
The Book of Joy
Lasting Happiness in a Changing World
Failed to add items
Add to Cart failed.
Add to Wish List failed.
Remove from wishlist failed.
Adding to library failed
Follow podcast failed
Unfollow podcast failed
$0.99/mo for the first 3 months

Buy for $18.00
No default payment method selected.
We are sorry. We are not allowed to sell this product with the selected payment method
-
Narrated by:
-
Douglas Carlton Abrams
-
full cast
-
Francois Chau
-
Peter Francis James
About this listen
Two great spiritual masters share their own hard-won wisdom about living with joy even in the face of adversity.
The occasion was a big birthday. And it inspired two close friends to get together in Dharamsala for a talk about something very important to them. The friends were His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Archbishop Desmond Tutu. The subject was joy. Both winners of the Nobel Prize, both great spiritual masters and moral leaders of our time, they are also known for being among the most infectiously happy people on the planet.
From the beginning the book was envisioned as a three-layer birthday cake: their own stories and teachings about joy, the most recent findings in the science of deep happiness, and the daily practices that anchor their own emotional and spiritual lives. Both the Dalai Lama and Archbishop Tutu have been tested by great personal and national adversity, and here they share their personal stories of struggle and renewal. Now that they are both in their 80s, they especially want to spread the core message that to have joy yourself, you must bring joy to others.
Most of all, during that landmark week in Dharamsala, they demonstrated by their own exuberance, compassion, and humor how joy can be transformed from a fleeting emotion into an enduring way of life.
Narration credits:
Douglas Carlton Abrams, read by the author
Dalai Lama, read by Francois Chau
Desmond Tutu, read by Peter Francis James
©2016 Dalai Lama and Desmond Tutu (P)2016 Penguin AudioListeners also enjoyed...
-
The Art of Happiness
- By: His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Howard C. Cutler MD
- Narrated by: Howard C. Cutler MD
- Length: 3 hrs and 18 mins
- Abridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The Dalai Lama will tell you that happiness is the purpose of life, and that "the very motion of our life is toward happiness." How to get there has always been the question. With the help of a psychiatrist, he now gets the message across in a context we can easily understand.
-
-
Great ideas...poorly read.
- By John on 08-29-04
By: His Holiness the Dalai Lama, and others
-
The Book of Hope
- A Survival Guide for Trying Times
- By: Jane Goodall, Douglas Abrams
- Narrated by: Douglas Abrams, Jane Goodall
- Length: 6 hrs and 49 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Drawing on decades of work that has helped expand our understanding of what it means to be human and what we all need to do to help build a better world, The Book of Hope touches on vital questions, including: How do we stay hopeful when everything seems hopeless? How do we cultivate hope in our children? What is the relationship between hope and action? Filled with moving and inspirational stories and photographs from Jane’s remarkable career, The Book of Hope is a deeply personal conversation with one of the most beloved figures in the world today.
-
-
A visionary leader inspires again
- By Jack on 10-23-21
By: Jane Goodall, and others
-
How to See Yourself as You Really Are
- By: His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Jeffrey Hopkins PhD
- Narrated by: Jeffrey Hopkins PhD
- Length: 6 hrs and 54 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In How to See Yourself as You Really Are, the world's foremost Buddist leader teaches listeners how to recognize and dispel misguided notions of self and embrace the world from a more realistic and loving perspective
-
-
In Defense of the Narrator
- By Rita on 05-23-07
By: His Holiness the Dalai Lama, and others
-
The Art of Living
- Peace and Freedom in the Here and Now
- By: Thích Nhất Hạnh
- Narrated by: Edoardo Ballerini, Gabra Zackman
- Length: 5 hrs and 1 min
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In troubled times there is an urgency to understand ourselves and our world. We have so many questions, and they tug at us night and day, consciously and unconsciously. In this important volume, Zen master Thich Nhat Hanh - one of the most revered spiritual leaders in the world today - reveals an art of living in mindfulness that helps us answer life's deepest questions and experience the happiness and freedom we desire.
-
-
Affirming and Beautiful
- By scdemark on 04-08-18
By: Thích Nhất Hạnh
-
An Introduction to Buddhism
- By: His Holiness the Dalai Lama
- Narrated by: Roger Allam
- Length: 4 hrs and 14 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Speaking to an audience of Western students, the Dalai Lama shows us how to apply basic Buddhist principles to our day-to-day lives. Starting with the very foundation of Buddhism, the Four Noble Truths, he provides the framework for understanding the Buddha’s first teachings on suffering, happiness, and peace. He follows with commentary on two of Buddhism’s most profound texts: The Eight Verses on Training the Mind and Atisha’s Lamp for the Path to Enlightenment, often referring to the former as one of his main sources of inspiration for the practice of compassion.
