The Book of Joy {A Book a Day 17}
—Grace & Truth Linkup

These two men will make your heart sing.

For the Dalai Lama’s 80th birthday in 2015, Archbishop Demond Tutu traveled to India to celebrate with his dear friend for five days. And to answer this question together:

How do we find joy in the face of life’s inevitable suffering?

From their conversations, we received The Book of Joy: Lasting Happiness in a Changing World.

The Book of Joy

This book is full of sage wisdom from His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Archbishop Desmond Tutu. The content is joyful, of course, yet also sobering. Both these spiritual giants endured great trials in their lives.

“As we discover more joy, we can face suffering in a way that ennobles rather than embitters. We have hardship without becoming hard. We have heartbreak without being broken.”

I’m sad we lost Archbishop Desmond Tutu on Dec 26, 2021. The Dalai Lama is currently 87 years old.

So get their wisdom where and while you can. I highly recommend this book as one of the places to hear from them. I listened to the audioversion and it was a delight. The narrators’ voices sounded similar to the Dalai Lama and Archbishop Desmond Tutu’s voices, capturing their personalities well.

Quotes from The Book of Joy

“Discovering more joy does not, I’m sorry to say, save us from the inevitability of hardship and heartbreak. In fact, we may cry more easily, but we will laugh more easily, too.”
– Desmond Tutu

~ * ~

“There’s a Tibetan saying: ‘Wherever you have friends that’s your country, and wherever you receive love, that’s your home.’”
– Dalai Lama

~ * ~

“In the end generosity is the best way of becoming more, more, and more joyful.”
– Desmond Tutu

~ * ~

“Seek to be an oasis of caring and concern as you live your life.”
– Dalai Lama

~ * ~

“We are fragile creatures, and it is from this weakness, not despite it, that we discover the possibility of true joy.”
– Desmond Tutu

~ * ~

“Joy is the reward, really, of seeking to give joy to others. When you show compassion, when you show caring, when you show love to others, in a wonderful way you have a deep joy that you can get in no other way.”
– Dalai Lama


If you’re interested, watch this documentary currently on Netflix of the friendship between Archbishop Desmond Tutu and His Holiness the Dalai Lama inspired by The Book of Joy. It will bring you joy.

The trailer is here, Mission: Joy – Finding Happiness in Troubled Time.

MISSION: JOY • Official Trailer • Documentary About the Dalai Lama & Desmond Tutu's Friendship

Share your thoughts in the comments.

You are on Day #17 of the series, A Book a Day {Nonfiction Favorites}.

Each day of February 2023 I’m recommending one book a day from favorite nonfiction books I’ve recently read.

The Table of Contents for all 28 books is here, updated daily.

A Book a Day - Nonfiction Favorites

Previous:
Bright-Sided” {Book 16}

Next:
I Take My Coffee Black” {Book 18}

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Grace & Truth Featured Post

How can we find joy in uncertainty?

Donna shares in our featured post today that even in the midst of uncertainty, God calls us to a place of confidence.

“While God was with us in the past, and will be with us in the future, the present moment remains the only place we experience His manifest Presence now.”

Read Donna’s post to find 4 ways to place our faith in what we cannot see in order to overcome what we can see.

4 Ways to Trust God in Uncertainty

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5 thoughts on “The Book of Joy {A Book a Day 17}
—Grace & Truth Linkup

  1. Debbie Wilson

    Beautiful trailer. Inspiring. Enjoyed this quote especially, “Discovering more joy does not, I’m sorry to say, save us from the inevitability of hardship and heartbreak. In fact, we may cry more easily, but we will laugh more easily, too.”
    – Desmond Tutu

  2. Donna

    Lisa, I have that book in my reading queue, it so intrigued me. I appreciate your review, including the quotes, as it has inspired me to move it up on the list!!
    Thank you for featuring my post here today!!

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