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Summary: There is no reason not to be happy
Review: The combination of the Dalai Lama Eastern wisdom and Howard C Cutler's Western intellect results in easy to follow ideas about understanding life on a deeper and more profound level - and be happy!
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Summary: A Seminal Book
Review: Having no previous experience to the teachings of the Dali Llama, I was both surprised and pleased at how deeply impactful this book was. Not unlike "Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance," "Jonathan Livingston Seagull," or the writings of Ayn Rand, the lessons contained in this book can give you insights on many different ways to improve your life and relationships. I bought 4 copies for friends!
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Summary: More psychology than Buddhism
Review: Having studied Buddhism as a philosophy student in college many years ago, I was interested in this book. However, after reading it I found it to be quite disappointing. It was more of the psychology of Buddhism by Howard Cutler, the real author, than genuine Buddhism from the Dalai Lama. I think an attempt to translate Buddhist principles for understanding by a Western mind, rather than transforming Buddhism into Western concepts, would have been more difficult, to be sure, but more useful.
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Summary: I found the book a wonderful book but where is his country?
Review: I like to read books that preach doing good to others and society, just like this one. It's a wonderful book about living a better life.
I'm saddened that some claim that Tibet is a "county"--it's always been part of the same parent-the People's Republic of China, just as Taiwan does, if you know any history of that part of the world. I learned to have healthy skepticism of any government's propaganda, including home-made. I learned that ignoring the fact does not change the fact. I wish other Americans or readers know this fact.
Otherwise, this book and its writing style, its teachings are very impressive.
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Summary: The Art of Happiness
Review: I have read a lot of books on self improvement, etc., but nothing like this one, it is so down to earth, it has left me with a wonderful feeling and helped me to see and understand what in my life needs a lot of work and how to do it. I am reading it for the second time and finding things I missed the first time. It leaves you with a warm and wonderful feeling, you see, think and feel differently, not only about yourself but about other's,it has given me an understanding I didn't have before, it is a wonderful book. It has made me wish very much that I could meet and talk with the Dalai Lama, at least for a short time although I feel through the book I do know him to some extent, he is a down to earth, wonderful person with great compassion and love for all people and all things on this planet. I highly recommend this book for everyone, it will leave you with a wonderful feeling and understanding.
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Summary: One of the best
Review: At the time of writing this review, Amazon.com lists 2213 books on happiness. This is one of the best, and I should know. I haven't read all 2213, but I did read dozens when researching my own book, Climb your Stairway to Heaven: the 9 habits of maximum happiness. This was one of the best that I read. If I could describe The Art of Happiness in one sentence, here it is: This book weaves philosophy and science into a strong rope on which to climb. In fact, it is an excellent complement to my own book, as they both are truer to psychological science than most books on happiness, but the Dala Lama approaches the subject from a philosophical and inspirational perspective, whereas I chose to be more entertaining and motivational. I enjoyed the book, and I will read it again. David Leonhardt, author of Climb your Stairway to Heaven: the 9 habits of maximum happiness (also available at Amazon.com)
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Summary: A very helpful and enlightening read
Review: When I first picked up this book, I saw the picture of the Dalai Lama and thought how interesting it would be to see what he has to say. After reading the book, I am a little disappointed that the book was written not by him, but by Dr. Cutler, a Western psychiatrist. Dr. Cutler is not a bad writer. This is his research and interviews with the Dalai Lama. He talks of personal interviews as well as some of the Dalai Lama's speaking engagements. The chapters typically start with Dr. Cutler preparing to ask a question. Then, the Dalai Lama responds to the question. Afterwards, the doctor explains his interpretation and response to that answer. It is interesting to have the Eastern response compared with the Western response. If I had to sum up the book in one sentence, then I would say, "Compassion is the key." There are exercises in the book that are designed to help us build our compassion. To be honest, I did feel calmer after reading this book.
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Summary: Insiteful, practical, non-prosletizing advice on happiness
Review: "The Art of Happiness" is a treatise on the seemingly simple process of living a happy life that is based on numerous interviews that co-author, Dr. Howard Cutler (a psychologist), conducted with the Dalai Lama. Responding to a series of question posed by Dr. Cutler the Dalai Lama offers practical advice on how to understand the elusive nature of happiness and on how to obtain it. The Dalai Lama's advice is simple but hardly rigid or superficial like most self-help programs. And while the Dalai Lama's insite is largely based on his understanding of the Buddhist tradition, it is hardly religious in nature. For example, when the Dalai Lama proposes a method for coping with with one's enemies or daily misfortunes he explains how the solution might work for a Buddhist, a Christian, or a rational secularist. His goal, it seems it not to prosletize people (indeed, Buddhism is hardly a prosletizing religion) but to provide a solution that is universally applicable to most belief systems. On many occassions Dr. Cutler challenges the Dalai Lama's approach and finds him all to willing to make a critical examination of his own beliefs. While this book provides an abundance of useful advice, a few of the Dalai Lama's points particularly resonated with me. For example, the Dalai Lama suggests that we should dedicate ourselves to our own happiness with the same enthusiasm as building a family or with the same ambition as advancing our career. He is quick to point out that unlike the mere pursuit of pleasure, happiness is hardly a selfish quest. When we are happy we tend to have a more saluatary effect on others. When we are miserable we easily make others miserable. More than anything else, the Dalai Lama urges us to approach life with a supple mind. For example, when we focus on how much someone has wronged us, we tend to be too rigid and we miss the complete picture. The chances are that that person has some redeeming qualities and that something in our own personality helped contribute to the situation. Similarly, the Dalai Lama suggests that we look at misfortune as more than just misfortune. When bad things happen to us, they also provide us with some form of opportunity. For example, while he is saddened by loss of his country and by the suffering of his people, the Dalai Lama also rejoices in the fact that life in exile allows him to shed protocal and communicate with people from all over the world. I know that a lot of people found Dr. Cutler's narrative an intrusive part of this book. While Dr. Cutler is something of a bumbler who gets carried away with his descriptions of the sunset, I found his contribution to this book appropriate and helpful. Through several personal examples, Dr. Cutler points out that appreciating the Dalai Lama's advice is simple enough but actually applying it to one's life is a bit more challenging.
Rating: 
Summary: Sorry, Not Interested in the APA
Review: I was disappointed to find so little of the Dalai Lama and so much of Howard Cutler who sometimes presents his limiting beliefs with awareness of them, and sometimes not. I'm interested in what the Dalai Lama has to say, and NOT whether or not his words agree with the findings from surveys by the American Psychological Society. If you want words of wisdom from the Dalai Lama, then I cannot recommend this book.
Rating:
Summary: At least a step removed from the real thing
Review: I picked up this book thinking it had been written by the Dalai Lama. The cover is misleading. Look closely, the Dalai Lama probably wasn't anywhere around where this book was being written. I found the author's insights to be somewhat shallow. And the book is about what the author thinks he knows about the Dalai Lama. There are many better books on Tibetan Buddhism, even for someone who wants light reading, than this one.
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