For me, the most interesting idea that this book had to offer was precisely what one reviewer found upsetting: "the way it treats emotions, by telling yourself to feel differently." The idea that Ricard advocates in this book is to not fall into the trap of feeling that pessimism and "gritty reality" make you perspicacious. This is exactly what keeps smart people from trying to change their situation when they're miserable. Pessimism, though, is a set of emotions just as empty as optimism. Optimism, even though it can be far from realistic too, makes the wiser choice, for your own peace of mind and for accomplishing whatever goals you might have in your life. ( )

An outstanding book! It resonates strongly with my experience, even after years of "Western" thought and psychology. I believe profound truths work that way: One can learn something from all of the venerable schools of wisdom, and that one will likely find threads or more that resonate with one's being from all of the traditions, if one looks. Those that resonate are usually truths for the individual looking.

Often the truths will be expressed in different words, poetry, symbolism and so forth, but share a core meaning.
I can find many such truths in Matthieu's writings and enjoyed this book very much.
In particular, the ways to "free one's negative emotions" are very profound: "The use of Antidotes", "Freeing the Emotions", and "Using the Emotions as Catalysts". Please read these techniques very carefully! They are NOT ways to repress or sublimate one's bad or negative emotions, but to work with them in a constructive way that leads to happiness! ( )

I didn't really enjoy this book or find it useful. It adopts that old buddhist idea that life is suffering and you gain happiness by living in the moment and not being attached to the past or the present. I don't have in issue with this per se, but more with the way it treats emotions, by telling yourself to feel differently. In my view this doesn't work, and the emotions will have their pound of flesh in one way or another! ( )

Very dissapointing. Some good Buddhist wisdom about inner change and meditative practices, but he's completely lost, inchoherent, and sloppy when he moves around into other areas. ( )

Explains the simple thruths of life in the best possible words I could think of. Excellent translation from the original French book. ( )