How can we stay engaged with life day after day? How can we continue to love what we do year after year? These are the questions bestselling author and beloved teacher Sylvia Boorstein asked herself. The result is Happiness Is an Inside Job, her best work to date, a warm, wise, and instructive book on how we can cultivate happiness even when the odds are against us.
In her more than four decades of Buddhist practice and teaching, Boorstein has discovered that the secret to happiness lies not in monastic solitude but in cultivating our connections with the world, with family, friends, colleagues, and even those we do not know well. In this beautiful book, she reminds us that our hearts want to console, appreciate, encourage, and love and that restoring these qualities leads to a solidly grounded sense of happiness.
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"I am probably rating this so highly because this is the first time I have ever read a "self-help" book, however, I do think I picked a good one. I just liked the title, and was unsure what the book was about. I really enjoyed it and it has helped me tremendously. I like(d) to dwell on things a little too much, especially things I have no control over, sometimes constantly relieving the past, or imagining the future, anything but living in the present.Sylvia teaches you why and how to avoid this through Buddhist concepts. She is good at explaining things and gives really good examples to illustrate. The book is well written. Sylvia teaches and when reading the book I feel like she is speaking to me. I feel like this book has made a big impact on me already. I will probably read more by her, read similar books or re-read this one. Many of the things she talked about I naturally do. I think you can choose to be happy even when life throws you challenges." — Amy (5 out of 5 stars)
"I am probably rating this so highly because this is the first time I have ever read a "self-help" book, however, I do think I picked a good one. I just liked the title, and was unsure what the book was about. I really enjoyed it and it has helped me tremendously. I like(d) to dwell on things a little too much, especially things I have no control over, sometimes constantly relieving the past, or imagining the future, anything but living in the present.Sylvia teaches you why and how to avoid this through Buddhist concepts. She is good at explaining things and gives really good examples to illustrate. The book is well written. Sylvia teaches and when reading the book I feel like she is speaking to me. I feel like this book has made a big impact on me already. I will probably read more by her, read similar books or re-read this one. Many of the things she talked about I naturally do. I think you can choose to be happy even when life throws you challenges."
“A wonderful book, heartwarming and wise, that conveys the essence of what the Buddha taught in the voice of a gifted storyteller, teacher, friend, and compassionate human being.”
“[A] small, polished gem of a book that seems somehow even more intimate and heartfelt than her previous books…both convincing and inspiring.”
“Boorstein’s lessons, gleaned from a life of internal reflection and mindful teaching, are delivered with such openness, love, and affection that it feels as if you are sitting with Sylvia in her living room soaking in the wisdom of an enlightened friend.”
“This book will convince you that your own happiness is much more available to you than you may have thought.”
" This book did not appeal to me as much as other Buddhist texts I have read. While I can't fault Boorstein for urging folks to find contentment in daily life (so important!), many of her examples demonstrated the relatively privileged life she lives. I prefer the texts of Pema Chodren, Thich Nhat Hanh, and some others. "
" A nice sweet Sylvia Boorstein book. Deals with the Brahma Viharas. "
" The whole truth for those who search for peace. "
" wait - this is the one i read!!! "
" Good book. Readable, and had good memorable stories. Honestly, it deserves another star or two, but I think I've read one too many books on Buddhism to get really excited. Check it out. For the stories, if nothing else. "
" Great book...very readable! Thought provoking and makes Buddhism approachable. "
" If there was a possibility for four and a half stars, I would give this four and a half. This is a marvelous book. The blurbs praise Boorstein's ability to tell stories, but I liked the book for its precise definitions of Buddhist practices and understandings. Highly recommended. "
" No real tips. Just a guide book on Buddhist. "
" Another good yet simple foray into the Buddhist mindset. I first heard the author on On Being with Krysta Tippett and fell in love with her deep wisdom on life. This book was full of her stories and practical application of Buddhist teachings. I highly enjoyed it. "
" Reading this for my mindfulness meditation class, taught by Nancy Rubel at Mindful Moments in Beachwood. Sylvia Boorstein is my teacher's mentor, so this has personal significance for her and it is one of the best classes I have taken from her (and an excellent book). "
" Hard to follow, really. "
" Finished reading this book this morning. I found it to be just average. Boorstein's life stories I actually found more interesting than the way she correlated them to the Buddhist precepts. Overall, it wasn't bad, just average. "
" Very helpful. I would read again. "
" When I saw this title in my library's new books section, I thought it was another "5 steps to a happy life" self-help book. It's actually a very engaging book that applies Buddhist principles of mindfulness and compassion to daily life. "
" Sylvia is a funny and charming dharma teacher. Full of good reminders! "
" Pithy and very useful teachings. Highly recommended. "
" I love Boorstein's books!! Always so uplifting... "
" Such a cheesy title. I'm a little embarrassed to be reading this on the bus. But I think the Buddha and Sylvia Boorstein would remind me that embarrassment is ok. And it will pass. It's a good book so far. "
" Entry level buddhism - practical application of peace when it's so lacking for me right now... "
" I enjoyed reading the book, which gave me the feeling of having a wise master speak with me,But,I am still thinking about what she said, and maybe that is the point. "
" I love her anecdotes and insights into joy, happiness, and life. I look forward to reading her other works! "
Sylvia Boorstein, PhD, is a cofounding teacher, along with Jack Kornfield, at Spirit Rock Meditation Center in Woodacre, California, and a senior teacher at the Insight Meditation Society in Barre, Massachusetts. She writes a regular column in Shambhala Sun and lectures widely. She is the author of the national bestseller It’s Easier Than You Think: The Buddhist Way to Happiness.
Pam Ward, an AudioFile Earphones Award–winning narrator, found her true calling reading books for the blind and physically handicapped for the Library of Congress’ Talking Books program. The fact that she can work with Blackstone Audio from the beauty of the mountains of Southern Oregon is an unexpected bonus.
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