Zen and the Art of Happiness

It's positive but not realistic advice. Things need to be felt. Saying this is for my for my benefit and smiling through pain is not healing anything. At the end he says to start with small things, because if you apply his philosophy to big things it doesn't make sense. Growing from a situation or making the best out of a situation is one thing, but saying everything that happens is the best possible thing that could happen doesn't sit well with me. Somethings but not everything.

"Every Experience you ever have is the best thing that has ever happened to you." That's it, that is all this book is about. There, now you don't have to buy this terrible "magical thinking" book. This book is not even faintly about Zen or Buddhism. This is pop psychology which wants to offer a magical cure (not backed up by any studies, or giving any good steps of following it) to suffering, which is basically pretending it doesn't exist. He occasionally quotes Zen philosophers to try to make his shtick seem valid - but his interpretation of what they are saying steps into new age fantasy.

I was actually really excited about this book but when it came i was truly disappointed at the content. It's like a downgraded version of the secret. don't waste your money on stories of "think of an open parking spot when you are running late, and will magically appear" no. not worth 15 bucks. the homeless man down the street can tell me those stories for a quarter -.- lol

Enjoyed much of the information in this book. Good reminder that we are in control of our happiness no matter what situations are happening. Did not enjoy the bits promoting and advertising his detox center.

Not a great book. Very nice little package, font, marketing, etc. But I've read lots of different books on zen and buddhism. This one was very self-helpey and more along the lines of "If you believe something is a certain way, then the universe will make it so!".

The author has some kind of institute where he helps people with addiction problems. Maybe in that kind of intense environment some of these things work but it just came off to me as wishful thinking.

The book is a quick and easy read but is definitely a different approach to things. Basically it takes the entire book to say, "If you want it, just wish it and it will happen." Maybe I am a bit too western in my thinking. Interesting read.

Chris Prentiss has written a simple but profound gem. For more than 30 years, I have been a psychologist and a Zen student with an interest in the art and science of happiness. 'Zen And the Art of Happiness' is to the point with its wisdom and parsimony. You'll read this book again and again.

This is without a doubt the dumbest book I have ever read. “Imagine: a big house is being built right next door to your small one. The construction noise is really intrusive and annoying, and makes you unhappy. But now imagine you find out one day that your rich relative is building it for you, as a surprise? And see, now something that seemed unhappy is really something that makes you happy.”

the philosophy is good, but the stories are little too spiritual. I think a good book is that one that makes me fold it every other page and think. this one did it only once. there are much better books out there

This is a simple but powerful book that will change the way you look at life. Zen and the Art of Happiness takes happiness and consciousness to a whole new level.

This book (and its shrewd insights) is profound.

As D.T. Suzuki, the Japanese scholar and leading spokesman of Zen in mid-twentieth century America, said of Zen, "It merely enables us to wake up and become aware. It does not teach, it points". Zen and the Art of Happiness gives you simple but profound keys that will help you change your life. If you read it with an open heart it will truly help you find happiness.

The book is poorly written. He loses focus and scatters around topics, while at the same time being excessively redundant on ancillary points. Fortunately the book is very short, so he doesn't waste too much of your time. In the end, all he really says, in 32 different ways, is to approach every event in your life as if it was the best thing that could have possibly happened to you at that moment. His justification for apparent negative events is that they are character builders, not handicaps going forward. Oh yeah, and after a slew of faulty logic, either the result of many slippery slopes or maybe just a poor vocabulary, he insists the "Universe" does not make mistakes, so everything that is a part of it must be according to plan.

Oh and another thing, he also lauds his relationship with his son. This is beyond nauseating. It appears due to his self-centered and peculiar lifestyle that he rose his son to become a horrible drug addict. After he pats himself on the back a few times for still loving his son, he professes that he found the cure for drug addiction after everything else didn't work. Then he doesn't tell you how he did it. He only suggest that you buy another book of his.

The reason why I gave this book one star, is because of his drivel and self-promotion, combined with some awful logic. Now, he does sprinkle in a few nice analogies. Of course, this is dependent upon you taking them at their face value and avoid analyzing them practically. Overall, this was a poorly written attempt at self aggrandizing by profiteering, wanna-be self-help guru.

If I had realized who the author was, I would never have bought this book. He and his brother run a sham drug rehab clinic and use their feeble understanding of various philosophies and fringe psychology to peddle malformed ideas and faux medical services. Start with Watts's "The Way of Zen" if you have genuine interest in the topic.

