We all face adversity, both man-made and natural. How do we survive the loss of a loved one, a betrayal, illness, even impending death, and still find meaning in our lives? Even a "normal" life can seem empty, in spite of material possessions, success, power, and pleasure. In our search for fulfillment and meaning, we work through our past and present conflicts, cuddle our inner child, and redesign our outer adult. We attend workshops on life and secular spirituality and explore the comforts of traditional religion. We get married and divorced, experiment with drugs and alcohol, change jobs. And while our restlessness and unease may abate temporarily, the hollow feeling that there is something missing always returns. In his profound and accessible work, The Art of Serenity: The Path to a Joyful Life in the Best and Worst of Times, Dr. T. Byram Karasu offers us the key to an extraordinary state of mind -- authentic, soulful happiness -- in the face of everything our life has to offer and take away. The door to this state of mind is opened by a combination of soul and spirit. It involves the soul through the love of others, love of work, and the love of community. It involves the spirit through belief in the sacred and belief in transformation. It culminates in the love of and belief in God. Brilliantly synthesizing psychology and spirituality, Dr. Karasu will guide you to explore the deepest yearnings of your heart. There is no end to the journey to real happiness; there is no best place to start or best time to begin. So where and when to start? Start here, where you are, and start now. No matter how many self-help books we read, workshops we attend, spiritual endeavors we pursue; no matter how often we cuddle our inner child or redesign our outer adult, many people keep returning to a gnawing angst and vague unhappiness, according to T. Byram Karasu, author of The Art of Serenity . One of the problems is that many of us define happiness in paradisiacal, childish terms, causing us to feel like we're missing out. "Happiness in adulthood, however, requires realism, reciprocity, and coming to terms with one's mortality," he writes. And, of course, it requires us to cultivate the art of serenity. Like M. Scott Peck, author of The Road Less Traveled , Karasu brings a psychological background to the area of spiritual growth. (Karasu is the chair of the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, as well as the editor in chief of the American Journal of Psychotherapy .) Sometimes blending spirituality and psychology muddies the waters, but Karasu has a solid understanding of how the two worlds intersect and has created an outstanding and completely accessible guide to lasting inner happiness. The door of joyful serenity can only be opened by a "combination key involving both soul and spirit," he explains. And it all culminates in the love of God. Using real-life cases from his psychotherapy practice, Karasu illustrates how the principles of soul work and spirit work are applied to daily lives. From lovers' jealousy to workplace angst, from friendships to solitude, Karasu offers original, lasting advice and insights. Read this one and put it on your shelf by your other spiritual classics--it's sure to be a lifetime companion. --Gail Hudson Thomas Moore author of Care of the Soul and Original Self A solid, insightful book that should help anyone who reads it sort through the ordinary trials of a life. But it is especially valuable for offering rich ideas, so often lacking, on the role of spirituality. I recommend this book for its clarity and good insights. Deepak Chopra author of Grow Younger, Live Longer A bold and brilliant new book that seeks -- and finds! Dr. Karasu's illuminating journey begins in the search for the lost paradise we all yearn for. And he helps us to ultimately discover it in love and belief beyond ourselves. What a brave odyssey toward enlighten- ment -- a must for everyone who yearns for happiness! Leon Botstein president, Bard College T. Byram Karasu brings an acute understanding of contemporary life in America and a rare sensitivity to the complex issues of theology to bear on the individual search for meaning and contentment. This book will edify, challenge, and perhaps infuriate its readers, precisely because it is a courageous foray into the central question that each of us faces. Larry King Dr. Byram Karasu's latest work is his best work yet. This is a wonderful primer toward the answers to many psychological, social, and spiritual needs and issues. Highly recommended for anyone interested in being better tomorrow than...today. Howard C. Cutler, M.D., coauthor with His Holiness the Dalai Lama of The Art of Happiness How can we find a life of genuine happiness and fulfillment, a life of joyful serenity? How can we incorporate a spiritual dimension in our everyday lives? In this brilliantly written work, Dr. T. Byram Ka