The Nature of Joy

The Author Presents An Original Theory Of The Dynamics Of Joy Its Importance As A Brief Connectedness With The World And As A Glimpse Of The Mystical. He 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 And Other Life Experiences Both Personal And Professional 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.