-
-
A Struggle
- By Cornelius on 08-05-21
-
The Heart of the Buddha's Teaching
- Transforming Suffering into Peace, Joy, and Liberation
- By: Thích Nhất Hạnh
- Narrated by: René Ruiz
- Length: 9 hrs and 22 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In The Heart of the Buddha’s Teaching, now revised with added material and new insights, Nhat Hanh introduces us to the core teachings of Buddhism and shows us that the Buddha’s teachings are accessible and applicable to our daily lives.
-
-
Great overview of Buddhism
- By Nick on 06-24-16
By: Thích Nhất Hạnh
-
The Art of Happiness
- By: His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Howard C. Cutler MD
- Narrated by: Howard C. Cutler MD
- Length: 3 hrs and 18 mins
- Abridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The Dalai Lama will tell you that happiness is the purpose of life, and that "the very motion of our life is toward happiness." How to get there has always been the question. With the help of a psychiatrist, he now gets the message across in a context we can easily understand.
-
-
Great ideas...poorly read.
- By John on 08-29-04
By: His Holiness the Dalai Lama, and others
-
The Book of Hope
- A Survival Guide for Trying Times
- By: Jane Goodall, Douglas Abrams
- Narrated by: Douglas Abrams, Jane Goodall
- Length: 6 hrs and 49 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Drawing on decades of work that has helped expand our understanding of what it means to be human and what we all need to do to help build a better world, The Book of Hope touches on vital questions, including: How do we stay hopeful when everything seems hopeless? How do we cultivate hope in our children? What is the relationship between hope and action? Filled with moving and inspirational stories and photographs from Jane’s remarkable career, The Book of Hope is a deeply personal conversation with one of the most beloved figures in the world today.
-
-
A visionary leader inspires again
- By Jack on 10-23-21
By: Jane Goodall, and others
-
How to See Yourself as You Really Are
- By: His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Jeffrey Hopkins PhD
- Narrated by: Jeffrey Hopkins PhD
- Length: 6 hrs and 54 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In How to See Yourself as You Really Are, the world's foremost Buddist leader teaches listeners how to recognize and dispel misguided notions of self and embrace the world from a more realistic and loving perspective
-
-
In Defense of the Narrator
- By Rita on 05-23-07
By: His Holiness the Dalai Lama, and others
-
The Art of Living
- Peace and Freedom in the Here and Now
- By: Thích Nhất Hạnh
- Narrated by: Edoardo Ballerini, Gabra Zackman
- Length: 5 hrs and 1 min
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In troubled times there is an urgency to understand ourselves and our world. We have so many questions, and they tug at us night and day, consciously and unconsciously. In this important volume, Zen master Thich Nhat Hanh - one of the most revered spiritual leaders in the world today - reveals an art of living in mindfulness that helps us answer life's deepest questions and experience the happiness and freedom we desire.
-
-
Affirming and Beautiful
- By scdemark on 04-08-18
By: Thích Nhất Hạnh
-
An Introduction to Buddhism
- By: His Holiness the Dalai Lama
- Narrated by: Roger Allam
- Length: 4 hrs and 14 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Speaking to an audience of Western students, the Dalai Lama shows us how to apply basic Buddhist principles to our day-to-day lives. Starting with the very foundation of Buddhism, the Four Noble Truths, he provides the framework for understanding the Buddha’s first teachings on suffering, happiness, and peace. He follows with commentary on two of Buddhism’s most profound texts: The Eight Verses on Training the Mind and Atisha’s Lamp for the Path to Enlightenment, often referring to the former as one of his main sources of inspiration for the practice of compassion.
-
-
A Struggle
- By Cornelius on 08-05-21
-
The Heart of the Buddha's Teaching
- Transforming Suffering into Peace, Joy, and Liberation
- By: Thích Nhất Hạnh
- Narrated by: René Ruiz
- Length: 9 hrs and 22 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In The Heart of the Buddha’s Teaching, now revised with added material and new insights, Nhat Hanh introduces us to the core teachings of Buddhism and shows us that the Buddha’s teachings are accessible and applicable to our daily lives.
-
-
Great overview of Buddhism
- By Nick on 06-24-16
By: Thích Nhất Hạnh
-
A Fearless Heart
- How the Courage to Be Compassionate Can Transform Our Lives
- By: Thupten Jinpa Ph.D.
- Narrated by: Sanjiv Jhaveri
- Length: 8 hrs and 23 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The Buddhist practice of mindfulness caught on in the west when we began to understand the everyday, personal benefits it brought us. Now, in this extraordinary audiobook, the highly acclaimed thought leader and longtime English translator of His Holiness the Dalai Lama shows us that compassion can bring us even more.
