The Nature of Joy

About the Book

An original theory of the dynamics of joy, its importance as a brief connectedness with the world and as a glimpse of the mystical. The author describes, in clear and comprehensible language, the sequence of changes our mind and body undergoes in experiencing joy. He defines his terms and details a process whereby focused attentiveness to a stimulus produces a "softening," or receptiveness, of the body, thus enabling absorption of the stimulus for a complete mind-body experience. Because this process engages the whole organism, joy is powerfully felt and long remembered. Woven through this exploration are personal examples and some exercises that provide the reader practical guidance. Dr. Platt has had vivid moments of joy; and in reading what other authors have written of similar experiences he concludes joy is potentially available to all. The Nature of Joy is richly enhanced with excerpts from writers including Emily Dickinson, E. B. White, Henry D. Thoreau, Mark Twain, Marcel Proust, C. S. Lewis, Annie Dillard, Samuel Johnson and others. Building upon this literature, as well as years of meditation and study of Eastern philosophy and religion, Dr. Platt presents a compelling look into the nature of joy. His ideas are stimulating and inspiring—especially when he envisions how the process that leads to joy also leads us to a greater connectedness with our world. "Dr. Platt has taken one of the mistiest, wispiest subjects imaginable—the nature of joy—and he has done a remarkable thing with it. He has made it clear without explaining away its mystery. His language is simple while implying a feeling of awe. His treatment is analytical without failing to be personal at the same time. His tone is enthusiastic but not missionary. And, perhaps best of all, he does not consider joy to be a cure for anything, just a fundamental fact of experience that is to be valued for its own fleeting sake in a world of necessary distractions—and so much the better if it spills over into everything else once in a while to make it all shine." – Jacques Jimenez, Ed. D., Founding Partner, Communication Patterns, Inc.

About the Author

"Dr. Platt has taken one of the mistiest, wispiest subjects imaginable—the nature of joy—and he has done a remarkable thing with it. He has made it clear without explaining away its mystery. His language is simple while implying a feeling of awe. His treatment is analytical without failing to be personal at the same time. His tone is enthusiastic but not missionary. And, perhaps best of all, he does not consider joy to be a cure for anything, just a fundamental fact of experience that is to be valued for its own fleeting sake in a world of necessary distractions—and so much the better if it spills over into everything else once in a while to make it all shine." Jacques Jimenez, Ed. D. Founding Partner, Communication Patterns, Inc.