A book that liked a lot is "Buddhism Plain and Simple", by Steve Hagen. It manages well to steer clear of all cultural trappings and mysticism and just gives a

A book that liked a lot is "Buddhism Plain and Simple", by Steve Hagen. It manages well to steer clear of all cultural trappings and mysticism and just gives an introduction into the core ideas of Buddhism (which as Hagen points out isn't even an -ism).