The Art of Happiness: A Handbook for Living

I enjoy fiction & non-fiction. I read sci-fi, horror, historical...science & psychology, spirituality, etc. I have enjoyed every Dalai Lama book I've read, this one especially along with The Universe in a Single Atom. Like reading Whitman...something resonates inside and I know we are all beautiful beings connected in ways we can't imagine. Act in kindness.

And so important in today's confused world! Very helpful insights for meeting the challenges of a materialistic culture where we often look for fulfilment in less than helpful places. Dali Lama is a soul of true goodness. Reading him can only bring insight and inner peace.

Es un libro facil de leer, en el que el autor le hace una serie de preguntas (tipo entrevista) acerca de la felicidad, la bondad, los problemas, la tristeza, etc. Da ideas y consejos practicos para llevar una vida mas sencilla y libre de todas las cosas que nos impiden vivir plenamente. No se inmiscuye en la filosofia budista, sino en consejos practicos aprendidos por el Dalai Lama durante su vida.

I was changed by this book within the first thirty pages. From the very start the book helps you to apply teachings of His Holiness to your own life and in day to day situations. I found that Cutler did a great job of interveiwing and applying Western reality to the Eastern thought. In the past week after finishing the book, I Apply as much as I can in my daily life and others have noticed the change in my attitude. I recommend this book to anyone who deals with a lot of stress in their daily life.

I picked this book up at its first print. I found this book extremely spiritually insightful, to say the absolute least. Every time I read this book again (that's right, again), I find new value locked within the Dalai Lamas' words. However, I am reading a lot of these reviews in much disappointment. The Art of Happiness was written through the perspective of a western psychiatrist, Dr. Howard C. Cutler. It saddens me in the fact that many readers could not see beyond Dr. Cutlers' viewpoints into the heart of the real mater. Dr. Cutlers' remarks were not made to instruct or to educate, but merely to display the Dalai Lama in a more acceptable western sense.The most important thing the Dalai Lama speaks of is the act of cultivating compassion. This is important. Through compassion, one will come to appreciate Dr. Cutler's display of goodwill toward the overall benefit of humankind. It would seem that most negative reviews were not based on content alone, but based purely on an abundance of ignorance. You could say that they just `didn't get it.' The very people in which complain of Dr. Cutlers perspectives are complaining, in a sense, of their own comprehension levels. Through compassion, one will inevitably find that live is through our own perception. This book does an exquisite job in relaying this fact among others noted respectfully through the wisdom of His Holiness, The Dalai Lama.This book reads it self, I have given it to friends, family, etc. It is a beautiful work of art in many senses. If you have any interest in spiritual growth, eastern philosophy, or if you just have a good heart, as I believe we all do, then buy this book. For those of you who still don't like this book, there are books out there not written by Dr. Cutler that carry the same principles. If you want a book with nothing more than the Dalai Lamas words then you should buy the book, 'Dalai Lama, The Path to Tranquility (compiled by Renuka Singh).This is all that I have to say.

I think that many readers have had the wrong idea about this book, particularly in regard to the participation of Dr. Howard C. Cutler. Dr. Cutler is relating the viewpoint of the Dalai Lama with his own thoughts and opinions. The book is not wholely by Dr. Cutler but is a jointly written book.I found the comments by Dr. Cutler of great interest because he is playing the role of the average person in approaching the concept of happiness. Many of the his comments were those I would have asked and I found his point-of-view very helpful. He played the sceptic many times and asked for clarification concering the ideas of the Dalai Lama much like I would have.The concepts of this book are indeed simple. I think many readers expected something profound and were disappointed. However, simplicity is at the heart of our existence (remember the golden rule). The message of this book is not entirely new but needs repeating. Being human, we need to practice the ideas found in this book to achieve balance in our lives.