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translator_monkey's review against another edition
4.0
I love reading Thich Nhat Hanh and have read everything of his that I can get my hands on. A lot of this rings very familiar, it's once again Thay's interpretation of bits of the Diamond Sutra for contemporary readers to easily digest, and applied against the backdrop of putting forward an effort to salvage what we can of an already dying planet. Poignant, powerful, and 100% worth your time.
I have an issue, however. Most of the book does not carry Thay's written "voice." In almost every other book I've read of Thay's, his voice is distinctive, peaceful, gentle, and direct. This time around, I was left with the feeling that I was reading more of the translator than the author, or perhaps that Thay's previous writings have been slightly adjusted to match the topic material. It also made me call into question Thay's physical ability to write a book right now, years after the massive stroke that's mostly taken him out of the limelight. I even came to question whether or not this could be a crass move on the part of Plum Village leadership to wring out one last book from their most famous teacher. I'm not suggesting this is the case, but the writing style was so starkly different that my mind started wandering off the topic on paper.
Having said all that, I found the book to be as engaging as it needed to be, and would wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone with an interest in Buddhism.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the privilege of a complimentary ARC. This impacted neither my review nor rating.
I have an issue, however. Most of the book does not carry Thay's written "voice." In almost every other book I've read of Thay's, his voice is distinctive, peaceful, gentle, and direct. This time around, I was left with the feeling that I was reading more of the translator than the author, or perhaps that Thay's previous writings have been slightly adjusted to match the topic material. It also made me call into question Thay's physical ability to write a book right now, years after the massive stroke that's mostly taken him out of the limelight. I even came to question whether or not this could be a crass move on the part of Plum Village leadership to wring out one last book from their most famous teacher. I'm not suggesting this is the case, but the writing style was so starkly different that my mind started wandering off the topic on paper.
Having said all that, I found the book to be as engaging as it needed to be, and would wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone with an interest in Buddhism.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the privilege of a complimentary ARC. This impacted neither my review nor rating.
sarahmaria147's review against another edition
4.0
Really great lessons and thought provoking ideas. The switching perspectives took a minute to get used to and felt a little choppy at times. Definitely got me thinking!
takarakeireads's review against another edition
reflective
medium-paced
3.5
As someone who hasn't done a ton of reading on Buddhism, but has some general knowledge I felt like this book was a fairly good introduction to some concepts. They're applied to a perspective of using techniques like breath in certain situations as an activist that can be distressing (as an example). A lot of his personal anecdotes from Vietnam give context for the life Thay lived practicing these concepts in reality.
I'm not sure quite what I was expecting but I was thought I would be a bit more inspired/motivated/etc or maybe to just have a little more depth? There's definitely some quotes here or there that I could come back to. I think it could've leaned a lot more into the 'saving the planet' part I suppose.
I'm not sure quite what I was expecting but I was thought I would be a bit more inspired/motivated/etc or maybe to just have a little more depth? There's definitely some quotes here or there that I could come back to. I think it could've leaned a lot more into the 'saving the planet' part I suppose.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence and War
Minor: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Mental illness, Racism, and Colonisation
dmcnpsu's review against another edition
5.0
A thoughtful, nuanced, achievable path of action for addressing personal and global goals. Three of many important thoughts I will take away from this book…
“Once there is seeing, there must be acting. Otherwise, what's the use of seeing?"
― Thich Nhat Hanh, Zen and the Art of Saving the Planet
“We train to encounter ourselves with gentleness and without judging or reacting. We don't sit to be a buddha, to be someone else, someone better, or someone different. We just sit to be ourselves, sitting.”
― Thich Nhat Hanh, Zen and the Art of Saving the Planet
“The concept Thay is proposing here is relatively simple: to begin to see everything we read, watch, and listen to as food. The tricky part is then transforming our habits, which are also the habits of our culture, ancestors, and civilization. Mindfulness gives us a chance to be vigilant and alert and to feel how our body and mind are responding to the input. How do we feel while scrolling, and how do we feel after? How do we feel about the films or series
we're watching, especially once we switch it off? What's the imprint? Has it triggered tension, fear, agitation, and loneliness? Or joy, fulfillment, connection, and understanding?”
