I read this book when my state announced the Stay at Home order in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. With the world in crisis, I curled up at home and sank into this book, a welcome escape from the anxiety and stress of real life. It was comforting to read about love and joy from the perspectives of two of the world’s most prominent spiritual leaders. It put things into perspective and helped me breathe easier. It was an especially important book for me during this time, but I intend to read it again in the future because the messages will resonate no matter your personal situation.

This book is told by a narrator, Douglas Abrams, as he interviews and records the conversations between His Holiness the Fourteenth Dalai Lama and Archbishop Desmond Tutu of South Africa. Both men are in their 80s and the book deals a lot with the struggles they faced in their long lives as well as the ways they find joy and fulfillment in their lives. The book made me remember how vital the voices of our elders are and how we so often fail to listen to them before they pass. These two men are among the most powerful and respected religious and cultural leaders, but I was especially struck by His Holiness’s humility and acceptance. He is “just one of the seven billion people” on planet earth, and never thinks of himself as anything greater. I am not religious myself, but that didn’t matter. Both the Dalai Lama and Archbishop Tutu speak from the heart and are incredibly accepting and understanding. This is a book for all faiths, all genders, all races, and all people. Do yourself a favor in these uncertain times and read this book. It will make you smile and see the bigger picture. There are even specific “joy practices” highlighted at the end to bring into your own life after finishing this book. There are too many quotable moments within these pages that I cannot pick just one to share – you’ll have to discover them yourself.

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Created Apr 26, 2020 at 2:11pm • Submit your own review...