The Book of Joy is the result of a seven-day meeting between the Dalai Lama and Desmond Tutu, two of the world's most influential spiritual leaders, during which they discussed one of life's most important questions: how do we find joy despite suffering?

In 2015, Desmond Tutu, a former South African Archbishop and anti-apartheid pioneer, traveled to Dharamsala, India.

He met with the Dalai Lama, who was celebrating his 80th birthday at the time.

Both have fought non-violently against oppression in their countries for over 50 years while leading millions of people in their spiritual journeys.

Hence, they took this special occasion as a chance to sit down together and evaluate one of life's most important questions: how do we find joy in the face of suffering?

Tutu stayed for seven days, during which he and the Dalai Lama intensely discussed this issue.

Douglas Abrams, Tutu's long-time co-writer and editor, documented the conversation so that their answers would be available to the rest of the world in the form of a book – The Book of Joy.