The Art of Happiness in a Troubled World Dalai Lama XIV; Howard C. Cutler

The Art of Happiness in a Troubled World

Author: Dalai Lama XIV and Howard C. Cutler

Publisher: Broadway Books

Publication Date: 06 October, 2009

ISBN: 9780767920643

Pages: 368

Subjects: Religion, Psychology, Body mind and spirit, Self help

Available as: Trade Cloth, 978-0-7679-2064-3

Description:

Blending common sense and modern psychiatry,The Art of Happiness in a Troubled Worldapplies Buddhist tradition to twenty-first-century struggles in a relevant way. The result is a wise approach to dealing with human problems that is both optimistic and realistic, even in the most challenging times.

How can we expect to find happiness and meaning in our lives when the modern world seems such an unhappy place?

His Holiness the Dalai Lama has suffered enormously throughout his life, yet he always seems to be smiling and serene. How does he do it? InThe Art of Happiness in a Troubled World, Dr. Cutler walks readers through the Dalai Lama's philosophy on how to achieve peace of mind and come to terms with life's inherent suffering. Together, the two examine the roots of many of the problems facing the world and show us how we can approach these calamities in a way that alleviates suffering, and helps us along in our personal quests to be happy. Through stories, meditations, and in-depth conversations, the Dalai Lama teaches readers to identify the cultural influences and ways of thinking that lead to personal unhappiness, making sense of the hardships we face personally, as well as the afflictions suffered by others.

PW Publishers Weekly

Review Source: PW Annex Reviews

Review Date: 2009-12-07

In this worthy follow-up to their best-selling The Art of Happiness, M.D. Cutler and His Holiness have crafted a self-help book rare for its thoughtfulness, community spirit, and reverence for wisdom and experience, that celebrates the depth of the human capacity for wonder and reason while offering no easy answers. The duo explore the big, difficult issues of our time, including prejudice, nationalism, warfare, and genocide. The Dalia Lama doesn't provide pat advice or esoteric philosophizing, but rather a systematic way to think about the people and world around us. Cutler, in turn, provides examples from his practice and many medical and scientific studies; the combination is both convincing and enlightening, leading readers to the authors' conclusion that our approach to these issues should "strongly reinforc[e] the importance and practical value of cultivating a greater awareness of our common humanity, rather than think of 'our common humanity' as a purely religious, moral or academic issue." Indeed, this book is for anyone-Buddhist, Christian, agnostic, or otherwise-seeking a happy life in a happier world. (Oct.) Copyright 2009 Reed Business Information.