Return to Joy is a compelling and potent invitation to the reader to consider that joy is the ultimate nature of reality and that its absence lies at the root of the current, unprecedented global crisis.

In this book, Andrew and Carolyn mine the mystical wisdom of the ages that places joy at the core of our existence and purpose as a species, moving forward to consider in depth the myriad enemies of joy in our time. As we tend the fires of joy, we celebrate its seven flames and nurture its ubiquitous presence whether in the background or the foreground of our lives.

Reviews

This book offers so much more than ideas about Joy… It is full of participatory knowledge or wisdom that literally opens up the reader’s heart to glimpses if not floods of Joy. What a timely antidote to the polarizing, joy depriving narrative our the current cultural climate!

Return to Joy challenges the myths and shadows that form the underpinnings of our flatline culture – one in which we neither touch the heights nor plumb the depths of which we are capable, but instead dose ourselves with ersatz excitement and addictive pursuit of a shallow form of happiness that resembles joy as formica resembles mahogany. Authors Andrew Harvey and Carolyn Baker offer journaling questions, tools and exercises to help us break out of this framework of delusion and in its place connect with authentic joy and authentic grief in lives of authentic service. A tremendous book…