This book is VERY boring and I had a hard time continuing to read it. It is one of the worst books I have ever read with very little valuable information. 100 SIMPLE SECRETS OF HAPPINESS is excellent and enjoyable and has a lot of quick valuable nuggets WITH NO 1 STAR REVIEWS. Please read the other 1 star reviews this book has by others before buying this book.

Didn't even receive the book. Have been checking the front desk at my complex to see if they received it and nothing has came. It's been two weeks since the delivery date, still nothing. If I were you I wouldn't even waste my time with people that are careless with things you've spent hard earn money on.

Warning: This is not a book about Zen. This is a book filled with new-age 'manifesting' idealism. Here and there it's peppered with little trite, nonrelavant quotes from past Zen masters.

Though I'm sure those who believe they can make themselves happy, just by thinking they are happy, benefit from this book, it should not be advertised as anything Zen. Why there's a Buddha on the front of the cover...well that's beyond my understanding as well.

The very fact is that the antithesis of Zen is manifesting more 'things' to make you more happy.

While I liked the message of this book and the message it conveyed, I felt that the title was a little misleading, meaning that some of the book's content was also a little misleading.
While I get the relation Prentiss creates between his philosophy and Zen (and ultimately it isn't really my place to judge his practice and interpretation of Zen as wrong or right), I personally felt as if it didn't give people a great idea of what Zen is all about. Of course this is still something I am discovering and understanding for myself, but based on the books I've read, as well as the research I've done online, I felt as if this book gave a very very brief summary of Zen and what it means to practice Zen without really spending much time relating it to the mindset Prentiss encourages.
Overall, I think Prentiss sets forth an idea and a philosophy that could be beneficial to everyone, especially in the fast paced world we live in today. Everyone could use a little happiness in his or her life, and knowing how to cultivate that for yourself is the best way to get there. I guess I just have a semi difficult time seeing how exactly this is related to Zen Buddhism.

I've found some really comforting words in this book. I, just like any of you, want to be happy. I want to stop suffering from a loss in my life. The author provides many excellent thoughts that help me to get through the grief. He reminds that "nothing can be lost or destroyed, only changed". So when someone dies, technically, they only change their form, and continue to exist forever. He also explains how in the Universe everything is done for the absolute best outcome, and everything happens for the best. We might don't see how it is the best circumstances when you lose someone you love for example, but we only know a tiny bit of what's going on in the Universe and can't see the whole picture. There are really a lot of helpful ideas and thoughts in this book. I think this book has a potential to aid in healing from negative events and teach us how to be happy.

Who doesn't want to be happier? Read with an open mind, because these simple ideas have the power to change your outlook on life forever. Essentially, what the author is explaining is a peaceful Zen-based approach to cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and cognitive reframing, where you re-think your negative beliefs/thoughts and reframe them into positive, accepting beliefs/thoughts. This has scientifically been shown to be just as effective as taking antidepressants in many cases. His examples of negative situations that he and others have experienced and have made through with positive outcomes, are proof that you yourself have the power to change how life affects you.

Very easy to read, not complicated. You'll feel better after reading it!

As a Zen practitioner of some 4 decades, I hardly ever buy books anymore, but this one caught my eye. I plunked down ten bucks and read it, and was glad I did. Everything in this book is clearly and artfully stated, and everything in this book is absolutely true. I can't think of how anyone could do a better job than Chris Prentiss did. For over 5,000 years the sages and mystics have been putting this down in the idioms of their own time and culture, and now Chris Prentiss has put it down in the idioms of ours. Trust what he says. I have found it to be absolutely true in my own life, and you will in yours. Great great great book.

Shameless plug for the author's rehab facility, incorporating plenty of mention of the author's other books. This is the weakest book on Buddhism I have had the misfortune to find. High cheese factor. Very disappointing misuse of Buddhism for self-benefit.

I have now read (and re-read) this book 4 times. Its premise is impossibly simple, yet it's that simplicity that makes it so challenging. We have the ability to create our own happiness, no matter what circumstances confront us. Looking backwards - it's quite easy to see how this truth has manifested, at least in my life. The most challenging aspect is accepting that everything (and that means EVERYTHING) that happens to us in the present is exactly what the universe has planned and needs to be happening to (and for) us. We can either choose to be unhappy about it, or we can choose to be happy and marvel in what the universe has in store for us.

