Showing 1-2 out of 2 reviews.

• This seemed like the perfect book to pick up and read. I have deep respect for The Dalai Lama and I really needed some advice on how to be happier at work.I used to really love my job. It was exciting, for the most part, and every day usually held something new and challenging in store. Nowadays, it's not like that. There's a distinct vibe of us vs. them in most cases, IT vs. Accountants. Some of the financial folk chose to think that anyone can program so they'll just take care of what they want and ignore us programmers. The work isn't nearly challenging enough either, although the people are.Cutler interviews The Dalai Lama about various aspects of work in regards to happiness. For example, they chat about making money, the human factor of work, whether your job is just a job, a career or a calling, how to overcome boredom, how to have a right livelihood, etc. I appreciated his insight on all of the above. Unfortunately, while I think it's all good advice, it will be difficult to put into practice.In one chapter, and throughout others, the importance of being self-aware is emphasized. I think a lot of people have that problem, to be able to look at themselves and their abilities undistorted and with a critical eye. All in all, the way to achieve happiness, at work or otherwise, is to begin inwards, by readjusting your attitude to all things and remembering that it's just work and that doing good and helping others is more important.

  4.00 out of 5

  manadabomb

• 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.

  3.00 out of 5

  motjebben

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