-
-
Better to read ... unfortunate grating narration
- By lesley ann on 04-12-17
-
Book of Forgiving
- The Fourfold Path for Healing Ourselves and Our World
- By: Desmond Tutu, Mpho Tutu
- Narrated by: Mpho Tutu, Hakeem Kae Kazim
- Length: 6 hrs and 37 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
How do I forgive? Nobel laureate Archbishop Desmond Tutu has witnessed some of the worst crimes people can inflict on others. So wherever he goes, he inevitably gets asked this question. This audiobook is his answer. Writing with his daughter, Mpho, an Anglican priest, they lay out the simple but profound truths about the significance of forgiveness, how it works, why everyone needs to know how to grant it and receive it, and why granting forgiveness is the greatest gift we can give to ourselves when we have been wronged.
-
-
Some good points but ultimately shallow
- By Christopher Barghout on 11-17-20
By: Desmond Tutu, and others
-
Happiness
- A Guide to Developing Life's Most Important Skill
- By: Matthieu Ricard, Daniel Goleman
- Narrated by: Robert Fass
- Length: 8 hrs and 59 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Wealth? Fitness? Career success? How can we possibly place these above true and lasting well-being? Drawing from works of fiction and poetry, Western philosophy, Buddhist beliefs, scientific research, and personal experience, Ricard weaves an inspirational and forward-looking account of how we can begin to rethink our realities in a fast-moving modern world. With its revelatory lessons and exercises, Happiness is an eloquent and stimulating guide to a happier life.
-
-
A great discourse on the topic of happiness
- By Rune Star on 08-23-19
By: Matthieu Ricard, and others
-
The Power of Now
- A Guide to Spiritual Enlightenment
- By: Eckhart Tolle
- Narrated by: Eckhart Tolle
- Length: 7 hrs and 37 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
It’s no wonder that The Power of Now has sold over 16 million copies worldwide and has been translated into over 30 foreign languages. Much more than simple principles and platitudes, the book takes readers on an inspiring spiritual journey to find their true and deepest self and reach the ultimate in personal growth and spirituality: the discovery of truth and light. In the first chapter, Tolle introduces listeners to enlightenment and its natural enemy, the mind.
-
-
Consciousness Altering
- By Darius on 02-13-04
By: Eckhart Tolle
-
Think Like a Monk
- Train Your Mind for Peace and Purpose Every Day
- By: Jay Shetty
- Narrated by: Jay Shetty
- Length: 11 hrs
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Shetty grew up in a family where you could become one of three things—a doctor, a lawyer, or a failure. His family was convinced he had chosen option three: Instead of attending his college graduation ceremony, he headed to India to become a monk, to meditate every day for four to eight hours, and devote his life to helping others. After three years, one of his teachers told him that he would have more impact on the world if he left the monk’s path to share his experience and wisdom with others.
-
-
Captivating from the start
- By Caitlin on 09-08-20
By: Jay Shetty
-
No-Nonsense Buddhism for Beginners
- Clear Answers to Burning Questions About Core Buddhist Teachings
- By: Noah Rasheta
- Narrated by: Will Damron
- Length: 2 hrs and 30 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Presented in a practical Q&A format, No-Nonsense Buddhism for Beginners is the most clear-cut introductory guide to understanding the essential concepts of Buddhism and how they relate to your daily life. How is an awakening different from enlightenment? Can agnostics and atheists be Buddhist? In No-Nonsense Buddhism for Beginners, renowned Buddhism teacher and host of the popular Secular Buddhism podcast, Noah Rasheta, delivers an easily accessible introduction to the teachings of Buddhism that answers these common questions and many more.
-
-
Perfect for someone curious in Buddism
- By Wolf_CPT on 09-01-19
By: Noah Rasheta
-
Beyond Religion
- Ethics for a Whole World
- By: His Holiness the Dalai Lama
- Narrated by: Martin Sheen
- Length: 5 hrs and 43 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The Dalai Lama, at his most compassionate and outspoken, here elaborates and deepens his vision for the nonreligious way. Transcending the mere "religion wars", he outlines a system of secular ethics that gives tolerant respect to religion, those that ground ethics in a belief in God and an afterlife, and those that understand good actions as leading to better states of existence in future lives. And yet, with the highest level of spiritual and intellectual authority, the Dalai Lama makes a claim for what he calls a third way.
-
-
Excellent! Excellent! Excellent!
