At Home in the World: A Monk's Journey of Spiritual Discovery Through Stories and Essential Teachings

charley nesmith: I love him and have almost every book he’s ever written. I’m working on getting them all

United States on Apr 02, 2023

Hal: A wonderful read with lots of practical suggestions on how to improve your world. The challenge is putting them into daily use. First step is to be mindful and breathe. Repeat.

United States on Feb 06, 2022

Julia Hayden: This is a fascinating collection of stories from his life.

United Kingdom on Oct 26, 2021

Brian: Two words indicate my experience of this book: informative, peaceful. The informative aspect entailed learning more about the person and life of the author, after reading many of his books. Knowing more about Thay enhanced my appreciation for what he has written and spoken, for he has lived devotedly the Dharma (Teaching). Likewise, he has made the Dharma more assessible for persons of varied religions or no religion. He speaks both to the Buddhist and non-Buddhist, the vowed and the lay. I found these anecdotes to be solacing and encouraging, as Thay again leads us away from the complexity and abstractness of the thinking mind into the simplicity and down-to-earthness of the Buddha Mind... of nonconceptual wisdom. He guides us from the esotericism of much religious and spiritual thought to this moment-and-place, to home as who, or that, we are.

I recommend this work to persons who have read other of Thay's works, as this can enhance appreciation of his wisdom penned elsewhere. And, for persons who have not read any of his works, reading this first can provide a life-context better to appreciate his writings.

United States on Oct 19, 2021

Trevor Flaxman: An enjoyable series of teachings on all sorts of topic. Useful for day by day contemplation before or after one’s main practice. Recommended.

United Kingdom on Mar 17, 2021

Mediocre MillennialMediocre Millennial: I first came across this monk's work when I read about his breathing meditation exercise, which is super relaxing. Then I heard about this book because it was recommended by Alanis Morrisete. Very nice book and stories!

United States on Feb 28, 2021

rr: Come tutti i libri di Thich Nhat Hahn, è colmo di luminosa lievità e, al tempo stesso, profondo e toccante. In questo caso si tratta di momenti di vita narrati con gli occhi di chi è in grado di vedere la bellezza ovunque. Thich Nhat Hahn è un vero Maestro di pace, capace di insegnare con la vita.

Italy on May 18, 2019

Real Happy: Thich Nhat Hanh’s books have been a refuge for me for many years. I’m not sure how many of his books I’ve read so far, but it must be dozens at least. I still treasure his insights and coaching on how to embrace this human experience.

In this particular book, he shares personal experiences along with his thoughts on many of life’s challenges. I can’t say this strongly enough, but he just seems to talk to me.

On more than one occasion, Thich Nhat Hanh talks about meeting and working with Thomas Merton. I especially like the talk called Closing the Door, which talks about learning how to be mindful in all that we do. Thich Nhat Hanh told this story to Thomas Merton, and Thomas used that story and told that same story to fellow followers and monks that he was working with.

Thich Nhat Hanh also told a story about washing dishes and how being mindful and being in the moment changes the whole perception of how you feel about washing dishes. If one is not in the moment the task becomes uncomfortable, because their thinking about the past or the future and not experiencing the moment. I know I’m not sharing the true depth of this story, but I want to...

United States on Oct 31, 2018

T.Y.: Minutes into reading the book, I already had goose pimples from how simply yet profoundly it touched me. The war-related memoirs are particularly moving and prompted me to reflect deeply upon the decisions, behaviour and actions we so often take for granted. While this was never intended to be a step-by-step guide to mindfulness, engaging with the reading does precisely that - it encourages one to think deeply about everything we do. I will recommend this to anyone who is interested in mindfulness, Buddhism, or exploring the meaning of life.

United Kingdom on Oct 20, 2018

Sam Woodward: This touching book collects short anecdotes from Thich Naht Hahn's amazing life & ties them in with Buddhist teachings. I'm currently reading The Book Of Joy by the Dalai Lama & Archbishop Desmond Tutu which is similar to this because those peaceful, joy-filled men tell how their suffering was an important catalyst which enabled them to become the lively living examples of peace which they are now.

Thich Nhat Hanh grew up in Vietnam in poorer conditions than we are used to in the UK. Then he lived through the war before being exiled from his homeland in its aftermath. But there is no trace of self-pity - merely numerous examples of how keeping a mindful perspective enabled him to transmute the hard times into an unassailable serenity when others without his knowledge of mindfulness & experience of meditation would have been devoured by self-pity & despair.

This book is truly inspirational, showing how as it does that even a hard life can be infused with joy if we merely open up our hearts to it.

United Kingdom on Jan 31, 2017