nerdyrev's review
4.0
Here's the thing, if you have read any of Hanh's books, you have pretty much read them all. He teaches the same few lessons in different and new ways. This book focuses on suffering and the need to move through suffering, rather than avoiding it. How mindfulness, letting go, simplicity, etc. Basic Hanh teachings in each of his books. This doesn't make it a bad book, in fact it is a very good book because it is important to keep coming back to his teachings as one is reminded to come back to one's breath. As long as you are not doing a marathon read of all his books in a row, this one deserves space on your shelf, but it isn't new teaching, but simply new stories. Good stuff.
marlooney's review
3.0
"The art of happiness is also the art of suffering well"
Accepting suffering as an integral part of life is a life long endeavour. This book made me more aware of the importance of improving the way I deal with my suffering.
To stop, to rest, to reflect, to share and to move on.
Even though no part of this really affected me deeply, I still enjoyed it to a certain degree after a stressfull day or reading this with a busy mind because it felt like a meditation on its own.
Accepting suffering as an integral part of life is a life long endeavour. This book made me more aware of the importance of improving the way I deal with my suffering.
To stop, to rest, to reflect, to share and to move on.
Even though no part of this really affected me deeply, I still enjoyed it to a certain degree after a stressfull day or reading this with a busy mind because it felt like a meditation on its own.
kemunto's review
3.0
I appreciate that Hanh wrote so simply and beautifully, and there’s something to be said about his encouragement to treat pain and suffering like a crying baby; just hold it and listen to it. This is a great book to learn about mindfulness, and how to apply it to your day to day life. I think this is a wonderful book too, for anyone who’s curious about some tales of the buddha.
3.5
3.5
oneskyolder's review
4.0
great book to pick up if you’d like a short and simple introduction to mindfulness, meditation, and moving through suffering!
sanmeow's review
medium-paced
2.5
some good advice, especially if you're super into mindfulness. i appreciated the writing style, it's very simple and easy to read which is important for a book like this. i didn't learn much new stuff, though. that doesn't make the book objectively worse, i just personally enjoyed it less. mindfulness also isn't a technique that typically helps me, so yknow.
amgee017's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
4.0
wandereaderr's review
3.0
A very informative read!
As someone who is constantly thinking about 8,000 different things at once, NO MUD, NO LOTUS really helped to remind me to slow down and to find joy in life’s simpler pleasures. I think mindfulness is a great technique to free yourself from suffering.
I do wish, though, that self help books would be a little more real and let people know that sometimes a situation is just BAD. And there’s no other way of looking at it. It’s just not letting yourself get consumed by it, which is what mindfulness is. But the way we teach people to find joy in other places just feels like you’re ignoring the problem. Acknowledging a bad situation can be very beneficial!
This was a very helpful read for me!
As someone who is constantly thinking about 8,000 different things at once, NO MUD, NO LOTUS really helped to remind me to slow down and to find joy in life’s simpler pleasures. I think mindfulness is a great technique to free yourself from suffering.
I do wish, though, that self help books would be a little more real and let people know that sometimes a situation is just BAD. And there’s no other way of looking at it. It’s just not letting yourself get consumed by it, which is what mindfulness is. But the way we teach people to find joy in other places just feels like you’re ignoring the problem. Acknowledging a bad situation can be very beneficial!
This was a very helpful read for me!