I should really have reviewed James Baraz’s book long before now, as I have had it in my possession for more than a year. However, with James coming to Switzerland in August to deliver, in a weekend Seminar,  his hugely successful Course, now is as good a time as any. James has been teaching meditation since 1974 and is one of the founders of Spirit Rock Meditation Centre in California. The great strength of the book is that it is based on years of  experience, especially in teaching the Awakening Joy Course. So it is filled with stories and testimonials,  as well as practical strategies to help develop joy in our lives. James’ basic starting point is that joy is a choice that we make, and it can be developed. Each chapter introduces a different aspect of living a contented life, helping them become habits in our lives, such as developing a grateful heart or how to work when difficult emotions arise. It is one of those rare things: a book that is warm, practical and easy to use, while basing itself on up-to-date research on happiness.

Awakening Joy is not about fulfilling goals or changing particular circumstances. It’s about training the mind and the heart to live in a way that allows us to be truly happy with our life as it is right now. Not that we stop aspiring to change in positive ways, or that we remain in harmful situations, but we begin to find the joy inside us right where we are. As you work with the practices presented here, you will discover that happiness is not a place that you arrive at, but rather the result of training your mind to ride with ease and flexibility the roller coaster of life (page 7).