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what_katy_read's review against another edition
2.0
a bit repetitive and not really what I was looking for
qnlizbeth's review
2.0
Didn’t finish. Basically 400 pages of the author asking HHDL vague questions about world peace and HHDL being like “Howard.. you’re an idiot”.
juice's review against another edition
5.0
I would highly recommend this book to everyone; whether it be high school/college students who are looking to find purpose in their lives, people looking to deal with personal tragedies, people dealing with mental health problems from the state of the world, or people who are simply interested in learning - particularly about different belief systems, principles, and psychological research.
purplemoonmyst's review
3.0
I am all about reading books on how to be more happy and how to make this world a better place. I first heard about this book from unfinished Person. I had high expectations of this book buts sadly I felt sort of let down. I thought this book would be all about the Dalai Lama and how to better achieve happiness but rather it was more of the author Howard Cutler M.D writing about his experience with the Dalai Lama and then as an after thought what the Dali Lama says about how to live.
To be fair the book does have some good ideas about how to discuss poverty and violence and such. It talks about how the Dali Lama uses nonviolence to try to bring change and freedom to his people. I could have done without Howard C Cutler interjecting his thoughts and how he feels about stuff in the book. I wanted to read the book because I was interested in what the Dalai Lama had to say not some unknown American Dr. Cutler talks about some of his patients and how what the Dali Lama says can benefit depressed people and such. While I am interested in such, this is not the reason that I picked up this book so I was conflicted about this. There are times when a book goes off tangents that it turns out well but this was not one of those times.
This review was originally posted on Adventures in Never Never Land
alexherder's review
4.0
Great insights into the state of happiness and what we can do (and not do) to create the conditions for more happiness. A lot of "east vs. west" from the Dalai Lama, but surprisingly insightful.
speciouscake's review
3.0
This book is a follow up on "The Art of Happiness." I got it from the library because the original was already checked out. This isn't a book written by the Dalai Lama, but rather by the psychologist Howard Cutler. The content consists of interviews and discussions that Cutler has had with the Dalai Lama, along with Cutler's thoughts and some findings from various experiments and studies.
The book contains some reasonable advice and wisdom. Many of the studies were enlightening. I think the vegetable exercise is a really useful thought experiment. There is a pattern that emerges early in the book and once you understand it, you can probably put the book down. Frequently the author's opinion overwhelmed the simpler and more potent points made by the Dalai Lama. The further I got into the book the more work it was to stay focused, until finally I found myself re-reading things too often to get their meanings. The last dozen or so pages I lost patience and just skimmed to complete it.
All in all, an OK book. There is some good stuff in there, but it's work to get at it.
The book contains some reasonable advice and wisdom. Many of the studies were enlightening. I think the vegetable exercise is a really useful thought experiment. There is a pattern that emerges early in the book and once you understand it, you can probably put the book down. Frequently the author's opinion overwhelmed the simpler and more potent points made by the Dalai Lama. The further I got into the book the more work it was to stay focused, until finally I found myself re-reading things too often to get their meanings. The last dozen or so pages I lost patience and just skimmed to complete it.
All in all, an OK book. There is some good stuff in there, but it's work to get at it.
satyridae's review
2.0
Oh, this was just too much. The authorial voice of Harold Cutler was intrusive, repetitive, and annoying every time he was with the Dalai Lama. He kept making these pronouncements along the lines of "His Holiness removed his humble sandals, leaned back in his chair and poured himself some hot water before raising his eyebrows expectantly in my direction." Yes, yes, you are with the Dalai Lama, you lucky stiff, we get it. Let's move on to what he said, shall we? Well, no, first we have to listen in excruciating detail, to Cutler's long-winded (almost badgering) questions, where he attempts to lead the witness.
The parts where it was just the Dalai Lama's words were brilliant. The parts where Cutler was talking about the science of happiness? Really good. All the filler, all the toadying, all the repetition and all the frakking hot water in simple ceramic cups? Terrible.
The parts where it was just the Dalai Lama's words were brilliant. The parts where Cutler was talking about the science of happiness? Really good. All the filler, all the toadying, all the repetition and all the frakking hot water in simple ceramic cups? Terrible.
juice's review
5.0
I would highly recommend this book to everyone; whether it be high school/college students who are looking to find purpose in their lives, people looking to deal with personal tragedies, people dealing with mental health problems from the state of the world, or people who are simply interested in learning - particularly about different belief systems, principles, and psychological research.
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