The book of joy

The Dalai Lama and Desmond Tutu with Douglas Abrams, The Book of Joy: Lasting Happiness in a Changing World (New York: Avery) 2016.


The Book of Joy
The deep friendship between His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Archbishop Desmond Tutu is an amazing connection when one considers the differences between their backgrounds and their religious commitments, but that friendship shines through this book. The two men really enjoy being together and they really enjoy deep talks about important spiritual matters. And they both have discovered joy in the midst of a world that has many reasons for fear and anger.

Abrams does a good job of telling the story of the time the two spent together on the occasion of the 80th birthday of the Dalai Lama. He allows them to speak for themselves by printing extended excerpts from their conversations. The book gives a deep insight into the nature of joy as a concept that is far deeper than merely the pleasure of the moment.

This is a book that is worth reading over and over again. It would be a good book for study groups and book clubs.