Art of Happiness: A Guide to Developing Life's Most Important Skill - Softcover

Matthieu Ricard is a Buddhist monk who had a promising career in cellular genetics before leaving France to study Buddhism in the Himalayas thirty-seven years ago. He is also a bestselling author, translator and photographer, and an active participant in current scientific research on the effects of medication on the brain. He lives in Tibet and Nepal and is involved in humanitarian projects in both these countries. Find out more at www.www.matthieuricard.org

Both the subject, happiness, and the author/narrator, an accomplished French scientist who's been a Buddhist monk for 35 years, are endlessly fascinating. Ricard's gorgeous accent and unique use of everyday words are totally beguiling. A translator for the Dalai Lama, he is renowned for his research and practice of cultivating a state of happiness. As he explains how to meditate and accumulate positive moods, his presentation is punctuated with quirky humor. For example, when a man confesses that he's afraid of what he will see when he looks within, the Dalai Lama observes that there's nothing more entertaining on TV or film than self-analysis. Just listening to Ricard is soothing and inspiring. This is a great choice for those seeking a calmer inner life. S.G.B. © AudioFile 2007, Portland, Maine-- Copyright © AudioFile, Portland, Maine