Book excerpt: This book is a guide for discovering joy, the simple pleasure of living each day. I am a psychotherapist, with an office in New York City. As I work with patients and listen to their stories, I search for themes that define the human condition. These themes have melded into a philosophy centered upon living with joy... No book can substitute for the process of psychotherapy. But I hope these ideas will introduce you to the work of selfdiscovery at the heart of that experience. -from the introduction to Life is a Brief Opportunity for Joy