Rating: 
Summary: Hard to understand
Review: I got this book after reading the other reviews and also because i wanted to read about dalai lama but unfortunately this book did not fulfil that purpose.I found it extremly boring and very hard to understand. I was finished reading half of it when i realized that i did not learn a bit about bhddism or leant anything worthy at all.
Rating: 
Summary: Phony Bologna!
Review: I have read this book, and it does sound sincere a practical for those seeking the way. However, for someone who has made an attempt to promote so much peace in the world, I find it strange how he promotes so many books. They aren't cheap either. I think the Dalai has pulled a fast one on everyone who has bought one of his numerous titles. I have noticed that his books have been printed on non-recyclable paper. He always knocks the Chinese communists in his books as if he has some gut-wrenching hatred. He is selling himself out for his own religion. It is a very holier than thou type of writing. I recognize he is not the sole author. However, pumping out books on a monthly basis promotes consumerism which contradicts his harmonious style of teaching. Come on, doesn't anyone else feel this way?
Rating: 
Summary: Not as good as some others
Review: I seem to be the one dissenting opinion, but I have read almost everything written by and about His Holiness, and this is definitely the one I would recommend last. I felt it lacked the down-to-earth quality that I usually find in his work, that it included a lot of unnecessary detail and that listening to the cd was tedious and lifeless. Experienced practitioners will already be familiar with the information presented here, and those new to Tibetan Buddhism can find much more dynamic and practical presentations than this one (e.g. Awakening the Mind, Lightening the Heart; Path to Tranquility; Ethics for the New MIllenium, etc.)
Rating: 
Summary: Buddhism for Beginners.
Review: I was curious about buddhism before I read this book, but after I finished it I guess you can say I "converted". The message of compassion and patience from buddhists is well radiated by the writing of his holiness the Dalai Lama. An excellent book that holds true to it's title.
Rating:
Summary: An Owner's Manual for a Happy Life
Review: I'm a newcomer to Buddhism, particularly the Tibetan kind, and this book is a terrific point of entry. In prose that is wonderfully clear, the Dalai Lama explains the fundamentals in theory and practice. Everything is concise, logical, and practical. Not everything is easy--particularly the part about having compassion for one's enemies--but it all makes complete sense. You also get a sense of the Dalai Lama's enormous warmth and wisdom, which inform every sentence. It's brief, clear, persuasive, user-friendly and useful.
Rating:
Summary: An Owner's Manual for a Happy Life
Review: I'm a newcomer to Buddhism, particularly the Tibetan kind, and this book is a terrific point of entry. In prose that is wonderfully clear, the Dalai Lama explains the fundamentals in theory and practice. Everything is concise, logical, and practical. Not everything is easy--particularly the part about having compassion for one's enemies--but it all makes complete sense. You also get a sense of the Dalai Lama's enormous warmth and wisdom, which inform every sentence. It's brief, clear, persuasive, user-friendly and useful.
Rating:
Summary: Getting to the other shore.
Review: In these troubled times, the Dalai Lama reminds us that each of us has a responsibility to help at the deeper level of our common humanity. We all belong to "a single family," and we need to "embrace the oneness of humanity," not just our own family, country, or continent. Differences of religion, ideology, race, economics, social systems, and government are "all secondary" (p. 80). With the voice of a trusted teacher, poet and philosopher (p. viii), His Holiness the Dalai Lama offers teachings in this 223-page book on how to follow a spiritual path that will lead to a meaningful life of inner clarity and transformation.Translated and edited by Jeffry Hopkins, author of CULTIVATING COMPASSION (2001), HOW TO PRACTICE shows us that a meaningful life requires morality, concentrated meditation, and wisdom. The Dalai Lama offers specific Buddhist techniques that will lead to peace and compassion. "In Buddhist terms," the Dalai Lama says, "this is the path to enlightenment" (p. 14). Although Buddhism teaches us how to practice, it is our responsibility to implement that practice into our lives. Spiritual practice takes place not in externals, but in our hearts and minds (p. 69). To get to the far shore, beyond cyclic existence and suffering (p. 202), the Dalai Lama encourages us to abandon the ten nonvirtues in our lives, killing, stealing, sexual misconduct, lying, divisive talk, harsh speech, senseless chatter, covetousness, harmful intent, and wrong views (p. 29). The daily practices offered here will assist readers of any religious faith in navigating their way to a more meaningful life. G. Merritt
Rating: 
Summary: W.W.T.D.L.D.?