While reading this book, I was tempted to call BS, and say, "life doesn't work like that". I have chronic depression and anxiety. Reading this book, recommended by several people in my life, has given me a more positive way to look at things: "Whatever has happened is the best possible thing that could have happened to me. Now I just need to figure out why and how"

I bought this book together with "The Little Book of Atheist Spirituality". But very early in this book the author presents fundamental assumptions that I cannot accept. Namely, he believes the universe is in some way conscious, and that our well-being as individuals is ensured by the fact that the universe ensures its own well-being. Basically, he believes in god or something like it, and that serves as his sole and complete basis for our being able to find happiness in all things. This apparently works for lots of folks, and I think that's great. But since I don't accept his fundamental assumptions, I almost tossed the book into the nearest garbage can. But I decided to try to salvage this work since it seemed like it had some very useful ideas. So I ran with the the idea that we create our own reality, and thus are in a sense, each our own god. If my life is unhappy, it is because my mind is interpreting and reacting to external stimuli in an unhappy way. I can change the way my mind processes things so that my life is happy. If I take that idea and substitute it for the dubious "best of all possible worlds" assumptions of the author, the book suddenly works pretty much as the author intended.
I also want to point out that the book is written in a pretty personal style, like Chris is just giving a little presentation at a community center. It's based mostly on his personal experiences and common sense, and it's a little weak when it comes to anything like peer-reviewed science or direct references to philosophical traditions. His main points are few, and repeated and elaborated on at length. This already small book could have been cut by 30-40% without loosing any meat. Plus at times his frequent references to his recovery/treatment center business begin to sound like self-promotion.
By the way, this book is only tangetially related to Zen.
Still overall, even for a skeptic/atheist like myself, there's plenty here to help build a happier world-view.

Once in a while, along comes a book that simply 'blow's your mind'and at the same time increases your understanding about life like nothing else does. The Zen art of happiness is just such a book.
Before I read it I used to wonder why adverse occurances in my life happened. In fact I used to dwell constantly about them making myself unhappy into the bargain.
The author, Chris Prentiss asks the reader to start off by accepting the premise that these so-called 'adverse events' are perfect for us and exactly what we need to work on in order to strengthen our weaknesses.
Not only that, he maintains that 'the Universe' (some would say God) knows our every word, thought and deed and responds by sending these occurances to us.
He maintains that we constantly contravene 'Universal Laws'(example is the law of cause and effect)that are as real as gravity and unlike man-made laws, never change and are applicable to everyone no matter where they live on the earth.
The book is only 160 pages long, but is packed with information that feels 'intuitively true'.
I am now into my fourth time of reading and I am still as excited by his work as I was the first time.
If you want to become happier by making sense of life, then get this book that I rate as one of the best I have ever read.

I love this little book. As simple as that. I love it. I bought this book on my birthday in December 2010; 1 week before Christmas. I thought it would be a cute little read of maybe some tips or tricks that I could add into my life. I never knew that it would be the book that started the new chapter in my life. A new outlook. A new way of thinking. A basic happiness that has washed over me since I read it and stays with me everyday.

The concept is simple and could be written on one page. Some people, however, need to be more convinced to believe the idea put forth from this book. And that is why it is over 100 pages.

I do agree with some that the author does plug his facility treatment center and may at times seem a little arrogant. The arrogance may be because he has lived this simple philosophy for a long time and instead of allowing humility to set in, he allowed arrogance. But none then less, if you allow these small flaws of the author to deter you from the truly amazing message then you missed the point. Remember he is human just as you and I. I like the flaws. It shows that he is still human even after adopting this mantra into his life. That means, I can still be ultimately happy everyday and still be human at times. Brilliant!

Purchase the book. Enjoy the Concept. Share the love. And live the rest of your life in total happiness.

Ah, one last piece of advise. Don't forget to cultivate what you learned. This book was only the starting point. I now cultivate the idea by journaling and keeping the concept at the fore front of my days.

In "Zen and the Art of Happiness," Chris Prentiss recommends that we use the mantra, "Everything that happens to me is the best possible thing that can happen to me." I was skeptical of this at first, because, I thought, there are obviously instances in which it is not true. But if you parse it out, it's always true, because by definition what's possible is what happens. More importantly, when I adopted this mantra as my own, and challenged it with reality, such as minor annoyances from people cutting me off in traffic, I found that using the mantra put my creative mind to work at finding ways to make the silver lining of any cloud become visible. Then I found it works with giant problems too, such as a good friend's death.

I recommend this book without reservation. It's short, and the advice is easy to follow, so why not try it and see?

What a wonderful gift Chris has given the world. I just read it again and what an affect its had on me. This wonderful little book can literally change your life is you take its words to heart. To remember that "everything that happens to you is for you benefit" is so very, very simple yet so very powerful. A notion that is very hard to accept in this day and age. Read this book and give its message a chance. This should be required reading for everyone. Love, love, love this book. Thanks again Chris.

