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Summary: you don't have to be Buddhist to value from this book
Review: many fine ideas are expressed, and i particularly liked the fact that it was co-written by an american pyschiatrist.
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Summary: A Simple but Powerful Book
Review: I converted to Buddhism 3 years ago, and it was reading Buddhist books that helped me do so. I have read plenty of Buddhist books and after reading this one, I have to say that it condenses all the most important teachings into a context that is easy to digest and understand. Not only have I been inspired by the words of the H.H. Dalai Lama, but I found myself immediately remembering and applying his words to my life. Although I have yet a lot to learn and practice, I am a much happier person because of this book.
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Summary: Incredibly moving book.
Review: Cutler's book gives great insight into how non-buddhists can apply this eastern philosophy's teachings to our own lives, and perhaps live happier,more fulfulling lives while we're at it.
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Summary: wonderful introduction to dalai lama's teachings
Review: After seeing recent movies about the Dalai Lama, I was curious about the man and his teachings. In Cutler's book, the Dalai Lama comes across as as a wonderfully happy man, thrilled with life and all it has to offer, good and bad. His happiness is achieved through years of meditation and the training of his mind based on the teachings of Buddha while interacting with the real world of people and their problems. Cutler summarizes a collection of lectures and through those summaries the reader can access a sense of how to achieve happiness, through training one's mind to be compassionate and kind. Sounds simple, but it's not. No one becomes as blissful as the Dalai Lama without a lot of hard work. But what a happy and positive goal...to be happy... and worthy of a life's work. I did find Cutler to be wordy, repetitive and I would have preferred more Dalai Lama and less chatter on the psychological implications of his teachings. This book is a great introduction to the Dalai Lama and inspired me to read more books about and by him.
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Summary: It was everything I expected.
Review: After I read this book I started to think more of things that happen to me. I found out how to accept the bad side of life and live with it. I also learned how to make the good facts of life make my happy. This book simply taught me how to become a happier person.
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Summary: best book on Dalai Lama to date
Review: Howard Cutler has really helped explain the fundamentals of eastern philosophy to a western culture.
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Summary: A good introduction to Buddhism and Dalai Lamas thoughts
Review: This is a good book to help you learn about the principles and ideas of Buddhism. Written for a Western audience, it takes up problems of daily life and how to be happy with the right mode of thinking. How to live a balanced, peaceful and happy life. Reading the book is easy. How to follow its teachings perhaps not that easy, but obviously worthwhile.-Simon
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Summary: A good mix of east/west and spiritual/clinical perspectives
Review: Always one to be skeptical of these kinds of collaborative book efforts, I think it's important to point out that "The Art of Happiness" was written not by the Dalai Lama, but by Howard C. Cutler, M.D., a psychiatrist. Dr. Cutler weaves together exerpts from numerous conversations with His Holiness spanning many years, and from public talks given by the Dalai Lama throughout Arizona in 1993. The result is an enjoyable and enlightening treatise on a topic of widespread importance: happiness (or the lack thereof). The book begins by establishing a datum with respect to the purpose of life and the nature of human drives and emotions, and moves on to the overcoming of suffering, anger, hatred and anxiety. Dr. Cutler assumes the position of middleman in passing on to the reader many words of wisdom and by asking the Dalai Lama questions we ourselves might ask as to how to apply Buddhist practices to western society's efforts toward achieving a satisfying, stress-free life. It's a good formula. Dr. Cutler asks the right questions in getting the Dalai Lama to move beyond spiritual edicts, and elaborate on a kind of "westernized methodology" (my words) we can try in attempting to enhance our own emotional well-being. I found the many comparisons between eastern religious practice and western clinical treatment to be very interesting. If you're after involved, thought-provoking discussions about the intellectual view of relationships and emotional conflicts, this book might come up a little short (read instead "Happiness is a Serious Problem," by Dennis Prager). Still, the wisdom and level-headed composure of the Dalai Lama that Dr. Cutler brings out puts this book high on my recommended list.
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Summary: Both the scientist, and the Buddhist disappointed.
Review: I am a biologist, and I bought this book because I was intrigued by the idea of asking questions of the Dalai Lama from a scientific perspective. Looking at "The Art of Happiness" both as a scientist, and as a begginer in Buddhist thought, I found myself disappointed from both perspectives. This book isn't really a "handbook" of anything. It is poorly organized, and takes the form of a strangely interrupted "stream of consciousness" conversation. It feels sketchy and incomplete, and left me feeling that I was missing a great deal from both sides. Although I disagree with those who mistake critical thinking and hard questions for "sarcasm", I can't say that I was overly impressed with Dr. Cutler's style. However, I was equally dissatisfied with some of the Dalai Lama's answers. So, as a beginning Buddhist, I say skip this book and try "Buddhism Plain and Simple" by Steve Hagan. As a scientist, I can also recommend a book about cognitive therapy called "Feeling Good" by Dr. David Burns, which has a great deal in common with Buddhist thought, particularly on the subject of happiness.
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Summary: How wonderful a life and book!
Review: This book is a lesson in human will and wholesomeness. I am not of the Dalai Lama's faith, but I am a member of his world-wide gathering of respectors and admirers. I loved reading about him, his ability to master the self, and the message of the book-- human service. It is very well written and revealing. We get to see the Dalai Lama on stage, in meetings, and on his way to the car. In all situations, he is amazing and wonderful.
One does not have to be a religionist or Buddhist to appreciate the depth of the Dalai Lama and his life and teachings.
The Christian, atheist, or other religionist, has much to gain in reading this text. It holds the power to change one's life and is inspiring enough to provide the direction. I loved it.
The book is a written narration of a visit the author had with the Dalai Lama in AZ at a conference. He writes a little background about the Dalai Lama, the faith, and then spends most of the time demonstrating how the Dalai Lama lives his teachings. One minute the narrator describes the talk the Dalai Lama just gave, then we find ourserlves at the breakfast table in a one-on-one conversation with the Dalai Lama. It is a great read. It is a history, a narration, a visitation, and a disciples book all in one.
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