The Book of Joy by the Dalai Lama, Desmond Tutu, and Douglas Abrams
The Book of Joy
Author: His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, with Douglas Abrams
Genre: Non-fiction
Format: Digital (via Libby)
Publish Date: September 2016
Read: January 2023
Favorite Quote: No dark fate determines the future. We do. Each day and each moment, we are able to create and re-create our lives and the very quality of human life on our planet. This is the power we wield.
Synopsis: The Book of Joy covers a week-long summit between His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Archbishop Desmond Tutu. First published in 2016, the ability to get these two leaders together was unpredictable until the moment they actually met. Given the Archbishop’s health condition at the time and the potential visa issues with the Dalai Lama (and his age), this meeting was recorded for posterity. The wisdom of these two renowned men fills the pages. Not only do they discuss joy, but also how to find joy no matter the circumstances, how to flip negative experiences to less negative ones, and how to build compassion and empathy into your daily life.
Why does this book beguile? I was skeptical going when beginning The Book of Joy because I didn’t want to read some topical nonsense about being happier. I was intrigued by the friendship and differences between these men. I was pleasantly surprised by how easily the book flowed and you can really appreciate the special bond these two men have. It’s a short, but delightful book and I hope you get to read it.
Rating: 4/5