I'm a little uncomfortable writing a negative review of this book for several reasons. First, Chris Prentiss seems like a nice person with a positive outlook on life. Who would be against that? Second, do I really want to be the guy who shows up at a children's Christmas party and announces that Santa Claus won't be coming this year because he doesn't exist? With those thoughts in mind, I won't say anything negative about this book. I'll just pick a few highlights from the book and let readers decide for themselves.

1) If you handle every event, even a life-threatening injury, as a positive experience, good things will happen to you. Here's the relevant excerpt (shortened a bit) about an accident re. a falling rock:

"The ... rock hit me squarely on the top of the head. I was slammed into the ground ... two bones were broken ... (I was) unable to breathe and unable to move because all my vertebrae had been compressed and I was paralyzed. ... "I wonder what good thing will come from this?" ... My vertebrae began to decompress and I was slowly able to move. ... One week later, I was lying in bed recovering and I opened up a copy of the I Ching to read. Suddenly the passages that had earlier baffled me were now understandable. Somehow, that blow to the head had opened the channels that allowed me to perceive the meanings of what had before been unintelligible. Since that time, I've written ten books on the I Ching ...

2) There are no coincidences. What we think of as coincidence or luck is actually the Universe communicating to us.

"We're thinking of someone, the phone rings, it's that person. We're trying to locate someone whose address we've lost and we meet a friend who says, 'Guess who I saw yesterday?' ... Coincidence? No. Communication from the Universe."

Not explained, unfortunately, is why the Universe would choose to give us forewarning of one or two inconsequential phone calls out of thousands, but not any of the others. Or why bother to do so in any case.

3) Everything that happens in the Universe is for the best. "The Universe doesn't make mistakes. Everything is happening just as it should. ... we are an integral part of the Universe that is fully alive, conscious, and totally aware of us ..."

I believe Voltaire made some comments about this in "Candide" that are far better than anything I can come up with.

That said, I believe being positive is a good thing, and I agree with Prentiss that thinking negatively and feeling stress and apprehension about what might happen is not healthy. If you're looking for a book that tells you to "Always look on the bright side of life" then this is for you.

"Everything that happens to me is the best possible thing that can happen to me".

The author uses this powerful statement as a foundation for overcoming stress, dealing with setbacks, and finding happiness in everyday life.

How can we change what we believe when our experience has convinced us otherwise? By creating a new experience. The author explains just how to learn to think in a new way to create more happiness in our lives, instead of gloom and depression. I thought the author touched too much on the personal circumstances of him and his family in this book. This book is not perfect, but it is still RECOMMENDED.

I originally purchased this as a gift, but after skimming through it when it arrived I had to order myself one! I love this book! I keep it on my desk at work for whenever I get too stressed or anxious. Just reading it makes me more relaxed and more sensible. I've learned how to view life more optimistically and see the good in almost everything through this book. It is a quick read, and that's the beauty of it! You can absorb all of this great information in such a short time, and it makes it easier to go back for reference. Definitely recommend!!!

I have enjoyed this book and its simple message. Everything that happens to you is the best possible thing that could happen and is for your benefit. Seems like it can't be true...but maybe it is.

I've seen thousands of people with thoughts that don't serve them well who are depressed because of the "tyranny of events". Their mood bounces all over day to day as it does not meet their perceived wants and needs. With this idea and this simple thought, they could be free of some of their suffering.

Give it a read. I believe it will make your life a bit more enjoyable.

I wanted to like this book (who doesn't want to be a happier person?), so I entertained the author's philosophy as much as I could. In the end though, his advice boils down to an exaggerated "look on the sunny side". He also puts so much damn emphasis on "the universe" that by the end of the book, it just seems cultish. I mean, he literally speaks of the universe exactly as a Christian would speak of Yahweh or Jesus. Claiming that the "Universe is perfect, and does no wrong" and that we should "acknowledge and thank the universe". It is as dogmatic as any religion, and thus, just as silly.

