I can’t say enough good things about this book, “The Book of Joy.” It is a wonderful book—a book that I think everyone needs to read. This is one of the books that I think has the potential to transform lives and even change the world—at least a little bit.
The book that I’m gushing about is “The Book of Joy: Happiness in a Changing World,” by his holiness the Dalai Lama and Archbishop Desmond Tutu, with Douglas Abrams (Penguin, Random House, New York, 2016). The Dalai Lama and Archbishop Desmond Tutu are probably two of the most respected, highly acclaimed holy men in the world today. They come from different faith traditions, but they are united in that they have been tempered through hardships and tragedies, and have allowed their struggles to spawn an infectious joy and a deep love for humankind.
One of the things that I love about this book is the way that it is written. The book is based on a weeks conversation between the two men and it is written in such a way that the reader feels he or she is eavesdropping on that conversation. It’s more than a lecture or an essay on the subject of joy. Readers are transported to the room where the two men sat and conversed. We listen to their comments, we ask the questions and we learn their answers.
The book is not a book of theories. These men are joyful. They are joyful in times of celebration, and in the midst of some of the greatest struggles of life. Their words on what creates joy and what enables joy to be present during tough times are born from experience. The men encourage their readers to experiment with the principles and ideas, which they share, that has brought them joy. They want joy and what leads to joy to be experienced by everyone.
Not only is the book a wellspring of wisdom, it also contains several meditation exercises that enable people to open themselves up to experiencing joy in their lives. The book is not only profound, but it is also practical.
So, my advice is simple. Go out and buy the book. Read it more than once. You’ll be glad you did.