A Perspective and Life Changing Book

This book is amazing! Best purchase of 2016 hands down! I am the happiest person I know and this book made me even happier! :-) A compilation of life lessons from two of the worlds top spiritual leaders, who combined, have over 160 years of life. Despite the fact that they represent perspectives of two different religions, they compliment each other beautifully. Both leaders come from extremely violent environments... yet exude love and compassion without exception. Tutu prayed for the oppressors in South Africa and the Dalai Lama found beauty in being exiled from his home for over 50 years now. Read this book and any problems you think you have, any anger you hold towards others, will be calmed. Both leaders end with meditations and prayers to improve your life as well as the life of those around you. Buy this book... I'm about to listen to it again. ;-)

105 people found this helpful

This book may have saved my life

The headline is not hyperbole. I started reading this book in November 2016-when my decades long battle with depression was making its usual cycle. This was exacerbated by political upheaval in the United States. I was struggling and suffering as so many of us have. The words and wisdom shared in this book reminded me of concepts of humanity I was forgetting in my fog. I love this book so much that I ordered 12 copies to share with people I love. I'll probably be ordering another 12 more to continue sharing the joy.

119 people found this helpful

This Book can change your life..

I believed that this would be an interesting book when I purchased it. What I didn't know and am so happy to have listened to, was the wisdom of the teaching that was so freely and beautifully given. Putting the teachings, the lessons into practice is my gift back to these most amazing of Sages.

77 people found this helpful

Small Acts of Kindness

The book answers many questions about joy and compassion:
* How can you cultivate joy in a world filled with violence, oppression, and hate?
* How can you be forgiving to those who are cruel?
* Does feeling compassion for others bring sadness to your life?
* Does seeking happiness make you selfish?

Such wisdom from these two great spiritual leaders makes you believe that it's possible the world could be a better place. And if we each perform a small act of kindness each day, that hope can become reality.

45 people found this helpful

I take it in portions

Would you listen to The Book of Joy again? Why?

Yes, but then again in bits and bobs: the wisdom spread is so profound that i take it portioned, to let it sink in, be savoured so to say.

What other book might you compare The Book of Joy to and why?

Difficult to say, wisdom wise i would say other books by His Holiness.

What does Douglas Carlton Abrams and full cast bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

A distracting role of the guy who does HH, his pronounciation is ehh.. different, and if you have ever heard HH speak in public, you cant help but to be distracted by the readers performance. It gets better once you get used to it, i upped my rating from 3 to 4 stars ;)

Any additional comments?

Great book, the wisdom of Tutu and His Holiness are beyond any doubt. So content wise: Excellent. The performance for the audiobook isnt optimal in my opinion: i know how the Dalai Lama speaks, and also the role of Bishop Tutu misses the joy his voice in reality permeates. So for an audiobook.. less ideal. I listen while commuting in traffic though, and that is why i plodded on instead of switching to text. I divided it in pieces though, listened to other books in between, instead of going at it in one stretch, so the content has time to sink in.

63 people found this helpful

Excellent book with daily practice tips

this was an excellent book, and the contribution from Desmond Tutu and the Dalai Lama is pretty exceptional. The daily tips on building compassion, forgiveness, and joy are simple, and profound

10 people found this helpful

True Page Turner! Hehehehe!

The energy in this book is very contagious, enlightening, powerful, inspiring, a breath of fresh air! The moments that i didn't have a chance to listen to this book i actually became irritable. i listened to it every chance i had. Very uplifting and insightful! although its long, i would definitely listen to it a few times. there was so many points of interest that you could clip but they were too close together. That's why it would be very easy to re-listen to it and grow. Highly recommended. Excellent read!

43 people found this helpful

Great inspirational read

This was such a good inspirational book I learned so much about how we sometimes view materialistic things as joy when that is not the case at all. Love the tips on how to make changes in your day to day life that will help you live a full meaningful life. I already feel the difference in my self so good I laughed, I cried I'm so grateful for this book!

45 people found this helpful

Profound.

I found this book at a point in my life that was full of anxiety, stress and self doubt. Every chapter held me present and allowed me to focus on what is important, not the past, not the future but the present moment. Beautifully narrated and full of JOY.

61 people found this helpful

Not what I expected

This book wasn’t for you, but who do you think might enjoy it more?

Fans, family and friends of Douglas Abrams will like this book more than I do.

What could the authors have done to make this a more enjoyable book for you?

Mr. Abrams is too much in the middle of this book. I expected an extended conversation between two men whom I love and admire. Even the book description/synopsis does not mention how prominently the author intrudes.

7 people found this helpful