Rating: 
Summary: Psycho Babble
Review: This book - really written by Cutler - is the worst kind of psycho-babble. Self-absorption is not the key to happiness. In fact, happiness is not the key. Right living is - something a psychologist couldn't possibly understand.
Rating: 
Summary: The Art of Happiness
Review: The interesting and inspirational parts of this book are when the co-author Dr. Cutler is having conversations with the Dalai Lama. Good parts are also his observations of Dalai Lama. Every once in a while though he gets involved in quoting studies and statistics for 2-5 pages. When I run into these sections I skip over them.
Rating: 
Summary: clear as a bell
Review: The Art of Happiness is clear as a bell and very useful. Written for westerners it distills the essence of the rich Buddhist philosopy into clear succint prose that has immediate applicability to any thoughtful person whatever their belief. Read it and see.
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Summary: Wonderful Enlightenment
Review: This wonderful book has provided me with great serinity and peace after many hectic days. It helps dissapaite everyday anger that builds up and helps me end the day on a positive note. What I like about this book more than other "self-help" or enlightenment books is that it is written with high intelligence and an intriging perspective. Not fattened up with frooh-frooh advice and needless rambling, this book is to the point in a gentle way.
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Summary: Wrong picture on cover
Review: This was my first jump into such a spiritual work and I feel sorry for other's who stuck their toe in the water based on this title.The book should have had Cutler's picture on the front cover and the Dalai Lama's picture on the inside back dust cover. The diarrhetic diatribes from Cutler based only on the most minimalist sound bytes from the Dalai Lama were annoying and frustrating. His expectation that he would get detailed answers to such flabby questions as "Why do marriages break up" does nothing for his credentials from the start. The fact that what little Cutler seemed to get from his conversations, were hyperbolized into a "real life" incident that just happened to occur the next day made the book even less credible. especially since Cutler admittedly got very little out of much of his questioning. To then suddenly turn most of them into life changing revalations was a real stretch. The more I read the more respect I had for the Dalai Lama's patience. I would have asked Cutler to leave after the first session. This was a total intellectual and inspirational let down. And, as was said by another reviewer, the cover is in my opinion a major misrepresentation of the actual content.
Rating:
Summary: A Blueprint on Living
Review: This book is an excellent resource on daily living. It teaches us to enjoy living. We are reminded that the innocense of a child is our natural state. And, the only way to happiness is to become happy as we live. Happiness is not something in the distant future or something that can be possessed. It is an inherent sense of our core that lies at the heart of every human being. Thanks, Dalai Lama, for your words of wisdom that touches our hearts and heals our soul. -- Samuel Oliver, author of, WHAT THE DYING TEACH US: LESSONS ON LIVING.
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Summary: A Simple Yet Profound Message
Review: I think that many readers have had the wrong idea about this book, particularly in regard to the participation of Dr. Howard C. Cutler. Dr. Cutler is relating the viewpoint of the Dalai Lama with his own thoughts and opinions. The book is not wholely by Dr. Cutler but is a jointly written book. I found the comments by Dr. Cutler of great interest because he is playing the role of the average person in approaching the concept of happiness. Many of the his comments were those I would have asked and I found his point-of-view very helpful. He played the sceptic many times and asked for clarification concering the ideas of the Dalai Lama much like I would have. The concepts of this book are indeed simple. I think many readers expected something profound and were disappointed. However, simplicity is at the heart of our existence (remember the golden rule). The message of this book is not entirely new but needs repeating. Being human, we need to practice the ideas found in this book to achieve balance in our lives.
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Summary: Could be better, read HHDL new book
Review: This book provides an excellent framework for thinking about others. Many people found Cutler's commentary annoying, but I didn't mind it. He seemed genuinely interested in applying the Dalai Lama's insights. In general, I think a lot of people are reading this with the notion that the Dalai Lama is some kind of living deity and that Buddhism offers a mystical pangea. The truth, however, is that the Dalai Lama's simple ideas of compassion are not at all magical. None of the "cures" are instant, but I felt really good immediately after reading this book. Although I lack the compassion of the Dalai Lama, I definitely have improved from my former self. After reading this book, I read Ethics for the New Millenium, which I think everyone will enjoy. It's really a more fleshed out version of this title and consequently is a little bit better. However, the only thing I find lacking are practical examples of these ideas. I think, however, that if you're life is off course and you're open to changing your thoughts and behaviors to live a fuller life, this book will help you see your purpose.
Rating: 
Summary: the Art of Happiness
Review: A wonderfully simplistic yet also profound philosophy that can be applied to anyonne's life. It's Buddist values are explained in such a way that Western thinkers can understand and contemplate....probably for the rest of your life! The author's rantings are sometimes helpful & sometimes intrusive - if you can get past this you should be able to experience the peace, calm & well considered philosophies of one of the wisest men of our time
Rating:
Summary: A Wonderful, Spiritual, Well-Written Book!
Review: For many years, I have been both facinated by and interested in the Dali Lama. This book, while it doesn't exactly give answers, it certainly gives hope and direction to a more peaceful spirituality, and a road to finding your own answers and happiness. And I now have great admiration for Dr. Cutler, who did a wonderful job of transcribing his insightful interviews into a book. Dr. Cutler did not just write what they discussed, he gave his own interpretation and thoughts as well. This is a truly great book.
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