Rating: 
Summary: Read it one conversation at a time to gain from the book
Review: This book is a series of conversations; it's not a tome, a novel or a textbook. If you pick it up and expect to run through it in a day or two, you'll be disappointed. It is a series of conversations between the Dalai Lama and his friend the psychiatrist. Once I read in the front part of the book that this was a series of conversations, I put the book in my briefcase to read on airliners or in airport terminals while traveling on business. I always ordered a cup of coffee, read through one conversation while sipping my coffee, then closed the book. It was almost as if I was sitting across the kitchen while the two of them were talking! I gained a lot more from this than trying to read through it. A friend of mine who is a psychologist told me I read it the correct way, using each conversation as a lesson or study session. A few flight attendants I met on my trips told me they were using the book in the same way. Considering none of the conversations are more than a few pages long, it took quite a few weeks to get through the book, but that wasn't a problem since I wasn't in a rush and I traveled a lot on on planes with time to kill! Two lessons in this book will help anyone suffering from some sort of horrible trauma. The first is the story of the old monk who thought he was to blame for someone else's death. The second is what to do if something horrible happened to you in the past and you just can't get past the trauma. I'd spoil the lesson if I tell you any more, but I can tell you the lessons will help anyone recover from severe trauma. This book holds a special place on the bookshelf in my living room. You can guess why.
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Summary: For all who seek healing and happiness
Review: My husband encouraged me to listen to the audio book of The Art of Happiness. I cannot thank him enough. This book has profoundly changed my life. Immediately after listening to it, I felt calmer, full of hope and much happier. I have since read the book in its entirety. I have a newfound respect and admiration for His Holiness the Dalai Lama. Despite the loss of his country and the suffering he and his people have endured, he is a genuinely happy man. He is an inspiration to all human beings, regardless of one's religious background. I have already shared this remarkable book with some of my family and friends, and will continue to share it with anyone who will listen. This book has helped me to see that true and lasting happiness can only be achieved through the practice of kindness and compassion, not through placing blame on others for our past or present unhappiness. I find great comfort in the ideals and teachings expressed in this book by the Dalai Lama. That there is anger and hatred in this world, there is no doubt. That each of us, as human beings, has within us the power to dispel that anger and hatred, is both encouraging and liberating. I highly recommend this book to, well, everyone. Imagine how very different the world would be if each person who reads this book passes it on to just one other person, who reads it and adopts the practice of kindness and compassion. That thought gives me great hope for the potential of tomorrow.
Rating: 
Summary: A MAJOR DISSAPPOINTMENT
Review: The Art of Happiness by none other than the Dalai Lama! I couldn't wait to get the book and start reading. What A MAJOR DISSAPPOINTMENT! Boring, lacks the insights and wisdom I expected. I honestly could not force myself to continue reading this book!!! This book continues to sell only because of its title and the picture on the cover!
If you want to be enlightened read anything by Zen master Thich Nhat Hahn, I loved "Peace Is Every Step: The Path of Mindfulness in Everyday Life".
If you want to know about the nature of happiness read "Authentic Happiness" by Martin Seligman.
Rating: 
Summary: Your Holiness please find a better writer!
Review: The ideas in this book were simple yet important, and it is useful to remind oneself of them. I think this book would have been far more interesting if someone other than Howard Cutler had written it. His style is annoying and he tries to intepret events in his own life to demonstrate the Dalai Lamas teachings, which he manages to do with very little insight. He comes accross as a culture and philosphy starved westerner, completely awed by this very basic eastern philosophy. If you are really interested in the Dalai Lamas teachings, I am sure there are some better written books out there.
Rating: 
Summary: Enjoyable treatise
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, a psychiatrist. Dr. Cutler weaves together exerpts from numerous conversations with the Dalai Lama spanning many years, and from public talks given throughout Arizona in 1993. The result is an enjoyable treatise on a topic of widespread importance: happiness (or the lack thereof). I also highly recommend "Open Your Mind, Open Your Life: A Book of Eastern Wisdom" by Taro Gold, which makes a great companion book to all of the Dalai Lama's works.
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Summary: this book is not by the Dalai Lama!
Review: Instead, it is authored by a Western psychologist, and although it contains copious quotes by the H.H. the Dalai Lama, it can be described best as a stilted attempt to fit Buddhist wisdom into Western worldviews, stilted because this is not really possible and why would you want it to be? Personally, I found the book poorly organized, diluted, and unpersuasive. Laced in between quotes by the H.H. the Dalai Lama are the authors perpetual doubts and confusion. In certain cases he offers half-hearted and glossed-over attempts to justify what he personally sees as flaws or inadequacies within Buddhist thought, however in most cases these are not fully developed and are certainly not presented in a cohesive and comprehensible format. It was a noble effort, attempting to present Buddhism to a wider audience through a popular work authored by a more Western, and seemingly approachable author, and though I don't necessarily think this task impossible, I do not believe it was well accomplished in this work. Having said that, what's more is that the H.H. the Dalai Lama himself does a well enough job of making his message approachable simply through translation and interpreters. For this, seek out Live in a Better Way or Ethics for the New Millenium.
Rating:
Summary: You have to be your own control.
Review: This book won't completely change your life. If there was such a book, then we'd all get along. But what I can truly say is that I couldn't help highlighting all kinds of points this book has that hit the things in my personal life. It will open your eyes in seeing the "big picture" of things and possibly, the world. You don't have to be any kind of religion to understand the book...you just have to open your heart and mind...and start reading it. If one person would be affected even 1% by this book, the world will be a better place.
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Summary: A Testimonial? :)
Review: I really enjoyed this book, but I think it's best for those who are seeking some solace after a negative experience, otherwise it may seem a bit boring. You definitely need to have something to relate it to to make it worthwhile reading. But if you do, it's wonderful!
I find myself frequently tossing the Dalai Lama's words around in my head. It helps calm the soul and the nerves.
I find myself looking at situations differently and I believe I have found more happiness in my life.
Rating:
Summary: Changed my thinking
Review: If its one advice I can give to anyone on this planet. Then it is to read this book and almost as an fanatic, follow what it says, then you will change your life for the better. It opened my eyes and I know myself a little better. I have read throught it once, I am now on my second read throught, while I am typing all important stuff up, so I will never forget them. For me, being a skeptic, Howards comments is very useful. I think he did a great job.
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Summary: Insightful look at Western science vs. Eastern practice.
Review: Some previous reviews belittled the efforts of Dr. Cutler, but this book reads just as Cutler describes in his introduction. He states that if you're looking for a book that delves deeply into fundamental Buddhism, this is not the book you're looking for. This is simply a book that relates the practice of Western psychotherapy and the Dr.'s personal practice to the wisdom and practice of the Dalai Lama. It is a very interesting book - mostly through the Dalai Lama's ability to relate his teachings not just to modern practicing Buddhists, but he segments his advice towards the Christian audience and to non-believers. I highly recommend this book.
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