Rating: 
Summary: The best of East and West.
Review: Here is a surprisingly good book, written by a psychiatrist who interviewed the Dalai Lama many times. The book is a combination of narrative by the author and extended quotes of the Dalai Lama's answers. And Cutler asks some good questions.Sometimes the Dalai Lama's answers seem simple. Part of it is the language. English is obviously not his first language, so he uses almost nothing but ordinary, everyday English -- no jargon, no technical terms, no psychiatric lingo. And yet he obviously has a profound grasp of human nature. Another reason his answers sound simple is because they are rooted in practicality. He isn't trying to explain how things are, he's trying to describe what you can DO to become happier. Descriptions of actions are much simpler and more concrete than explanations. I'm the author of the book, Self-Help Stuff That Works, and I found the psychiatrist's orientation and the Dalai Lama's practicality combined to make some excellent self-help. I've tried many of the Dalai Lama's suggestions and they really work. One of his suggestions is to think about the similarities between you and other people -- specifically that they want to be happy, just like you do, and they also suffer, just like you do. I know it sounds almost too basic, but when I've actually thought about that while talking to someone, I feel noticeably closer to the person, and that feeling of closeness is relaxing, soothing, calming, and very pleasant. That feeling of closeness increases my happiness. The Art of Happiness is an excellent book and I recommend it highly.
Rating:
Summary: My Favorite Book
Review: The world would be an even better place if everyone read this book. A definite must-have in every collection.
Rating:
Summary: Truly Inspirational!
Review: This is a book you buy two of. One for you and one to pass on to a friend. This insight was truly inspiring. Hits you right in the soul. Very well written book, very stong yet easy to understand. No matter what religion you practices this book will be enjoyed by all! Don't miss this one you would regret it.
Rating:
Summary: Open your eyes and see
Review: Excellent book. Well written. Inspiring. Enjoy! Great words of wisdom for anyone practicing any religion. Read it, and pass it on.
Rating:
Summary: If you're angry, read this
Review: I am the angry young man. Parenthood (twice) has knocked me down a little, but I still have a temper I try to control. Some of the concepts presented here aren't new, but the order and manner in which they are presented, as well as some personal reflections by Dr. Cutler, are very effective.
Since reading the book, I've been able to control myself in many situations, and I've even been able to better understand a co-worker with many "issues." The corporate world, in particular, is filled with blame and "it's-not-fairs." Dealing with your spouse in bad financial times is another scenario where this book's concepts apply. From someone who has been generally "angry" his whole life, I give this 5 stars.
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Summary: Psychiatry meets Buddhism
Review: I found the most outstanding feature of this book to be the perspective from which it is written. Most of the text is by Dr. Cutler, a Western psychiatrist who converses with the Dalai Lama and then reflects on the conversation. In the course of the book, the reader accompanies Dr. Cutler as he grows in his quest to elucidate the principles of happiness. Among the many eye-opening interactions between Cutler and the Dalai Lama is one in which Dr. Cutler assumes that feeling satisfied with an action determines its being positive. The Dalai Lama points out that "self-satisfaction alone cannot determine if a desire or action is positive or negative," but rather that the consequences of an action or desire determine its being positive or negative. The dialogue between Dr. Cutler and the Dalai Lama makes for an engaging East Meets West interplay. The persistent theme I found throughout the book is that humans are essentially good and that compassion for oneself and others is essential to realizing our potential. The Dalai Lama says "Compassion is required in order to activate the seed which is inherent in our hearts and minds." If you're looking for another excellent perspective on the practice of day-to-day enlightenment, I wholeheartedly recommend "WORKING ON YOURSELF DOESN'T WORK" by Ariel and Shya Kane - it has made a great difference in my life.
Rating:
Summary: An Eye Opener
Review: This is the first Buddhist book I have read. I have been interested in a while about Buddhism, and I am glad I picked this up. It taught me so much, and yet I have so much more to learn. It opened my eyes to many things. I think anyone interested in Buddhism should read this as a start to understanding life.
Rating:
Summary: What a great book!!
Review: This book has been cleverly put together. It is mostly written for a Western audience to benefit from His insight on how to attain happiness. The Dalai Lama comes across as a compassionate human being offering his wisdom to help us achieve that goal, very rarely do you actually think of a "religious figure" doing the talking. I have to say I immediately have begun to feel the impact of his words in my life. I am now more aware, that each person I encounter is a human being just like me, with similar struggles and joys. Kindness, caring, tolerance and compassion are words to live by.
Rating: 
Summary: The Art of Redundancy (But still insightful)
Review: Compassion is highly stressed in this book (especially the first half) and although I agree with what is said about compassion, the book gets quite exhausting by conveying the idea over and over. I feel more insight can be gained from books such as "Conversations With God" and " The Seat of the Soul." But that's just my opinion.
Rating:
Summary: HAPPINESS IS FOUND WITHIN ONE'S SELF!
Review: What is happiness - true happiness? Is it finding a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow? Sharing a life with someone you love? Finding peace and contentment within yourself? Is it being the best that you can possibly become and achieving your full potential? (Most of us never reach that one.) Do you rely on others to make and keep you happy? True happiness comes not from the actions of others or the external, materialistic world around us; it comes from deep within us. Unfortunately, many people wander through their entire life never completely understanding that. They have not become enlightened. When I first learned of Buddhist philosophies and heard of the Dalai Lama, I found those philosophies far removed from the theories of Freud studied in psychology classes. However, the longer I followed and practised those beliefs, the more simplistic and enriched my life became - material possessions were of no significant importance, time on this Earth became irrelevant, the hassles of everyday living became minor inconsequential matters in the overall journey, and happiness became a way of life, not a destination. The Dalai Lama is a wise, inspirational, humble and intensely thought-provoking man. He teaches us the true meaning of what is important in this life and what is not. "The Art of Happiness" is far more deserving of a five-star rating, but at least for the purpose of evaluating a book, the stars do not go any higher. I hope you will read the book; it will lift your spirits and soothe your soul.
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