I truly enjoyed this book and it did not take me long to read it. It was recomended to me by a girl I met online and I am so thankful that she recommended it to me. I was going through a Job Loss and didn't know what to do. I did not know how hard it would be to find a new job and I was scared due to the fact that media and people all over kept saying how bad the economy was and how hard it has been for people to find jobs. I read this book in one day and it changed the way that I see trouble or problems. I embrace it now and anticipate the better outcome. This book taught me that out of darkness there is a light. I was out of a job for maybe a month or so, but the whole time It felt like a vacation my spirit was just happy, I felt so good during this time. I felt happier than I have ever felt in life! Than I have knowing that I have a job. This book is a true GEM!! it was very up lifting, when I was done reading it , I truly wanted all of my family to read this book because it made me feel that good! read this book you will not be dissappointed. I am not generally a reader of this kind of material, but again, I am truly glad that I stepped outside of my box and read this book!

a short book that you can probably read in a couple of hours (and that's a good thing, because chances are you will read it again and again)... but somehow, it will stay with you for a loooooong time.

I keep going back to the main idea of this book and it brings an incredible peace of mind, a better, more optimistic look on things. Like most of us, I have had to go through some tough times and the message of this book truly helped me be calmer, be more optimistic. Everything that happens to me is the best thing that can happen to me... well, believe and you'll see it's true!

This book has nothing to do with zen.
It's `The secret` combined with auto-promotion for his drug clinic/other book, sprinkled with some zen quotes.
I'm surprised how much people gave it a 5 star. Must be `The secret` people who strongly believe that if you wish something, that wish will become true. Wishfully thinking not zen, there is a big difference.

I began reading "Zen and the Art of Happiness", a very good book. What it teaches is radical and satisfactory: what if every single result I get from life is the very best thing that could have happened to me? Certainly, few of us see our most difficult results that way. And that is why we have not mastered the art of happiness, says the author.

Curiously, by viewing ALL the circumstances and results life brings our way as actually being the highest, best good that could happen to us, the way you or I respond to things begins to change. And the response is the power. Imagine feeling peace no matter what, giving love no matter what. Surely a $10 book is worth a shot in getting there!

It took me a little while to adjust to the style of this book. Some of the descriptions and little stories were a bit tough to grasp at first, but when the author tells the story of his reaction when his new car got scratched everything in the book seemed to fall into place for me. When that happened, I actually went back to page one and it was as if I was seeing through some kind of fog for the first time. For me, this book is a great first step - I've since picked up several other books on Zen thought and Buddhism and I hope I'm as happy with learning from them as I am with this great little book. The author's book has also inspired me to act on a daily basis - to create good habits and to stop playing the victim card so often. This book will stay in my permanent collection and I will be purchasing copies for my friends and family soon. This book is a great example of good things coming in small packages. It is 142 pages, it can easily be read over a weeek if you wanted to but its more about enjoying the experience rather than getting it over with. Prentiss presents some great simple, logical concepts of thinking and perspective in a clear, newly found way.

I don't like reading long reviews, so I'll make this super short and to-the-point:

disregard all of the poor reviews for this book. Honestly, it's the best book I've ever read in my life. Yes, at times it seemed like the author was trying to advertise his addiction cure clinic, but, nonetheless, this book contains concepts and perspectives that will change my life and the magnitude of my happiness forever. BUY THIS BOOK. YOU WILL NOT REGRET IT; I PROMISE YOU THAT.

This is the perfect book for someone that has little or no understanding of Zen teachings. It's written in (mostly) layman's terms. The analogies go a long way in helping to grasp the concepts. The author does have a couple of self-serving mentions about his addictions programs, but I felt that was okay. After all, "it ain't bragging if you really done it". I'd highly recommend this book to anyone that wants to take that first step into Zen thought. It's just the right size and it explains things in a manner that can be understood by most. My personal opinion is it will inspire you to dig deeper, both in yourself and in the universe, for enlightenment.

This book is pretty short and you can probably read it in one long sitting if you wanted to. However, some of the ideas you really need to let sink in so I wouldn't recommend reading it in one day.

The whole book can be broken down into one idea. This idea is that everything that happens to you is for your benefit. The things that seemingly would be negative are only negative because we react negatively to them. If you lose a job, you think it's terrible and it causes stress and anxiety. But what if after you lose your job, in a month you find a better job that pays more? Then you shouldn't have worried at all in the first place.

This book might not change your life, but it will help you to think more positively. It's a very good, easy read.

I love the way this book explains life and the sequence of events and interpretations of those events. Easy to understand and very helpful

"Not only is the Universe aware of us, but it also communicates with us...The Universe responds with events."
-Chris Prentiss

I found this volume to be beautifully written. I am currently doing a survey of eastern philosophy, including Tao - The Way (Kindle) and The Samurai Series (Kindle). I am very pleased with the way all 3 books display on the Kindle. I confess to having asked for a refund on a few cheaper Kindle editions which seemed to be really bad scans from some online website. "Zen And the Art of Happiness" is not one of those types of Kindle books. This is highly recommended!

I enjoyed the read. The idea of the book, at it's core, is that to be happy you must realize that the Universe is looking out for you and regardless of what happens, it is the best possible thing that can happen to you.

I loved the emphasis on this, and I loved the story examples the author gave. I loved that the author mentions using this method in his drug rehabilitation center especially.

I loved the mention to drug rehabilitation because as an aspiring Psychologist, it was very helpful, and I believe that it is a far more effective treatment method than many therapists use, especially in the case of drug rehabilitation. This is largely because of my own personal experience. I went to a treatment center that included drug addiction as well as other at-risk behaviours. They taught there the 'rule of thirds': One third will recover, one third will relapse and one third will die.

Very depressing stuff, hearing that constantly, always wondering which third you'll be. They also largely focus on shame and making the patient feel bad for what they did. While it is good to feel regret for their bad choices, regret and guilt are two different things. Guilt can be toxic, and the more loving philosophy would, I believe, benefit the patients much better. With the belief that the Universe is looking out for you, recovery can be a much more relaxing place.

On the other hand, there are definitely some cons as well.

Zen and Buddhism only play a minor role in the book, which is misleading based on the title. While it covers the subjects in a broad sense, any practitioner [or practitioner to be] should take it with a grain of salt. It does not mention a lot about meditation or mindfulness, [though the argument can be made that he is talking about mindfulness in the philosophy of 'everything that happens is the best possible thing that can happen'].

It is also simply written, which can be either good or bad. I didn't mind it, but sometimes it took him some time to get to the point of what he was trying to say. He often spent more time sharing his personal stories than explaining his philosophy.

It's definitely more of a philosophy book mixed with a disjointed memoir than a How-To. Which to me, was fine.

I don't believe any 'How-To' book on Happiness is anything more than philosophy with some direction anyways.

I picked up this little book on a whim at my local bookstore in my search for spiritual enlightenment. I got more than what I bargained for! Simple, charming, common sense and straightforward (he even italicizes the really important stuff!). This little book was a very fast read, I have shared it with many friends and family members and it brought a breath of fresh air to my life!

I bought and read the paperback edition of this wonderful little book and have given it to many friends as gifts. This new hardcover edition is so beautiful and is a perfect gift for everyone on your list during this time of economic slowdown. Prentiss draws from the wisdom of east and west to show us that our "happiness" is a result of how we respond to events in our lives. He asks--"Have you ever had anything happen to you that seemed really bad at the time but later turned out to be beneficial--experiences where days, weeks, or even years later, you said, 'That was the best thing that could have happened to me!" He goes on to say that everyone he has ever posed that question to has been able to remember several events like that. This book is profound and will show you the keys to happiness. Enjoy!

A friend of mine recommended this book to be and I am glad
she did. A great read, filled with guidance. I believe
every one should read this book and I am sure it will touch
every one's heart the way it did mine.
The book explains to you what happiness is and how to live
a happy life. We go through a lot in our lives that we
kind of forget what happiness is so I guess we need to
rediscover it!!!

I agree with the reviewers who gave this only one star, it has almost nothing to do with Zen, but it does have a little to do with Buddhism. It is more of a self help book than anything else, but it does have a great message and some nice examples. If you are already studying Buddhism and Zen then this won't do you much good at all, but if you are just scratching the surface of it all, this won't hurt. Plus it's short.

I gave it four starts because it did open my eyes to ways to change my life and my attitude. It also introduced me to Buddhism.

I've read this book a couple of times now and recommended it to some who've also raved about it. I love how easy it is to read and follow and the stories are very inspiring. What a great read and can be done in a day-I love those kinds of books. This is one for your library for sure.

Happiness can be a fickle thing. It can be a snug, magnetic garment, attracting more and more of the same, or it can be an ill-fitting gossamer veil flitting here and there. It all depends on one's psychology, karma, and attitude. This wonderful little book shows that we can overcome the obstacles to happiness. It's for those who want and need change--in expectations, habits, and outlook. Chris Prentiss writes with a joie de vivre that obviously comes from experience. Use his practical wisdom to get in the habit of being happy--every day. Put this book by your bedside and the Zen of happiness can be yours." William House[...]

I have a large library of spiritual books, which I have scoured the world for and which I treasure. But recently, when I was trying to deal with a particularly difficult problem in my life (one I couldn't seem to "chant away", meditate beyond, or free myself from) I found this small book and it's teachings were phrased just the right way to finally give me some peace.

This book should in anyone's collection if they are truly spiritual and want to get the most out of life. It's a simple and quick read that you will refer to all the time . I read the book or parts of the book over 20 times and it only gets better.

Zen and the art of happiness..... this book will begin a new chapter in your life. Enlightened, peaceful, the here and now. You will learn how to let go of your past, and you will be given the blueprints to enter into the enlightened state of being in the present

"Happiness can be a fickle thing. It can be a snug, magnetic garment, attracting more and more of the same, or it can be an ill-fitting gossamer veil flitting here and there. It all depends on one's psychology, karma, and attitude. This wonderful little book shows that we can overcome the obstacles to happiness. It's for those who want and need change--in expectations, habits, and outlook. Chris Prentiss writes with a joie de vivre that obviously comes from experience. Use his practical wisdom to get in the habit of being happy--every day. Put this book by your bedside and the Zen of happiness can be yours." William House --[..]

Wow, what a mess, where do I begin? I was willing to give this book a shot, even after reading the crazy assumptions at the beginning, but eventually I couldn't deal with it anymore and had to write this review to warn others.

The book starts off with the not-so-preposterous claim that happiness is based on simply "being happy." Ok, you said it, now prove it. Nowhere in the book is this ever proved or even justified. The author centers his entire text on the assumption that by believing that "Every event that befalls me is absolutely the best possible event that could occur," it will be so. What? Why? The eventual "metaphysical" explanation for why this is because "all the laws of the Universe are in favor of the continuation of the Universe," and that since we are "one with the universe" (according to the author, enlightenment proves this), everything that ever happens to us favors our continuation within the universe. What a load of BS. Which laws are in favor of the continuation of the universe? I don't think the author has ever heard of, oh say, the Second Law of Thermodynamics which states that the quality of matter and energy in the universe is decaying over time, and that the logical conclusion is that universe is not eternal ([...]). It's only one of the most important laws we learn in high school chemistry. This is the author's flawed "Personal Philosophy;" that the sole reason that the universe continues to exist is because it designed to do so... and he expects us to adopt a similar belief system to feel better about the things that happen to us on a daily basis.

Then the book completely fell apart for me - the author explains how he got hit on the head with a rock, and tells how it "opened the channels" in his brain and helped him understand and translate the I Ching. He also mentions how his son was addicted to drugs, and devotes 3 pages to the tragedy but absolutely no explanation of how his son persevered through it all and changed his ways. Apparently he just magically did. He continues to blather on about how all religions are basically the same, that there is only one universal truth and includes various other tidbits of typical new-age drivel disguised as revolutionary and unique revelation. You've probably heard it all before if you have read any New-Age book.

A very important consideration before you buy: other than having a smattering of quotes from various Zen/Buddhist/Eastern monks, teachers and authors, "Zen and the Art of Happiness" has nothing to do with Zen. It barely even talks about meditation - the principle practice in Zen Buddhism. It devotes a whopping 3 pages to it. This book is not even about the psychology of positive thinking, because aside for a few vague references and endnotes, it provides no experimental evidence for any of its claims. This book is about the author's personal belief system, which is based on superficial understanding of Zen Buddhism, science and a very personal interpretation of Eastern religion - and a sense that somehow Eastern mysticism is better or more "true" than other thought systems because it is "ancient." These are all big fat warning signs that indicate you should stay away.

Although there are some thoughts here that I somewhat agree with, namely that positive thinking, simplicity and contentment with what we have generally make us "happier," I couldn't even give this book 2 stars because the author bases all of his argument on pseudoscience and his own blind assumptions of how the universe works. He erroneously asserts that we should consider all of our bad experiences as good experiences - merely re-labeling our thoughts and beliefs. Zen is about being mindful, understanding and escaping labels, both good and bad - not blindly changing one to the other based on the desire to be happy. It honestly sounds like the author is convinced of his own beliefs; however, that doesn't make this book or any of its baseless theories any more credible.

All in all, if you are looking for a good book on deluding yourself, look no further. If you know nearly anything about science, philosophy or Eastern thought, this little book will irritate you to no end. Instead, if you want a good book on actually understanding depression, happiness and Buddhism, I suggest you check out many fine books such as "Buddhism without Beliefs" by Stephen Bachelor or any of the writings by John Kabat-Zinn.

This book was recommended by my therapist. I couldn't imagine that it would tell me anything I didn't already know. However, the philosophy and the mind-set presented in this book has been life-changing for me. I have recommended the book to several friends, and they have each purchased copies to give to others. Well worth purchasing!

It should be in everyones life to come across, read, and thoroughly understand this little book. It packs so much truth and an outlook on life that can help anyone. The greatest happiness in life will come from having the small realizations that the book was right.

I purchased this book as I was begining treatment for Depression and even though it may have "nothing to do with zen", the message of the book does bring a zen-like peace when I read it. I would recomend this book to anyone going through tough times.

I liked the overall concept of the book. But Pax's issues/problems are a constant theme in the book. I understand the needs for examples, but at some point (at least to me) it became a self-fulling book that allowed the author to achieve happiness via his son's trails and tribulations. HOw does one make sense out of tragic death? I may have missed this part since after awhile I had to skim the book. I do wish you, your family well and I think that you are doing great work with passages, but please make it not about your issues. And truly understand the really meaning of Zen and now it just applies to you

I read the book, Zen And the Art of Happiness and it truly moved me. It is an illuminating book; reading it was an uplifting experience for me.

Prentiss has written about a difficult subject - understanding the meaning of life, including its inherent suffering - from an enlightened perspective. I have finished the book, but I still carry it with me and I plan to continue to do so as a reminder of the momentous power and significance it contains.

I recieved this book TODAY (Oct. 9, 2007), and I just read half of it. I have to tell you, these reviews are not lying to you. I have yet to finish, and yet to experience the way I feel afterwards, but I truly feel I've already changed, right down to the core, and for the better. I don't know if I have ever been this satisfied so fast with anything I've ever bought before. Most definitely recommended.

this a wonderful book for all ages and backgrounds. a great reminder for those already on the path and a gentle teaching for those just starting. after reading it myself i bought it for my 20 year old and highly recommend it to everyone. it is an enjoyable read, full of helpful information and insights. worth re-reading over and over again as a gentle reminder as to how to enjoy life fully.

This is the only book that I would recommend to every single person I know. We've all been told that our attitude affects everything in our lives. Chris Prentiss makes that adage come to life in an easy, accessible and very readable manner. I never tire of the wisdom of this great book!

I love this book! It's small, yet profound. One of the best books I've ever read and I read a lot! I've bought several more to give to others. If you are thinking about getting a copy - get one and then once you read it, you'll probably want to get more for your friends/family. I also recommend Thich Nhat Hanh's books- very very good.

Another superb book by Chris Prentiss! In a world that asks us to "overcome" on a daily basis, this little pocket-sized book can go along for the ride, giving strength to endure when needed. A real power boost for achieving a positive attitude!

I was looking forward to learning a bit about Zen, but this book fell short. There is not much substance here. Abraham Lincoln said: "Most folks are about as happy as they make up their minds to be". The author tries to make a similar point in the first part of the book. There is merit to his thinking, but the problem is that the discussion is not interesting or insightful. The writing quality is also not very good.

In another section the author discusses neurotransmitters, steroids and peptides. This should have been beyond the scope of this short book and is also beyond the author's expertise. Finally he also tries to promote his drug rehabilitation business and tout his successes which I do not believe is appropriate for authors to do in their books. Commercials should serve that purpose - not books that are sold. Skip this one and think about Lincoln's quote instead. It takes less time to read, it is to the point and free.

I read this zen book and it changed my life! A truly intense (and yet simple to read) book about how we can all find happiness. I am buying 100 copies and giving it to all my friends. If you liked "The Secret," this book will go even further into your quest for truth in the universe. Chris, you have drastically changed my perception of life, god and the universe we live in. You are amazing! Thanks for being such a positive force in a sea full of (seeming) chaos. -- Anne Marie

I've read many, many books on Zen and the way of happiness...but this one is the best I've ever read. And the beauty of it is that it makes it very simple, straight to the point, and tells you the way to achieve real happiness in life. I've recommended it to many people and still re-read it every few months. The simplicity of it is very powerful and it has the potential to really change one's own life.

I bought this book on impulse the night before a long trip. I read it through, then went back and re-read many sections. It dramatically changed my perspective on life and helped me become a more peaceful person.

This book is awful... it describes an illusion about "being happy" through IDEAS from someone is not really educated! FEELINGS were not even discussed! - all the "author" did was to SELL HIS OWN CLINIC in malibu, california!!! (not to mention only wealthy people could afford it!) and he's not even a psychologist or anything like it!
It is very disappointing to have people out there flippantly talking about ZEN when such a subject should be taking very seriously - even worse, people who think themselves as "help" and deal with REAL people with REAL issues... so dangerous.
In conclusion, 0 stars (had to put one star to be able to review it).
PS. Please read OSHO who truly focuses in the human being as a WHOLE.