- By Mary on 12-20-11
-
The Four Agreements
- By: don Miguel Ruiz
- Narrated by: Peter Coyote
- Length: 2 hrs and 31 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In The Four Agreements, don Miguel Ruiz reveals the source of self-limiting beliefs that rob us of joy and create needless suffering. Based on ancient Toltec wisdom, the The Four Agreements offer a powerful code of conduct that can rapidly transform our lives to a new experience of freedom, true happiness, and love.
-
-
Incredible!!!
- By R. Baker on 05-25-05
By: don Miguel Ruiz
-
The Surrender Experiment
- My Journey into Life's Perfection
- By: Michael A. Singer
- Narrated by: Michael A. Singer
- Length: 7 hrs and 46 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In The Surrender Experiment, Michael A. Singer tells the extraordinary story of what happened when, after a deep spiritual awakening, he decided to relinquish his personal fears and desires and simply let life unfold before him. Singer shares how this pivotal decision to embrace the flow of life led him to extraordinary success, sustained him through times of crisis, and allowed him to cultivate profound inner peace—whether as a young man pursuing a life of solitude in the woods, the founder of a thriving spiritual community in Florida, or the CEO of a billion-dollar medical software company.
-
-
Riveting! Superb!
- By PIA on 06-04-15
-
Change Your Thoughts—Change Your Life
- Living the Wisdom of the Tao
- By: Dr. Wayne W. Dyer
- Narrated by: Dr. Wayne W. Dyer
- Length: 9 hrs and 9 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Five hundred years before the birth of Jesus, a God-realized being named Lao-tzu in ancient China dictated 81 verses, which are regarded by many as the ultimate commentary on the nature of our existence. The classic text of these 81 verses, called the Tao Te Ching or the Great Way, offers advice and guidance that is balanced, moral, spiritual, and always concerned with working for the good.
-
-
Less is more
- By CAT on 06-25-08
-
The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck
- A Counterintuitive Approach to Living a Good Life
- By: Mark Manson
- Narrated by: Roger Wayne
- Length: 5 hrs and 17 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
For decades we've been told that positive thinking is the key to a happy, rich life. "F*ck positivity," Mark Manson says. "Let's be honest, shit is f*cked, and we have to live with it." In his wildly popular Internet blog, Manson doesn't sugarcoat or equivocate. He tells it like it is - a dose of raw, refreshing, honest truth that is sorely lacking today. The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck is his antidote to the coddling, let's-all-feel-good mind-set that has infected modern society and spoiled a generation, rewarding them with gold medals just for showing up.
-
-
A book for 20-somethings, but not me
- By Bonny on 09-22-16
By: Mark Manson
-
Rise to the Sun
- 7 Footsteps and 7 Prayers for Getting Out of Hell
- By: Richard J. Marks
- Narrated by: Richard J. Marks
- Length: 5 hrs and 52 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Rise to the Sun: 7 Footsteps and 7 Prayers for Getting Out of Hell plays with travel and journey in two senses - forward on a physical road and into the heart of the self. This book on spiritual healing is a voyage to freedom set in the context of our times. A timely and necessary work, Rise to the Sun illustrates how humankind must seek to heal its own innate suffering before it can hope to succeed in healing the various external crises affecting our planet. The 7 Footsteps and 7 Prayers unlock a kinder, gentler, and long-lasting engine for transformation.
-
-
A gentle and fine book about the Soul
- By Carol Stevenson on 01-06-21
By: Richard J. Marks
Critic reviews
"The question may be timeless, but their answer has urgent significance.” (Time Magazine)
"[An] exquisite book...An intimate glimpse into the minds of two of the world's spiritual guides, and their foundation for an attainable and practical approach to experiencing a more enriching and sustainable life of abundant joy." (Shelf Awareness)
"This sparkling, wise, and immediately useful gift to readers from two remarkable spiritual masters offers hope that joy is possible for everyone even in the most difficult circumstances, and describes a clear path for attaining it." (Publishers Weekly)
Featured Article: The Audible Essentials—The Top 100 Well-Being Listens of All Time
We assembled our editors, scoured listener reviews, polled our most-trusted colleagues, and listened our ears off to bring you this list of 100 must-listen well-being titles on Audible. Whether you’re looking to get organized, stay motivated, find creative inspiration, or relieve stress, these audiobooks and podcasts are packed with insights from self-development and wellness experts to help you take the next step—or the first—in your personal journey.
People who viewed this also viewed...
-
The Art of Happiness
- By: His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Howard C. Cutler MD
- Narrated by: Howard C. Cutler MD
- Length: 3 hrs and 18 mins
- Abridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The Dalai Lama will tell you that happiness is the purpose of life, and that "the very motion of our life is toward happiness." How to get there has always been the question. With the help of a psychiatrist, he now gets the message across in a context we can easily understand.
