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alex_whitehall's review against another edition
2.0
The Art of Happiness: A Handbook for Living by The Dalai Lama and Howard C. Cutler, MD
Overall
Rating: 2.5/5
I read this with my brother and we had discussions about each chapter, which worked well since we were able to bounce ideas off one another and make sure we really understood what was going on. I'm glad to have read the book, but it's probably not one I'd keep on hand to read again. It started strong, then the last few chapters were really slow. The last section re-established my interest, but that was because it was discussing religion and spirituality.
I didn't agree with everything the Dalai Lama (DL) said or proposed, but I tried not to let that color my experiences.
What I liked
I enjoyed hearing the DL speak about different topics such as happiness, contentment, selfishness, and religion. I felt he had some good ideas and life would be better if people applied those ideas more often. Of course we can't force them to, but I think the DL makes some good points for what these behaviors/thoughts are beneficial to the individual as much as the larger community.
Cutler backs up much of what the DL says with studies, which my left brain congratulates while my right brain ignored it.
What I didn't like
Cutler was a little love-struck with the DL, which tainted his writing and influenced what he said and how he felt about the DL. Of course this could taint the reader in favor of the DL, but it just annoyed me.
When he quoted studies, he rarely gave the number of participants. There is no reference section. While this isn't a scientific work, I am often surrounded by articles that try to use a study for their own purposes. If the study only had 40 participants, it's not as impressive as if it had 400. Not to mention differences in set up, etc. This won't bother the average reader, most likely.
I felt like the author was talking down to me sometimes, which is a giant "NONO."
Overall
Rating: 2.5/5
I read this with my brother and we had discussions about each chapter, which worked well since we were able to bounce ideas off one another and make sure we really understood what was going on. I'm glad to have read the book, but it's probably not one I'd keep on hand to read again. It started strong, then the last few chapters were really slow. The last section re-established my interest, but that was because it was discussing religion and spirituality.
I didn't agree with everything the Dalai Lama (DL) said or proposed, but I tried not to let that color my experiences.
What I liked
I enjoyed hearing the DL speak about different topics such as happiness, contentment, selfishness, and religion. I felt he had some good ideas and life would be better if people applied those ideas more often. Of course we can't force them to, but I think the DL makes some good points for what these behaviors/thoughts are beneficial to the individual as much as the larger community.
Cutler backs up much of what the DL says with studies, which my left brain congratulates while my right brain ignored it.
What I didn't like
Cutler was a little love-struck with the DL, which tainted his writing and influenced what he said and how he felt about the DL. Of course this could taint the reader in favor of the DL, but it just annoyed me.
When he quoted studies, he rarely gave the number of participants. There is no reference section. While this isn't a scientific work, I am often surrounded by articles that try to use a study for their own purposes. If the study only had 40 participants, it's not as impressive as if it had 400. Not to mention differences in set up, etc. This won't bother the average reader, most likely.
I felt like the author was talking down to me sometimes, which is a giant "NONO."
mhaight's review
2.0
Too much psychology, not enough Lama. Also too much assumption that we are all inclined to be jerks.
stellalugosi's review
3.0
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.
srvest's review
3.0
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.
buliabart's review
3.0
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
njl_mcq's review
3.0
Wise, as expected. Parts where author sticks to Dalai Lama are better than parts where author talks about himself or his practice.
alexreverie's review
3.0
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.