Yasuaki Nara, "History of Indian Buddhism as 'Culture'" - A great book that I highly recommend to monks who are troubled by criticism of funeral Buddhism!
I highly recommend this book to "those who are struggling with how to be a monk".
It is clear that Buddhism is not only a doctrine written in literature, but has walked with the people who live there. I myself received a lot of courage from this book. I feel that Buddhism will surely lead to the power to live even today.
Even non-monks interested in the meaning of rituals in Buddhism will find much in this work.
This is a great book that I would highly recommend. It was a wonderful book that conveys the author's beliefs.