I really loved The Book of Joy by the Dalai Lama and Bishop Desmond Tutu so I found this which, of course, fits a prompt! I have to say that I was a little bit dubious going in because what exactly is the Dalai Lama's job aside from being the Dalai Lama? So, I wondered how he could relate to "regular" job issues that most people face. Of course, the gift that the Dalai Lama embodies and shares is his total compassion for all, and so, although he may never be in the position of a burger flipper or a data entry typist, he can always see the human aspect within all things. I found this quite amazing as I tend to fall into cynical pretty darn quickly. He pointed out that what brings happiness isn't really the job itself but, of course, the person's approach to it and what they expect to get out of it. One example that stood out to me was a cashier who was always so personable and really enjoyed interacting with the customers and how a co-worker talked about how all of their shifts are more fun and better when they work with her. That is really a gift and makes you think about how small little actions from each of us can really go a long way to helping each other and ourselves. The world needs more souls like the Dalai Lama but maybe if I can step back from life and take even just a few moments to remember that each day and work with that mind frame, it could help make my world a little better too. ( )

See my blog post on it:

http://gypsylibrarian.blogspot.com/2005/12/booknote-art-of-happiness-at-work.htm... ( )

Using common sense and modern psychiatry, this illuminating book applies 2,500 years of Buddhist tradition to the contemporary struggles we face in finding our calling and performing our jobs. It asks of the Dalai Lama questions we all want answered about the nature of work and finding fulfillment, including: How does the relationship between our personal values and those of our employers affect happiness? What are the main sources of dissatisfaction and how can we cope with them? How do we deal with conflicts with coworkers and bosses? How do we deal with jealousy, anger, or hostility at work? How do we deal with boredom or lack of challenge? Unfair criticism? Job change and unemployment?

Once again, Cutler walks us through the Dalai Lama’s reasoning so that we know how to apply the wisdom to daily life. This is an invaluable source of strength and peace for anyone who earns a living.

i thiought it helped me a lot and everything was made at a different point of view from then on. ( )

I listened to the audio version of this book and enjoyed it much more than I thought I might. (I love to read; I thought that listening would be tedious.) While I still prefer reading, the reader, Robert O' Keefe did a nice job of "switching voices" for the parts of the book quoting or paraphrasing the Dalai Lama, and the other parts by Howard Cutler and thereby made it fun to listen to the book.

This book is part of a series of joint efforts between the Dalai Lama and Howard Cutler, M.D. in which Howard Cutler, the author, discusses his conversations with the Dalai Lama. Cutler is therefore paraphrasing and quoting the Dalai Lama, but also draws in additional material from recent western scientific studies which support what the Dalai Lama says or which the Dalai Lama has expanded views of.

As might be expected, this book discusses how a cultivation of mindfulness can be the most robust and enduring path to happiness at work, though it acknowledges very clearly that sometimes it IS better to switch one's occupation! - The Dalai Lama is pragmatic!

The Buddhist practice of a combination of meditation, introspection, and "internal expansion / compassion" can enhance one's happiness in all circumstances, and Howard Cutler cites additional western studies that concur, though often from a different perspective than the Buddhist view. For example, the concept of Flow by Csikszentmihalyi has similarites, but differences too. The Dalai Lama appears to expand on Flow with a somewhat differing but enhanced view.

I DO believe that if one reads this book and then builds ones own view of work, based on meditating on the ideas presented, coupled with introspection, one can become happier at work. ( )