-
-
Great ideas...poorly read.
- By John on 08-29-04
By: His Holiness the Dalai Lama, and others
-
How to See Yourself as You Really Are
- By: His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Jeffrey Hopkins PhD
- Narrated by: Jeffrey Hopkins PhD
- Length: 6 hrs and 54 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In How to See Yourself as You Really Are, the world's foremost Buddist leader teaches listeners how to recognize and dispel misguided notions of self and embrace the world from a more realistic and loving perspective
-
-
In Defense of the Narrator
- By Rita on 05-23-07
By: His Holiness the Dalai Lama, and others
-
An Introduction to Buddhism
- By: His Holiness the Dalai Lama
- Narrated by: Roger Allam
- Length: 4 hrs and 14 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Speaking to an audience of Western students, the Dalai Lama shows us how to apply basic Buddhist principles to our day-to-day lives. Starting with the very foundation of Buddhism, the Four Noble Truths, he provides the framework for understanding the Buddha’s first teachings on suffering, happiness, and peace. He follows with commentary on two of Buddhism’s most profound texts: The Eight Verses on Training the Mind and Atisha’s Lamp for the Path to Enlightenment, often referring to the former as one of his main sources of inspiration for the practice of compassion.
-
-
A Struggle
- By Cornelius on 08-05-21
-
The Art of Living
- Peace and Freedom in the Here and Now
- By: Thích Nhất Hạnh
- Narrated by: Edoardo Ballerini, Gabra Zackman
- Length: 5 hrs and 1 min
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In troubled times there is an urgency to understand ourselves and our world. We have so many questions, and they tug at us night and day, consciously and unconsciously. In this important volume, Zen master Thich Nhat Hanh - one of the most revered spiritual leaders in the world today - reveals an art of living in mindfulness that helps us answer life's deepest questions and experience the happiness and freedom we desire.
-
-
Affirming and Beautiful
- By scdemark on 04-08-18
By: Thích Nhất Hạnh
-
The Heart of Meditation
- Discovering Innermost Awareness
- By: His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Jeffrey Hopkins - editor/translator
- Narrated by: Brian Nishii
- Length: 3 hrs and 21 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
His Holiness the Dalai Lama provides intimate details on an advanced meditation practice called Dzogchen using a visionary poem by the 19th-century saint Patrul Rinpoche, author of the Buddhist classic Words of My Perfect Teacher. The Dalai Lama deftly connects how training the mind in compassion for other beings is directly related to - and in fact a prerequisite for - the very pinnacle of Buddhist meditation.
-
-
What a deep book....
- By Cian on 01-31-18
By: His Holiness the Dalai Lama, and others
-
Voice for the Voiceless
- Over Seven Decades of Struggle with China for My Land and My People
- By: Dalai Lama
- Narrated by: Edoardo Ballerini
- Length: 5 hrs and 47 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The Dalai Lama has had to contend with the People’s Republic of China for about his entire life. He was sixteen years old when Communist China invaded Tibet in 1950, only nineteen when he had his first meeting with Chairman Mao in Beijing, and twenty-five when he was forced to escape to India and became a leader in exile. In the decades since, he has faced Communist China’s leaders—Mao Zedong, Deng Xiaoping, Jiang Zemin, Hu Jintao, and Xi Jinping—in his efforts to protect Tibet and its people.
-
-
The words and cadence are perfect for the message.
- By Anonymous User on 03-12-25
By: Dalai Lama
-
The Art of Happiness
- By: His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Howard C. Cutler MD
- Narrated by: Howard C. Cutler MD
- Length: 3 hrs and 18 mins
- Abridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The Dalai Lama will tell you that happiness is the purpose of life, and that "the very motion of our life is toward happiness." How to get there has always been the question. With the help of a psychiatrist, he now gets the message across in a context we can easily understand.
-
-
Great ideas...poorly read.
- By John on 08-29-04
By: His Holiness the Dalai Lama, and others
-
How to See Yourself as You Really Are
- By: His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Jeffrey Hopkins PhD
- Narrated by: Jeffrey Hopkins PhD
- Length: 6 hrs and 54 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In How to See Yourself as You Really Are, the world's foremost Buddist leader teaches listeners how to recognize and dispel misguided notions of self and embrace the world from a more realistic and loving perspective
-
-
In Defense of the Narrator
- By Rita on 05-23-07
By: His Holiness the Dalai Lama, and others
-
An Introduction to Buddhism
- By: His Holiness the Dalai Lama
- Narrated by: Roger Allam
- Length: 4 hrs and 14 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Speaking to an audience of Western students, the Dalai Lama shows us how to apply basic Buddhist principles to our day-to-day lives. Starting with the very foundation of Buddhism, the Four Noble Truths, he provides the framework for understanding the Buddha’s first teachings on suffering, happiness, and peace. He follows with commentary on two of Buddhism’s most profound texts: The Eight Verses on Training the Mind and Atisha’s Lamp for the Path to Enlightenment, often referring to the former as one of his main sources of inspiration for the practice of compassion.
