Powerful ideas from top nonfiction
Try Blinkist to get the key ideas from 7,500+ bestselling nonfiction titles and podcasts. Listen or read in just 15 minutes.
Get started
Blink 3 of 8 - The 5 AM Club
by Robin Sharma
Listen to the Intro
The Book of Joy summary
Lasting Happiness in a Changing World
21 mins
Brief summary
The Book of Joy by Dalai Lama and Desmond Tutu is a journey to attain Joy. It draws upon their experiences and insights to offer practical advice and guidance about how we can cultivate Joy in our own lives.
Topics
Table of Contents
The Book of Joy
Summary of 9 key ideas
Audio & text in the Blinkist app
Key idea 1 of 9
Suffering is a core aspect of both life and happiness.
From the morning traffic jam to the bills that never stop piling up, suffering is a constant in human life. But despite its obvious drawbacks, suffering is essential to enjoying the positive moments in life, and is even a vital part of life itself. In fact, pain and suffering can actually be fruitful and constructive.
For instance, every mother knows how painful giving birth can be. Nonetheless, they accept the pain as necessary because of the tremendous joy that a new child brings. If women avoided the discomfort of childbirth, the human race would be done for!
Or take Nelson Mandela. He suffered tremendously during his 27 years in prison. He was made to sleep on the floor, and his every moment was occupied with mindless manual labor, like breaking rocks.
While one might assume that, after such an experience, Mandela would be as broken as the rocks he smashed to bits, his suffering actually helped him cultivate kindness and empathy for his political adversaries. This compassion later played an integral role in Mandela’s becoming the first president of a free South Africa.
So, suffering is important, but only if experienced in a particular way, one that requires shifting your perspective away from yourself and toward others. After all, as the Buddhist mind-training practice lojong teaches, obsessing over yourself and whether you’re good or bad will inevitably lead to sadness.
Just consider an experience that the Dalai Lama had after being asked to share his Buddhist teachings at Bodh Gaya, the holiest Buddhist site in the world.
Before arriving at the site, he felt a sharp pain in his stomach. It appeared serious and he had to be taken to hospital immediately – but the nearest one was two hours away.
On his way there, he saw a sick, old man, sitting alone on the street, clearly nearing death. The author shifted his attention to this other person, felt the man’s agony and, at least for a moment, forgot his own pain.
Want to see all full key ideas from The Book of Joy?
Key ideas in The Book of Joy
More knowledge in less time
Read or listen
Get the key ideas from nonfiction bestsellers in minutes, not hours.
Find your next read
Get book lists curated by experts and personalized recommendations.
Shortcasts New
We’ve teamed up with podcast creators to bring you key insights from podcasts.
What is The Book of Joy about?
The Book of Joy (2016) is an insightful guide to living a life free of sadness, stress and suffering. These blinks are full of actionable ways to cultivate joy for yourself and others while overcoming the obstacles that so often prevent people from finding happiness on earth.
The Book of Joy Review
The Book of Joy (2016) is a remarkable collaboration between two iconic spiritual leaders, the Dalai Lama and Desmond Tutu, as they share their wisdom on finding joy in the face of adversity. Here's why this book is worth reading:
- It offers insightful perspectives from two renowned figures, providing a unique blend of Eastern and Western wisdom.
- With touching personal stories and engaging conversations, the book offers tangible strategies for cultivating joy and happiness in our lives.
- By exploring the universal outlook of joy, the book transcends cultural boundaries, making it relatable and inspiring for readers from all backgrounds.
Best quote from The Book of Joy
Wherever you have friends, thats your country, and wherever you receive love, thats your home.
—Dalai Lama and Desmond Tutu
Who should read The Book of Joy?
- People who are feeling down on life
- Those who struggle to cultivate meaningful relationships
- Anyone interested in Buddhist teachings
Categories with The Book of Joy
Book summaries like The Book of Joy
People ❤️ Blinkist
Sven O.
It's highly addictive to get core insights on personally relevant topics without repetition or triviality. Added to that the apps ability to suggest kindred interests opens up a foundation of knowledge.
Thi Viet Quynh N.
Great app. Good selection of book summaries you can read or listen to while commuting. Instead of scrolling through your social media news feed, this is a much better way to spend your spare time in my opinion.
Jonathan A.
Life changing. The concept of being able to grasp a book's main point in such a short time truly opens multiple opportunities to grow every area of your life at a faster rate.
Renee D.
Great app. Addicting. Perfect for wait times, morning coffee, evening before bed. Extremely well written, thorough, easy to use.
People also liked these summaries
Words on the Move
John McWhorter
Why English Won’t – and Can’t – Sit Still (Like, Literally)
21 min
4.5
How to Winter
Kari Leibowitz
Harness Your Mindset to Thrive on Cold, Dark, or Difficult Days
18 min
3.8
4.8 Stars
Average ratings on iOS and Google Play
35 Million
Downloads on all platforms
10+ years
Experience igniting personal growth
The Book of Joy FAQs
What is the main message of The Book of Joy?
The main message of The Book of Joy is finding lasting happiness and joy through compassion and gratitude.
How long does it take to read The Book of Joy?
The reading time for The Book of Joy varies depending on the reader's speed, but it typically takes several hours. However, the Blinkist summary can be read in just 15 minutes.
Is The Book of Joy a good book? Is it worth reading?
The Book of Joy is a remarkable book that offers insights and wisdom through the Dalai Lama and Desmond Tutu's deep conversations. It's definitely worth reading.
Who is the author of The Book of Joy?
The authors of The Book of Joy are the Dalai Lama and Desmond Tutu.
What to read after The Book of Joy?
If you're wondering what to read next after The Book of Joy, here are some recommendations we suggest:
- The Art of Happiness by Dalai Lama
- The Four Noble Truths of Love by Susan Piver
- Buddhism – Plain and Simple by Steve Hagen
- The Mentally Strong Leader by Scott Mautz
- The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin
- Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance by Robert Pirsig
- High Road Leadership by John C. Maxwell
- You Are a Badass at Making Money by Jen Sincero
- Thoughts Without a Thinker by Mark Epstein
- The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen R. Covey