Fear: Essential Wisdom for Getting Through the Storm [Hardcover]

Thich Nhat Hanh (Author)

Book Description

Release date: November 13, 2012

“Written in words so intimate, calm, kind, and immediate, this extraordinary book feels like a message from our very own heart….Thich Nhat Hanh is one of the most important voices of our time, and we have never needed to listen to him more than now.”
—Sogyal Rinpoche

Fear is destructive, a pervasive problem we all face. Vietnamese Buddhist Zen Master, poet, scholar,  peace activist, and one of the foremost spiritual leaders in the world—a gifted teacher who was once nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize by Martin Luther King Jr.—Thich Nhat Hanh has written a powerful and practical strategic guide to overcoming our debilitating uncertainties and personal terrors. The New York Times said Hanh, “ranks second only to the Dalai Lama” as the Buddhist leader with the most influence in the West. In Fear: Essential Wisdom for Getting through the Storm, Hanh explores the origins of our fears, illuminating a path to finding peace and freedom from anxiety and offering powerful tools to help us eradicate it from our lives

Editorial Reviews

Review

“Thich Nhat Hanh shows us that by looking deeply and embracing our whole experience with acceptance, love and understanding, we can go beyond fear and anxiety to find fearlessness and inner peace.” (Sogyal Rinpoche )

From the Back Cover

Without fear, we are able to see more clearly our connections to others. Without fear, we have more room for understanding and compassion. Without fear, we are truly free.
—from Fear

Most of us live in a constant state of fear—of our past, of illness and aging and death, and of losing the things we treasure most. But it doesn't have to be this way, promises Zen master and Buddhist monk Thich Nhat Hanh.

Drawing on a lifetime of mindfulness in action, Thich Nhat Hanh shows us how to use the practice of living in the present to acknowledge and embrace our fears, recognize their origins, and render them powerless. The world-renowned Zen teacher guides us through practical exercises for transforming fear into clarity. The worries of the past and the anxiety of the future disappear as we discover the power of the present moment. Not only are we are able to handle challenging emotions as they arise, but we can summon feelings of well-being and contentment, no matter what the unknown may bring.

Rooted in the moment, we have the capacity to restore balance and happiness and be present with what is beautiful and affirming inside us and around us, every day.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 176 pages
• Publisher: HarperOne; 1 edition (November 13, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0062004727
• ISBN-13: 978-0062004727
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.7 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (23 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #6,189 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #35 in Books > Health, Fitness & Dieting > Alternative Medicine > Meditation
  • #40 in Books > Politics & Social Sciences > Philosophy > Eastern > Buddhism
  • #55 in Books > Self-Help > Self-Esteem

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A brilliant introduction to Zen philosophy as a tool for finding balance in modern life. December 20, 2012

By Serge Hulne

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

Like all the books of Thich Nhat Hahn, this book introduces Zen philosophy and the Zen concept of mindfulness using a lot of metaphors easily understandable by the layman.

This book has a particular emphasis on the fight against modern plagues such as stress, anxiety, depression and fear.

Although written by a world famous Zen master, this book is not about religion in general or buddhism in particular.

It is about using the spiritual and moral practices of Zen philosophy to help one find balance, calm, happiness, joy by practicing mindfulness, compassion, respect, virtue and wisdom, in regular modern life.

Although deeply spiritual, his book does not contain any bigotry or proselytism.

It is a wonderful book who brought me a deep sense of serenity, inner piece, and joy.

It is a wonderful, happy, warm, optimistic book.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars I say: this book will surprise and amaze you. Read it!!! March 16, 2013

By lazybnes

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

I found this book very beautiful, very moving, and very helpful for dealing with my fearfulness. Actually, I felt so grateful to Thich Nhat Hunh while reading it, that I was in tears of gratitdude to him for writing this incredible book for all suffering human beings. My heart was filled with love for all in little crying screaming babies still suffering within me and was able to embrace them with love, instead of wanting to throw them out the window for not being able to grow up. I am 84 years old and up to now all this was frozen within me and I was afraid to go there; I will go further and say I was unable to go there -- nothing could make me go there. I can now begin to truly love all my inner babies and children and embrace them, as well as those of rest of us human beings. I then got inspired to read his book Reconciling with the Inner Child, which was even more inspiring and helpful. These books are truly gifts to the world from a great being.

8 of 10 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Another great book by Thich Naht Hanh December 26, 2012

By luis sanchez

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

I firstly became exposed to Thich Naht Hanh's writing over 10 years ago. Since then, I have enjoyed reading several of his books. Fear: Essential Wisdom for Getting Though the Storm is yet another valuable addition to scores of books on Buddhism and Mindfulness. The authors friendly and engaging style of writing, allows the reader to become fully immerse in concepts that are familiar yet not always fully explored in their consciousness. The real life examples and analogies and the frequent repetitiveness that is characteristic of Thich Naht Hanh's writing, make this book easy to understand and difficult to put down.
"Fear keeps us focused on the past or worried about the future. If we can acknowledge our fear, we can realize that right now we are okay. Right now, today, we are still alive, and our bodies are working marvelously. Our eyes can still see the beautiful sky. Our ears can still hear the voices of our loved ones."