-
-
A Struggle
- By Cornelius on 08-05-21
-
The Art of Living
- Peace and Freedom in the Here and Now
- By: Thích Nhất Hạnh
- Narrated by: Edoardo Ballerini, Gabra Zackman
- Length: 5 hrs and 1 min
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In troubled times there is an urgency to understand ourselves and our world. We have so many questions, and they tug at us night and day, consciously and unconsciously. In this important volume, Zen master Thich Nhat Hanh - one of the most revered spiritual leaders in the world today - reveals an art of living in mindfulness that helps us answer life's deepest questions and experience the happiness and freedom we desire.
-
-
Affirming and Beautiful
- By scdemark on 04-08-18
By: Thích Nhất Hạnh
-
The Heart of Meditation
- Discovering Innermost Awareness
- By: His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Jeffrey Hopkins - editor/translator
- Narrated by: Brian Nishii
- Length: 3 hrs and 21 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
His Holiness the Dalai Lama provides intimate details on an advanced meditation practice called Dzogchen using a visionary poem by the 19th-century saint Patrul Rinpoche, author of the Buddhist classic Words of My Perfect Teacher. The Dalai Lama deftly connects how training the mind in compassion for other beings is directly related to - and in fact a prerequisite for - the very pinnacle of Buddhist meditation.
-
-
What a deep book....
- By Cian on 01-31-18
By: His Holiness the Dalai Lama, and others
-
Voice for the Voiceless
- Over Seven Decades of Struggle with China for My Land and My People
- By: Dalai Lama
- Narrated by: Edoardo Ballerini
- Length: 5 hrs and 47 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The Dalai Lama has had to contend with the People’s Republic of China for about his entire life. He was sixteen years old when Communist China invaded Tibet in 1950, only nineteen when he had his first meeting with Chairman Mao in Beijing, and twenty-five when he was forced to escape to India and became a leader in exile. In the decades since, he has faced Communist China’s leaders—Mao Zedong, Deng Xiaoping, Jiang Zemin, Hu Jintao, and Xi Jinping—in his efforts to protect Tibet and its people.
-
-
The words and cadence are perfect for the message.
- By Anonymous User on 03-12-25
By: Dalai Lama
-
The Heart of the Buddha's Teaching
- Transforming Suffering into Peace, Joy, and Liberation
- By: Thích Nhất Hạnh
- Narrated by: René Ruiz
- Length: 9 hrs and 22 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In The Heart of the Buddha’s Teaching, now revised with added material and new insights, Nhat Hanh introduces us to the core teachings of Buddhism and shows us that the Buddha’s teachings are accessible and applicable to our daily lives.
-
-
Great overview of Buddhism
- By Nick on 06-24-16
By: Thích Nhất Hạnh
-
The Book of Hope
- A Survival Guide for Trying Times
- By: Jane Goodall, Douglas Abrams
- Narrated by: Douglas Abrams, Jane Goodall
- Length: 6 hrs and 49 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Drawing on decades of work that has helped expand our understanding of what it means to be human and what we all need to do to help build a better world, The Book of Hope touches on vital questions, including: How do we stay hopeful when everything seems hopeless? How do we cultivate hope in our children? What is the relationship between hope and action? Filled with moving and inspirational stories and photographs from Jane’s remarkable career, The Book of Hope is a deeply personal conversation with one of the most beloved figures in the world today.
-
-
A visionary leader inspires again
- By Jack on 10-23-21
By: Jane Goodall, and others
-
The Wisdom of Compassion
- Stories of Remarkable Encounters and Timeless Insights
- By: His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Victor Chan
- Narrated by: Rich Orlow
- Length: 7 hrs and 2 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The Wisdom of Compassion offers rare insights into the Dalai Lama’s life and his efforts to translate compassion into action through deeply engaging, behind-the-scene stories about his interactions with remarkable people from all walks of life. This is the Dalai Lama at his most human, and most humane. We see how he approaches the world with playfulness, optimism, and a profound empathy for the suffering of others. Through his own conduct, he shows us the tangible benefits of practicing kindness, forgiveness, and compassion.
