Book Review: ‘The Book of Joy’ says compassion for others is the source of our happiness
‘The Book of Joy’ (first published in 2016) introduces two prominent personalities, the Dalai Lama and Archbishop Desmond Tutu, and discusses how because (and not despite) of all the hardships that they have suffered for over fifty years, they are the two most joyful people on the planet. The book attempts to answer the question we all have searched for in our lives: how to find joy in life’s inevitable suffering? The book gives a unique perspective to answering this question because not only do we learn from the wisdom of two wise and kind men, but also it relates their teachings to science.
The book defines “joy” as a state of mind and heart, which unlike happiness is not dependent on external circumstances. Before the book ventures into any insight, we come across this quote: “Suffering is inevitable, but how we respond to that suffering is our choice”, and this becomes the basis for further learning. One of the easiest ways to dissolve our anguish and pain is to shift our perspective and begin understanding others’ sufferings. From this comes the realisation that we are not alone, which alleviates our pain.
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