The Book of Joy: Finding Happiness in a Changing World

This is the product of a week-long series of discussions between His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Archbishop Desmond Tutu. The meetings were held at the Dalai Lama’s residence-in-exile in Dharamsala, India.
Much of the book is presented as a dialogue between the Dalai Lama and Archbishop Tutu. The dialogues were easy to follow, with a beautiful simplicity underpinned by profound wisdom. The short chapters break the book into small tidbits that are manageable even with poor concentration.
The photos included speak volumes. On the front cover is a close-up of the two grinning at each other. On the back cover is a shot of them busting a move. In the small photo on the book’s spine, the two are hand in hand. Abrams observed that “one of the most stunning aspects of the week was how much of it was spent laughing.”
This book is uplifting, with much attention given to our shared humanity. Joy is immediately apparent in the relationship between the Dalai Lama and the Archbishop and as a reader one can learn not only from what they have to say but how they relate to one another. The Book of Joy is well worth a read.