-
-
Interesting anecdotes about the Dalai Lama
- By Mike on 01-16-13
By: His Holiness the Dalai Lama, and others
-
The Universe in a Single Atom
- The Convergence of Science and Spirituality
- By: His Holiness the Dalai Lama
- Narrated by: Richard Gere
- Length: 5 hrs and 56 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Gallileo, Copernicus, Newton, Niels Bohr, Einstein. Their insights shook our perception of who we are and where we stand in the world and in their wake have left an uneasy co-existence: science vs. religion, faith vs. empirical enquiry. Which is the keeper of truth? Which is the true path to understanding reality?
-
-
This book is right on the mark
- By Theresa on 09-24-05
-
No-Nonsense Buddhism for Beginners
- Clear Answers to Burning Questions About Core Buddhist Teachings
- By: Noah Rasheta
- Narrated by: Will Damron
- Length: 2 hrs and 30 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Presented in a practical Q&A format, No-Nonsense Buddhism for Beginners is the most clear-cut introductory guide to understanding the essential concepts of Buddhism and how they relate to your daily life. How is an awakening different from enlightenment? Can agnostics and atheists be Buddhist? In No-Nonsense Buddhism for Beginners, renowned Buddhism teacher and host of the popular Secular Buddhism podcast, Noah Rasheta, delivers an easily accessible introduction to the teachings of Buddhism that answers these common questions and many more.
-
-
Perfect for someone curious in Buddism
- By Wolf_CPT on 09-01-19
By: Noah Rasheta
-
Essence of the Heart Sutra
- The Dalai Lama's Heart of Wisdom Teachings
- By: Tenzin Gyatso the Fourteenth Dalai Lama, Geshe Thupten Jinpa - translator and editor
- Narrated by: Gabra Zackman
- Length: 3 hrs and 40 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
For more than 2,000 years, the Heart Sutra has been part of the daily life of millions of Buddhists. This concise text, so rich and laden with meaning, concentrates the very heart of Buddhism into a powerful and evocative teaching on the interdependence of all reality. In Essence of the Heart Sutra, the Dalai Lama masterfully unpacks the Heart Sutra so that any listener can benefit from its teachings - teachings meant to help us release ourselves from suffering and live with true compassion.
-
-
Precious teachings!
- By Margaret E. Langston on 07-25-16
By: Tenzin Gyatso the Fourteenth Dalai Lama, and others
-
Beyond Religion
- Ethics for a Whole World
- By: His Holiness the Dalai Lama
- Narrated by: Martin Sheen
- Length: 5 hrs and 43 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The Dalai Lama, at his most compassionate and outspoken, here elaborates and deepens his vision for the nonreligious way. Transcending the mere "religion wars", he outlines a system of secular ethics that gives tolerant respect to religion, those that ground ethics in a belief in God and an afterlife, and those that understand good actions as leading to better states of existence in future lives. And yet, with the highest level of spiritual and intellectual authority, the Dalai Lama makes a claim for what he calls a third way.
-
-
Excellent! Excellent! Excellent!
- By Mary on 12-20-11
-
Book of Forgiving
- The Fourfold Path for Healing Ourselves and Our World
- By: Desmond Tutu, Mpho Tutu
- Narrated by: Mpho Tutu, Hakeem Kae Kazim
- Length: 6 hrs and 37 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
How do I forgive? Nobel laureate Archbishop Desmond Tutu has witnessed some of the worst crimes people can inflict on others. So wherever he goes, he inevitably gets asked this question. This audiobook is his answer. Writing with his daughter, Mpho, an Anglican priest, they lay out the simple but profound truths about the significance of forgiveness, how it works, why everyone needs to know how to grant it and receive it, and why granting forgiveness is the greatest gift we can give to ourselves when we have been wronged.
-
-
Some good points but ultimately shallow
- By Christopher Barghout on 11-17-20
By: Desmond Tutu, and others
-
Mistakes Were Made (But Not By Me)
- Why We Justify Foolish Beliefs, Bad Decisions and Hurtful Acts
- By: Carol Tavris, Elliot Aronson
- Narrated by: Marsha Mercant, Joe Barrett
- Length: 9 hrs and 4 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Why do people dodge responsibility when things fall apart? Why the parade of public figures unable to own up when they screw up? Why the endless marital quarrels over who is right? Why can we see hypocrisy in others but not in ourselves? Are we all liars? Or do we really believe the stories we tell? Backed by years of research and delivered in lively, energetic prose, Mistakes Were Made (But Not by Me) offers a fascinating explanation of self-deception.
