The Book of Joy

by Dalai Lama & Desmond Tutu
The Book of Joy cover
Good Books rating 4.33
Technical:
  • ID: 254
  • Added: 2025-09-06
  • Updated: 2025-09-06
  • ISBN: 9781785414237
  • Publisher: Isis Large Print
  • Published: 2017-01-01
  • Reviews: 3

The Book of Joy captures a week-long conversation between the Dalai Lama and Archbishop Desmond Tutu, who have both endured decades of exile, violence, and oppression yet remain among the most joyful people on earth. Meeting in Dharamsala, India, to celebrate the Dalai Lama's eightieth birthday, they explore how to cultivate joy despite life's hardships, emphasizing compassion, perspective, and generosity as key to overcoming suffering. Through laughter, tears, and deep reflection, the two spiritual leaders reveal eight pillars of joy and offer practical wisdom on transforming pain into a source of compassion and happiness. Their shared message is universal, transcending religion and culture, inviting readers to embrace joy as a way of life even in the face of adversity and uncertainty.

Reviews
horseaddict.net · Unknown · 2022-06-15
inspiring 4.50

The Book of Joy by the Dalai Lama and Archbishop Desmond Tutu is an inspiring and uplifting read that transcends religious and political boundaries. It offers teachings on joy, the science behind it, and practical advice on how to cultivate joy in our lives, leaving the reviewer refreshed and hopeful.

The Book of Joy is a profound and uplifting work co-authored by the Dalai Lama and Archbishop Desmond Tutu, with Douglas Abrams. It captures a week-long conversation between the two spiritual leaders about the nature of joy, the obstacles to it, and the eight pillars that support it. The reviewer found the book to be a refreshing departure from more serious reads, offering inspiration and hope. The Dalai Lama and Archbishop Tutu emphasize that joy is not just something to learn but something to live, and their teachings are interwoven with the latest scientific research on joy. The book's focus on inner values like kindness, compassion, and gratitude resonated deeply with the reviewer, who felt refreshed and reminded that joy is available to everyone every day.

Quick quotes

    No dark fate determines the future. We do. Each day and each moment, we are able to create and re-create our lives and the very quality of human life on our planet. That is the power we wield.

    Ultimately, joy is not something to learn, it is something to live. And our greatest joy is lived in deep, loving, and generous relationships with others.

    The dialogue in The Book of Joy occurs between April 18 and April 24, 2015, when Archbishop Tutu traveled to Dharamsala, India to celebrate the Dalai Lama’s eightieth birthday and to engage in a multi-day conversation with him about joy.

greengroundswell.com · Unknown · 2018-08-27
insightful 4.00

The Book of Joy offers accessible insights from Buddhist and Christian teachings, humanizing Desmond Tutu and the Dalai Lama while providing practical advice for a fulfilling life. However, the reviewer felt it could delve deeper into serious topics like poverty and oppression, and missed the personal impact of the leaders' presence.

The Book of Joy is a collaborative work by Desmond Tutu and the Dalai Lama, offering insights into finding joy amidst life's challenges. The reviewer appreciated the book's accessibility, as it bridges Buddhist and Christian teachings without requiring prior knowledge. The humanization of Tutu and the Dalai Lama made their advice feel achievable for regular people. However, the reviewer felt the book could have explored more difficult topics like poverty and oppression more deeply. While the book provides valuable meditation exercises and wisdom, the reviewer missed the personal impact of the leaders' presence, which is often more powerful than their words on a page. Overall, it's a useful guide for those seeking guidance, but it left the reviewer wanting more depth in addressing global suffering.

Quick quotes

    The authors stressed the importance of interfaith relationships and respecting non-religious viewpoints without trying to convert people, and there were also citations of scientific studies to show that faith and science were not enemies.

    I also really liked that this book did a lot to humanize Desmond Tutu and the Dalai Lama.

    I think part of the reason why I didn’t get as much out of it is because I think Desmond Tutu and the Dalai Lama are compelling figures because of their demeanor - the way they make you feel when you speak to them.

theguardian.com · Unknown · 2015-04-15
inspiring 4.50

The Book of Joy offers profound insights from the Dalai Lama and Desmond Tutu on finding joy amidst life's challenges. The book explores obstacles to joy and provides practical meditations to cultivate it, emphasizing that joy is an internal practice.

The Book of Joy is a collaborative work between the Dalai Lama and Desmond Tutu, facilitated by Douglas Abrams. It captures their five-day discussion on joy, its obstacles, and how to cultivate it. The book is divided into sections that address common barriers to joy, such as fear, anger, and loneliness, and offers the Eight Pillars of Joy as a framework for achieving it. The reviewer found the book deeply moving, particularly the personal stories and meditations that highlight the importance of perspective, humility, and compassion. The final part of the book provides practical exercises for daily joy practices, which the reviewer found helpful. The most impactful lesson was that joy is an internal practice that requires daily effort. The reviewer was particularly touched by the story of the Dalai Lama dancing for the first time, symbolizing the true joy of connection and friendship.

Quick quotes

    The ultimate source of happiness is within us.

    He started to sway and rock his hands back and forth. At first as uncomfortable as a middle school boy on the dance floor, the Dalai Lama started to smile and laugh as the Archbishop encouraged him. They took each others hands and moved to the music, celebrating the true joy of friendship , the true joy of our unbreakable connection to one another, the true joy of the world coming together as one.

    The most important lesson I learned from this book is that joy lies within us. We must practice finding it every day.

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