks.

Bhante Gunaratana has been around for quite a while here in the West. He knows his stuff when it comes to meditation. A very good and valuable source to listen to if you can figure out what he's talking about and apply it to your own practice. He's always worth reading.

Agreed. This book is golden, as is its predecessor.

It has special merit for meditators who struggle with access concentration or the first jhana, and also for those who want to use lovingkindness as a path to jhana.

The predecessor to that book called "Mindfulness in Plain English" is really good beginner meditation book as well.

Bhante (Dr.) Henepola Gunaratana knows his way around things, but more importantly explains in a way that makes sense to someone who doesn't.

There's a downloadable .pdf version available here:

http://www.scribd.com/doc/13823901/Buddhism-Mindfulness-in-Plain-English

thank you kindly

Has anyone read this one? http://www.buddhanet.net/pdf_file/scrnguna.pdf

its a good one! Much more dry then has "in plain english series"...its also much more confusing, not unlike the classic scriptures