-
-
Excellent insights, but a little too long
- By Anand on 11-11-12
By: Carol Tavris, and others
-
Buddhism
- One Teacher, Many Traditions
- By: His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Thubten Chodron
- Narrated by: Fajer Al-Kaisi
- Length: 12 hrs and 13 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Buddhism is practiced by hundreds of millions of people worldwide, from Tibetan caves to Tokyo temples to redwood retreats. To an outside viewer, it might be hard to see what they all have in common. In Buddhism, His Holiness the Dalai Lama and American Buddhist nun Thubten Chodron map out with clarity the convergences and the divergences between the two major strains of Buddhism - the Sanskrit traditions of Tibet and East Asia and the Pali traditions of Sri Lanka and Southeast Asia.
-
-
Very complete instructions on Buddhism.
- By Ricardo on 07-07-19
By: His Holiness the Dalai Lama, and others
-
Think Like a Monk
- Train Your Mind for Peace and Purpose Every Day
- By: Jay Shetty
- Narrated by: Jay Shetty
- Length: 11 hrs
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Shetty grew up in a family where you could become one of three things—a doctor, a lawyer, or a failure. His family was convinced he had chosen option three: Instead of attending his college graduation ceremony, he headed to India to become a monk, to meditate every day for four to eight hours, and devote his life to helping others. After three years, one of his teachers told him that he would have more impact on the world if he left the monk’s path to share his experience and wisdom with others.
-
-
Captivating from the start
- By Caitlin on 09-08-20
By: Jay Shetty
-
The World of Tibetan Buddhism
- An Overview of Its Philosophy and Practice
- By: His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Geshe Thupten Jinpa - editor translator annotation
- Narrated by: Edoardo Ballerini
- Length: 4 hrs and 25 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
With characteristic humility, His Holiness the Dalai Lama begins this landmark survey of the entire Buddhist path by saying, "I think an overview of Tibetan Buddhism for the purpose of providing a comprehensive framework of the path may prove helpful in deepening your understanding and practice." In this book the Dalai Lama delivers a presentation that is both concise and profound, accessible and engaging.
-
-
Dense, heavy
- By Michael on 12-04-16
By: His Holiness the Dalai Lama, and others
What listeners say about The Book of Joy
Highly rated for:
Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Billsoroka
- 01-05-17
Excellent book with daily practice tips
this was an excellent book, and the contribution from Desmond Tutu and the Dalai Lama is pretty exceptional. The daily tips on building compassion, forgiveness, and joy are simple, and profound
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
10 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- sf415
- 07-03-17
I recommend this book in print
This is a great book. I recommend this book in print because of meditation techniques descriptions. I ended up writing to many notes on the book under "add notes" and also on paper. Regardless everyone should read this book. I very much enjoyed it.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
4 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Jordan E.
- 04-23-17
Finally, some peace
My whole life I've clung to the idea that I'm special, that I am extraordinary, that what I want to achieve no one else can. This book dispels that notion, and replaces it with something more self-consistent, more valuable, and more capable of granting peace.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
2 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Eric Alonso
- 03-19-17
Just read it.
A sceptical person here. They make me put at least 15 words in this review, but I cannot replicate what I felt and feel with this book.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
2 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- freestone
- 11-20-16
Awesome audio book!
Heartfelt and beautiful message. A globally touching in that it is okay to live life with kindness and joy in a world that sometimes seems so sinful and cruel.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
1 person found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Amazon Customer
- 09-29-17
Joy
This Book could quiet possibly change the world~ 1 soul searching Person at a time! Loved it and sad it's over ~ may have to read periodically throughout my life ;-) Bridgett Blackwood
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
1 person found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Faith Hegeman
- 02-13-18
I love this book!!
I love this book and everything about it. I couldn't wait to get back in my car and listen to some more each day. it is inspiring, enjoyable and very sweet
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
1 person found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Anonymous User
- 06-22-17
Absolutely beautiful book
Wonderful advice and inspiration in living and influencing a joyous life. A great read.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
- Elizabeth
- 01-28-18
A must read for every man kind
I love that you get to hear the author's voices. It resonates more with me. I like that there is mediation practices at the end
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- EmilyK
- 12-02-17
Profound Book of Wisdom
Many reviewers seem to have summarized the best parts of this book: wisdom from modern spiritual leaders who have faced adversity and still lead us with compassion and joy. I found this book thought-provoking and spiritually centering.
The only disappointments -- I thought it would be entirely the words of Tutu and the Dalai Lama. Instead, most of the time is spent hearing the author's/narrator's thoughts or summary -- or maybe it just seemed that way, since I was irritated by the interjections and summaries. I also would have loved to hear the actual voices of the leaders giving us their insights, but on reflection I understand why they wouldn't have the time to record an audiobook.
On balance, still highly recommended.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!