The Book of Joy: Lasting Happiness in a Changing WorldThe Book of Joy: Lasting Happiness in a Changing World
Score Modern
What it's about
Two spiritual leaders, the Dalai Lama and Archbishop Desmond Tutu, spent a week together talking about how to find joy in the face of suffering. With writer Douglas Abrams, they share personal stories and teachings, the science of happiness, and the daily practices that anchor their own emotional and spiritual lives.
Why it's worth reading
It has spent 41 weeks on the New York Times bestseller lists. It's a warm, wise and often funny conversation between two Nobel Peace Prize winners and longtime friends.
You'll love it if you liked
Tuesdays with Morrie
Man's Search for Meaning
When Breath Becomes AirGood to know
It ends with practical exercises. It draws on Buddhist and Christian traditions, without promoting either.
By the numbers
- Readers90 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics0 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Bestseller48 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
- #26 of the 85 self-help and business books we rank
- #300 of the 1,573 modern books we rank
- #596 of the 2,816 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
Practical
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Self-help and business booksTop 25 · 85 ranked
Modern booksTop 25 · 1,573 ranked
Books of the 2010sTop 25 · 736 ranked
Fantasy booksTop 25 · 459 ranked
Mysteries and thrillersTop 25 · 555 ranked
Literary novelsTop 25 · 309 ranked
Memoirs and biographiesTop 25 · 290 ranked
Science fiction booksTop 25 · 313 rankedQuick answers
Is The Book of Joy: Lasting Happiness in a Changing World worth reading?
Yes. It has spent 41 weeks on the New York Times bestseller lists. It ranks #596 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 77.2 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is The Book of Joy: Lasting Happiness in a Changing World about?
Two spiritual leaders, the Dalai Lama and Archbishop Desmond Tutu, spent a week together talking about how to find joy in the face of suffering. With writer Douglas Abrams, they share personal stories and teachings, the science of happiness, and the daily practices that anchor their own emotional and spiritual lives.
How long does it take to read The Book of Joy: Lasting Happiness in a Changing World?
About 10 hours (384 pages), or about 3 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after The Book of Joy: Lasting Happiness in a Changing World?
If you liked it, try Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom, Man's Search for Meaning by Viktor E. Frankl or When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi.