Altruism, Matthieu Ricard
Altruism, Matthieu Ricard
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Altruism
The Power of Compassion to Change Yourself and the World

Author: Matthieu Ricard

Narrator: Dan Woren

Unabridged: 29 hr 46 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 06/02/2015


Synopsis

The author of the international bestseller Happiness makes a passionate case for altruism -- and why we need it now more than ever.

In Happiness, Matthieu Ricard demonstrated that true happiness is not tied to fleeting moments or sensations, but is an enduring state of soul rooted in mindfulness and compassion for others. Now he turns his lens from the personal to the global, with a rousing argument that altruism -- genuine concern for the well-being of others -- could be the saving grace of the 21st century. It is, he believes, the vital thread that can answer the main challenges of our time: the economy in the short term, life satisfaction in the mid-term, and environment in the long term.

Ricard's message has been taken up by major economists and thinkers, including Dennis Snower, Amartya Sen, Joseph Stiglitz, and George Soros. Matthieu Ricard makes a robust and passionate case for cultivating altruistic love and compassion as the best means for simultaneously benefitting ourselves and our society. It's a fresh outlook on an ardent struggle -- and one that just might make the world a better place.

About Matthieu Ricard

Matthieu Ricard received a PhD in molecular genetics from the Pasteur Institute in 1972 before departing his native France to study Buddhism in the Himalayas, eventually becoming a monk of the Shechen Tennyi Dargyeling Monastery in Nepal. Renowned also as a photographer and translator, he is the author of numerous books, including Altruism: The Power of Compassion to Change Yourself and Your World, Happiness: A Guide to Developing Life's Most Important Skill, and, with his father, the late Jean-Francois Revel, The Monk and the Philosopher: A Father and Son Discuss the Meaning of Life. He dedicates all the income of his work to two hundred humanitarian projects run in the Himalaya by the organization he founded, Karuna-Shechen.


Reviews

Goodreads review by Isabelle on April 22, 2014

Ma tante m'a donné ce livre à Noël et c'est l'un des rares livres qui m'a touchée au point de changer ma vie. Avant de le lire, j'aimais déjà le bouddhisme et ses valeurs de paix, de partage et de respect de la nature. Dans ce livre Matthieu Ricard explique pourquoi la générosité, aider les autres,......more

Goodreads review by Thomas on October 26, 2020

Somehow Aspirational, Down-to-Earth, Factual, Pulling-no-Punches, and Generally Enjoyable all at Once... I picked this book up with slight trepidation. I mean Altruism in general - I'm very for it! However I wasn't too sure what the angle was going to be, and just what was going to flesh out this rea......more

Goodreads review by Andy on February 02, 2017

Altruism would have been to make this book a lot shorter. As with all self-help, what matters is if it resonates. Maybe this is the book you need now, but it didn't do it for me. I felt it lost the forest for the trees. Be nice. OK. Nuff said. That doesn't really take 864 pages. I don't think the ce......more

Goodreads review by Lennie on September 08, 2018

I wanted to love this book. It started off strong but soon it started preaching to the converted. I'm sure there will be a lot of nodding heads from people who are already inclined to believe in Altruism and compassion, which I do. I could find nothing here that was going to change peoples behaviors o......more

Goodreads review by Sharon on March 15, 2016

There is a lot in this book, to like and/or dislike; if you are a devout meat eater, you may not wish to read this book. It gives insight into trying to be a better person, for yourself, your family and the planet. There are many hidden agendas that are brought to the forefront by companies, people,......more


Quotes

"Matthieu Ricard brings together ancient wisdom and scientific insights to put forth a truly compelling global vision for the 21st century, and his voice, his message and his wisdom are greatly needed."—Arianna Huffington

"Written with deep conviction and breathtaking scope, this is a must for anyone who wants to explore the human capacity for altruistic love and compassion, and the potential of this capacity to transform our lives. In conversation with Western philosophical and scientific perspectives, the book offers a Buddhist vision for extending altruism beyond its natural limits through carefully crafted meditation practices. The goal is, quite simply, to enable you and me, our society, and all sentient beings to experience less suffering and greater happiness. Could one desire more?"—Daniel Batson, author of Altruism in Humans

"Who better to tell us about altruism than a Buddhist monk and scientist, who has meditated so extensively on compassion that it has changed the left side of his brain? In a lively and personal account, Ricard takes us through the origins of empathy and altruism, explaining how biology laid the foundation, whereas culture and spirituality permit us to expand its reach."—Frans de Waal, author of The Age of Empathy