― Thich Nhat Hanh, Zen and the Art of Saving the Planet
“Once there is seeing, there must be acting. Otherwise, what's the use of seeing?"
― Thich Nhat Hanh, Zen and the Art of Saving the Planet
“We train to encounter ourselves with gentleness and without judging or reacting. We don't sit to be a buddha, to be someone else, someone better, or someone different. We just sit to be ourselves, sitting.”
― Thich Nhat Hanh, Zen and the Art of Saving the Planet
“The concept Thay is proposing here is relatively simple: to begin to see everything we read, watch, and listen to as food. The tricky part is then transforming our habits, which are also the habits of our culture, ancestors, and civilization. Mindfulness gives us a chance to be vigilant and alert and to feel how our body and mind are responding to the input. How do we feel while scrolling, and how do we feel after? How do we feel about the films or series
we're watching, especially once we switch it off? What's the imprint? Has it triggered tension, fear, agitation, and loneliness? Or joy, fulfillment, connection, and understanding?”
― Thich Nhat Hanh, Zen and the Art of Saving the Planet
andersene's review against another edition
5.0
How fitting that his last book before he died was a book of how we come together to save the planet.
kittybetty's review against another edition
5.0
Hanh's writings relevant to conservation and climate action are compiled here and connected with commentaries by True Dedication. Maybe not as cohesive and concise as the books he wrote on his own, this has the advantage of an additional viewpoint, in Dedication's reflections and recollections as Hahn's student and former assistant. That gives a little behind-the-scenes feel to the book, and a charming view of the teacher as one of those close to him saw him.
Read for the audio edition by True Dedication herself in her own sections of the writing, with Edoardo Ballerini narrating the writings of Hahn, the audiobook also includes a bonus which, due to inferior sound quality, isn't easy to listen to, but it's a treat--hearing Hanh's own voice. For the main body of the book, Ballerini's narration, clearly recorded, provides a smooth and gentle voice for the gentle words of the Zen master, and TD's voice is likewise clear and engaging.
Sorry my review is going around and around its points. That's kinda how I felt reading the book. It wrote around and around the title point, and halfway through I felt a little frustrated. Was the Art of Saving the Planet going to amount to indulging oneself in serene moments while the suffering elsewhere escalates? But those serene moments build, to the ability to act when action is needed, to teach and lead where that's appropriate, and to build community that transcends opinion or division and might in fact help save the planet. And anyway it's not a science. It's an art.
Read for the audio edition by True Dedication herself in her own sections of the writing, with Edoardo Ballerini narrating the writings of Hahn, the audiobook also includes a bonus which, due to inferior sound quality, isn't easy to listen to, but it's a treat--hearing Hanh's own voice. For the main body of the book, Ballerini's narration, clearly recorded, provides a smooth and gentle voice for the gentle words of the Zen master, and TD's voice is likewise clear and engaging.
Sorry my review is going around and around its points. That's kinda how I felt reading the book. It wrote around and around the title point, and halfway through I felt a little frustrated. Was the Art of Saving the Planet going to amount to indulging oneself in serene moments while the suffering elsewhere escalates? But those serene moments build, to the ability to act when action is needed, to teach and lead where that's appropriate, and to build community that transcends opinion or division and might in fact help save the planet. And anyway it's not a science. It's an art.
brittnilurvesberks's review against another edition
4.0
A love letter to mindfulness as path. I hope I will remember to keep coming back to this book and revisit the mindfulness trainings within.
selmavh's review against another edition
5.0
Beautiful.
I hadn’t expected the recordings of Thay himself at the end of the audiobook, and was surprised at my emotion to hear him speak. He was a Light in this world.
I hadn’t expected the recordings of Thay himself at the end of the audiobook, and was surprised at my emotion to hear him speak. He was a Light in this world.
jennyjjs's review against another edition
5.0
I really enjoy Thich Nhat Hanh books and I was interested in how this was going to be as it was his final book before he passed away. An amazing and beautiful culmination of his teachings. This book is written by him, Sister Chan Khong and excerpts by Sister True Dedication. It was absolutely beautiful! I listened to it and now I'm going to go back and read the hard copy.