Review: It doesn't seem like critiquing a book by the Dalai Lama is the best idea ever - but at least Buddhist don't believe in hell so I don't have to worry about being sent there for it.
Actually there is only one real thing to be critical of here... which I will get to in a roundabout way. Since I am not a Buddhist and all I wouldn't have usually picked up this book but since I received this book along with two others of the Dalai Lama's for free I figured why not. I was encouraged by the introduction in which the book was described as having value for Buddhists and non-Buddhist alike... this was not exactly my experience.
While I certainty wouldn't say that this book was of my value at all to read it's value was limited only into the insights it provided into Buddhism and not in any more general way since all of these practices are so deeply founded in Buddhist philosophy and worldview there can be no secular extraction for them that preserves there nature.
Also, while yes I did learn much about Buddhism from this book having not been exposed to any of it before it was confusing at times trying to learn from this book which seems to assume much on the part of its readers - if you are looking for a primer text on the religion I would not recommend this one.
Having said that thought I was very impressed thought with many Buddhist approaches to issues and problems that the mainstream Christian culture in America handles so poorly. A very becoming humility was characteristic of the Dalai Lama's views on subject such as the potential problems that frozen embryos leftover from in vitro fertilization poses with the idea of reincarnation and when life begins. This humility allowed him to admit that he doesn't have all the answers - Christians (especially those of a political nature) too often seem to view such an admission as a sign of weakness and would rather take a firm position (any position!) rather than have any shred of ambiguity left. Far from being a sign of weakness though this humble admitting of what he doesn't feel like he knows for such was such a sign of strength and integrity to me.
Likewise his openness to science stands in contrast to those same percussion-complex ridden Christians. Instead of viewing research data from research involving the likes of cat scans and genetic sequencing as an assault on his values the Dalai Lama (correctly I believe) asserts that there is much that Buddhism can learn from such sciences and that there is much science can learn in return.
While the continued captivity of Tibet doesn't exactly seem to be a ringing endorsement for passivism I think I am better off for having read this book, not exactly in a spiritual way but in that I, even as a secularist, now have a greater appreciation and understanding of Buddhism than before. Yes, I think that that specific goal could have been accomplished better through other books since this one was largely focused on the spiritual side but still its hard not to have enjoyed reading the words of someone who comes off as so genuine and so humble as the Dalai Lama does.
Rating:
Summary: A great deal of wisdom for people of all faiths
Review: Many people choose not to read the books by his Holiness the Dalai Lama because they believe that this will offend or counter their own religious beliefs. Quite to the contrast, everybody can take the simple practices of this book to better their everyday lives. One line in this book has stood out in the my mind. "You should realize that difficult present circumstances are entirely due to your own past undisciplined actions, so when you experience a difficult period, do you best to avoid behavior that will add to the burden later on." (p 38). This is just one example of the suggestions given to living a more fulfilling life. I believe that he is right in his suggestion that money and posessions will not make a person happy in life. Each of us must discover what gives meaning to our life. To find this is really not that difficult as His Holiness reveals where it lies. This book is highly recommended for anybody seeking personal and spiritual growth.
Rating:
Summary: Great wisdom but more religious and less pragmatic
Review: The Dalai Lama undeniably is a learned scholar with gifts of human compassion and critical thinking. This book is a good introduction to Buddhist thinking and the Dalai Lama's philosophies. I purchased this book looking for ways to improve my own happiness, better understand the person I wanted to be, and provide a frame of reference for some of the more difficult life decisions. In this respect, I found the book less pragmatic and more educational about the foundations and beliefs of Buddhism. Despite great discussion of the value of meditation and of subjects to meditate on, the section on the mechanics of meditation was very short. There were also many sections that I needed to reread because of the broad use of words found in spiritual practice but rarely in daily life (inherent existence, enlightenment, impermanence, obstructions to omniscience, afflictive emotions, etc.). It's definately a book that you get more out of by re-reading and slowly contemplating its elements. As I read it, there were lots of 'what if' situational questions that came out seemingly contrary to some of the jewels of wisdom. This book does not provide those kinds of practical answers. It does, however, provide more insights into Buddhist beliefs of reincarnation and philosophies regarding how life is defined by suffering. Of the Dalai Lama's titles, I think "The Art of Happiness" is a more pragmatic read, while "How to Practice" spoon feeds you less and challenges your spiritual beliefs more.
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