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4.01 AVERAGE
4.01 AVERAGE
Too much psychology, not enough Lama. Also too much assumption that we are all inclined to be jerks.
No shade to the Dalai Lama, I learned good things from what he shares here, I just didn't love the format of the book or the way Cutler incorporates his perspective.
Essentially a long interview of the Dalai Lama by the author, a pyschiatrist, wherein he asks his thoughts on how to be happy. Some of his advice was good but for me it was not particularly enlightening or useful.
Some wise words from his Holiness but some things seemed different from other Buddhist texts I’ve read and I don’t have the knowledge to navigate those differences lol
Wise, as expected. Parts where author sticks to Dalai Lama are better than parts where author talks about himself or his practice.
adventurous
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
An adult student of mine enthusiastically recommended this book, touting its instructions on overcoming suffering as a must-read. I have to say that after setting such high expectations for the book, I was disappointed. There is nothing particularly groundbreaking in The Art of Happiness, as it's mostly the Dalai Lama conceding that there are two sides to everything. The cooperating author also uses this book as a way to expose his own imperfections and reflect on them, which is not necessarily helpful to everyone else.
I suppose I compared this book too much to No Death, No Fear by Thich Nhat Hanh, which uses much more powerful allegory to get the spiritual message across. Would have liked more of that in this book.
I suppose I compared this book too much to No Death, No Fear by Thich Nhat Hanh, which uses much more powerful allegory to get the spiritual message across. Would have liked more of that in this book.
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced