Very enlightening!!April 29, 2008 I am not a big one for inspirational books but this one struck a chord! Not only is there insight from the Dali Lahma but the Dr. who interviews him asks all the questions I would ask and plays an excellent Devils' Advocate. Anyone who reads this will surely come out being a better person. It gives you a lot to think about. Although I think the DL is naive in some ways, you must take from the book what works for you and keep it all in perspective.
Content with itApril 28, 2008 Excellent book. Gave it to my son and wife with great results. WOrked on me too. I am content.
Not Afraid to Play the FoolMarch 13, 2008 You just have the like a book of interviews and reflections with the Dalai Lama where the interviewer/author acknowledges falling asleep during one of the Dalai Lama's talks, thinks some of the Dalai Lama's answers to his questions are off track, argues with cab drivers in India, and passes summary judgment on people he meets at dinner parties.
Dr. Cutler is deeply respectful of the Dalai Lama and at the same time very honest about his own actions and reactions, warts and all. Even though the DL is on the cover this is very much Dr Cutler's book. What you get is an enjoyable and accessible internal and external conversation about living a life with more happiness.
Dr. Culter weaves current physiology research, mostly in the field of positive psychology, and clinical practice together with the Dalai Lama's intro teaching on happiness. Intentionally missing are complex structural Buddhist principles that are the underpinning of the teaching.
If the easy to digest descriptions of how to increase happiness in your life are appealing then this book might point you to more in-depth Buddhist readings, or it could equally point you to more readings in the field of positive psychology.
Common Sense Way to Hapiness and CompassionMarch 11, 2008 1 out of 1 found this review helpful
At first when I started to listen to this audio book CD. The reader put me off a bit, but I got used to his style. I really enjoyed the content of these CDs. Dalai Lama has a unique but a very straight forward way of explaining the simple things that matters in life. He recognizes everyone's desire, and need for happiness from an open perspective. I think this can benefit from people of all sort of beliefs, and walks of life.
I've been recommending this to all of my friends.
Excellent!February 28, 2008 1 out of 1 found this review helpful
This is a fabulous book. I almost didn't buy it because of some of the negative reviews. I read it pieces at a time because there is a lot to mull over. Yes, a lot of the concepts are simple, but they are useful. I've found a lot of food for thought in this book, and being a westerner, I really appreciated the compare/contrast of many of the Dalai Lama's ideas with the western concepts I was brought up with. I highly recommend this book.
