A collection of interviews with the Dalai Lama compiled and added to by Howard Cutler, an American psychiatrist. Most of the conversations focus on the subject of happiness and how to attain it. However, the author supplements this with additional information on research in the field and his own personal thoughts and doubts.

In other books by the Dalai Lama, I have often found it a little tough to relate to the level of committment he expresses. He is such a good human being and it is hard to live up to. In this book, Dr Cutler's voice adds a more human tone, raising the doubts and asking the questions of the rest of us.

What a refreshing compilation of thoughts from an amazing individual. I finished it and almost wanted to start it again so I could remember and implement many of the things he stated. And not to put down the psychiatrist/co-author but I could have done without his commentary.

I actually pictured myself sitting at the feet of the Dalai Lama and listening as an eager student. I want to study the meditative practices of Buddhism.

It also helped me recognize a few internal stumbling-blocks I've been experiencing following my departure away from Mormonism.

* "Whether one believes in a religion or not, and whether one believes in rebirth or not, there isn't anyone who doesn't appreciate kindness and compassion."

* "Happiness is not something ready made. It comes from your own actions."

* "Each of us in our own way can try to spread compassion into people’s hearts. Western civilizations these days place great importance on filling the human 'brain' with knowledge, but no one seems to care about filling the human 'heart' with compassion. This is what the real role of religion is."

* "Our prime purpose in this life is to help others. And if you can't help them, at least don't hurt them."

Didn’t actually finish it. I remember that this year I saw those videos of Dalai Lama kissing a small boy, and I don’t wanna take any advice from him, ty

I enjoyed it, but I wasn't able to get as much out of it as I hoped I would. Perhaps not the best book to read as an Audiobook as it requires pausing and meditating.

I enjoyed this book. Lots of information and guidance were provided on how to be more present in our work and with our team members. There are many ways suggested to sneak mindfulness into the things that we do every day and to help bring mindfulness to others as well.

This is one of those books that I just enjoyed listening to, and I could see myself listening to it again down the road.

I really enjoyed this book. I am not a buddhist, although I resonate with many of it's principles. I follow a pagan path. This book wasn't too complex to read, the Dalai Lama comes across as down to earth, grounded and has a lot of sensible good advice.

This was a great continuation from the first book. And, I really enjoyed it while reading and thought it was quite thought provoking. However, in the week since finishing it, I really have a hard time remembering any of the takeaways from the book. So, this one ended up being more of a "fun" read that something that really helped with professional development as I hoped it would be

ENJOYABLE self-help book with a quite exhaustive list of seemingly simple ways to achieve the feeling we all strive for in life: happiness. Cutler’s writing style was a bit juvenile for my taste, but I’ve considered that fact that it was written that way to be approachable for all (not just the literary buffs). I haven’t read enough self-help books to know if that is a theme among them. At the heart of it all are suggestions and meditations that can be used to calm the mind and spirit, a practice with which I think we could all use a little help. Appropriately subtitled “A Handbook for Living,” it’s definitely a book to come back to in times of need.