On the Dalai Lama's eightieth birthday, he was able to spend one week with one of his closest friends, Archbishop Desmond Tutu of South Africa. Author Douglas Carlton Abrams tagged along to interview both men and record their interactions. This book is the product of that week together.
Both of these men, great moral and religious leaders, grew up in vastly different cultures, but both share a worldview, what the Archbishop calls "Ubuntu," that everyone in the world is connected and interdependent on one another, and that the more we are divided, the less joyful we will be. Although they have lived through horrible times and seen unspeakable things happen to their people, both men are loving and playful, not cynical or angry. They make jokes at each others' expense and have long discussions about life and morality and how to be joyful and grateful and generous even when there is so much suffering.
If you are looking for something heartwarming and spirit-lifting, The Book of Joy lives up to its name and then some. In a world that can seem angry and chaotic and divided, this book offers to renew your hopes. It's a great way to start a new year.
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