The Art of Power [Hardcover]

Thich Nhat Hanh (Author)

Book Description

Release date: August 14, 2007

"Power is good for one thing only: to increase our happiness and the happiness of others. Being peaceful and happy is the most important thing in our lives and yet most of the time we suffer, we run after our cravings, we look to the past or the future for our happiness."

Turning our conventional understanding of power on its head, world-renowned Zen master, spiritual leader, and national bestselling author Thich Nhat Hanh reveals how true power comes from within. What we seek, we already have. Whether we want it or not, power remains one of the central issues in all of our lives. Every day, each of us exercises power in many ways, and our every act subtly affects the world we live in. This struggle for control and authority permeates every aspect of our private and public lives, preventing us from attaining true happiness. The me-first mentality in our culture seeps unnoticed into our decisions and choices. Our bottom-line approach to getting ahead may be most visible in the business world, but the stress, fear, and anxiety it causes are being felt by people in all walks of life.

With colorful anecdotes, precise language, and concrete practices, Thich Nhat Hanh illustrates how the current understanding of power leads us on a never-ending search for external markers like job title or salary. The Art of Power boldly challenges our assumptions and teaches each of us how to access the true power that is within our grasp.

Editorial Reviews

Review

“The Art of Power is a bold and visionary work that reframes power, ambition, success, happiness, love, and peace.” (Spirituality & Practice)

“Among Buddhist leaders influential in the West, Thich Nhat Hanh ranks second only to the Dalai Lama.” (New York Times)

About the Author

Thich Nhat Hanh is a Vietnamese Buddhist Zen Master, poet, scholar, and peace activist who was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. He is the author of many books, including the classics Peace Is Every Step and The Art of Power. Hanh lives in Plum Village, his meditation center in France, and leads retreats worldwide on the art of mindful living.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 240 pages
• Publisher: HarperOne; First Edition edition (August 14, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0061242349
• ISBN-13: 978-0061242342
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.8 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (33 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #215,478 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Thich Nhat Hanh is a Vietnamese monk, a renowned Zen master, a poet, and a peace activist. He was nominated for the Nobel Prize by Martin Luther King, Jr., in 1967, and is the author of many books, including the best-selling The Miracle of Mindfulness.

Amazon Author Rankbeta 

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#25 in Books > Religion & Spirituality

#48 in Books > Self-Help

#54 in Kindle eBooks > Religion & Spirituality

#94 in Books > Health, Fitness & Dieting

#25 in Books > Religion & Spirituality

#48 in Books > Self-Help

#54 in Kindle eBooks > Religion & Spirituality

#94 in Books > Health, Fitness & Dieting

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

81 of 87 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars The Art of Elevating Humanity August 26, 2007

By Layli Maparyan

Format:Hardcover

As humanity evolves, so must power evolve. In The Art of Power, the eminent Thich Nhat Hanh presents us with a radically new vision of power for the coming age. True power, he declares, is spiritual. While the idea of spiritual power is profoundly simple, we live in an age where power is still understood as violent and dominating and spirituality is often conflated with religion and dogma. As human institutions - both institutional and interpersonal - disintegrate and decay all around us based on these outmoded and dysfunctional definitions, we are beginning to ask ourselves, "What next??" In simple, accessible, and sensitive language suitable for a wide range of readers, Thich Nhat Hanh answers this question.

Bringing his well-known "engaged Buddhism" to bear upon problems of contemporary society - from relationships, sex, and family, to business, politics, and the environment - he offers simple, straightforward practices for transforming the energy of power in real-life situations. In addition to explaining the Four Noble Truths in plain language, he presents the Five Spiritual Powers, the Five Mindfulness Teachings, and ten concrete practices to strengthen power and spiritual energy. In lively and unpretentious prose, he masterfully interweaves Zen philosophy and stories from the life of Buddha (as well as some of Buddha's lesser-known associates) with examples from his own life and the lives of others with whom he has worked in recent years. We observe how, paradoxically, impermanence, nonself, interbeing, and mindfulness form the foundation of the very peace, happiness, freedom, and prosperity we all seek on individual and collective levels.... Thus, ancient wisdom finds contemporary relevance for everyone, from housewives (and househusbands) to corporate visionaries and heads of state.

People who enjoy this book might also be intrigued by Power vs. Force: The Hidden Determinants of Human Behavior by David R. Hawkins and The Integral Management of Tao by Stephen P. Chang, as well as Manual for a Perfect Government by John Hagelin and Guide to the Bodhisattva's Way of Life by Shantideva. Westerners of a Buddhist persuasion will also be inclined to look for the "Sutra on the White-clad Disciple," which addresses laypersons and householders seeking greater meaning from life, after reading The Art of Power.

Thich Nhat Hanh is quietly one of the most powerful people on Earth today. He walks gently, intently, lovingly, and consciously in every step. He models the power of which he speaks. With this book, all can follow in his footsteps and tread a similar path. To quote him (p. 163): "Everyone can participate in the work of awakening, helping enlightenment to be born in society. Awakening is your task. By skillful means, you can contribute greatly to the collective awakening that is the foundation of all change." With The Art of Power, we have in our hands a much-needed guidebook and manual for this very awakening. Thank you, Thuy. Read more ›

31 of 33 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars The Real Power....The Real Happiness August 20, 2007

By Dominick Hiddo-perry

Format:Hardcover

Thich has done it again!!! This book truly shows how one should make the neccessary steps to harness REAL power and REAL happiness. The message he sends for us is that happiness stems from within. However, humans tend to turn to external factors such as wealth, fame, power and sex as a means to drive our happiness; we use these as goals and say "...when I acheive these things, I will be happy." Through this book, Thich shows us that these external factors mean absolutely nothing if one cannot find happiness within himself / herself. This book is an essential! The whole "Finding Happiness within yourself" may sound like a cliche, but the writing style and succinct experiences provided by Thich this one of the most interesting, motivating and inspiring reads of 2007!! Enjoy!

26 of 31 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Illuminates the heart and the mind August 25, 2007

By Michael P. Maslanka

Format:Hardcover

Now in his early 80s, Hanh continues to write at a prodigious pace. We are blessed to have his latest. He does a riff on earlier ideas---interbeing(all is interconnected and we must be mindful of this central truth); the fundamental nature of karma(the harm you do to others comes back and harms you); impermenace(we are impermenant beings experiencing things that are impermanent). But he vears off in a new direction, applying these ideas to the workplace( the job title is just a form;don't lock onto the form which will change), to business(great chapter in an appendix by the founder of Patagonia) and to the development of a collective awakening from which the power to change the hearts of people and of goverments will come but only from patient listening and understanding why others believe as they do and changing their "wrong perceptions."(He includes a copy of his hand written letter to President Bush as an example). As always, the writing is simple and clear and harder to do than it looks. Although as persuasive as the writing is, I quite can't embrace the Fifth Mindfulness training about food and booze(that third martini at a steak dinner has too strong a pull).

22 of 27 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars audiobook is NOT read by thich nhat hanh October 5, 2007

By enrosque

Format:Audio CD

be aware that the audio-version is NOT read by thich nhat hanh, which detracts greatly from it. if you are familiar with thich nhat hanh's voice, and are used his narrations, then this version is almost impossible to listen to. it is a very commercial, slick reading and the narrator's treatment of the book is completely void of the pacing, presence, and attention to words with which thich nhat hanh speaks. it is the narrator's responsibility to find out whose words he is speaking and i can only guess that he has never actually listened to thich nhat hanh. it is a shame that the preciousness and depth of thich nhat hanh voice is totally lost in this audiobook. quite frankly, it sounds as if the narrator is not even aware of the message that he is delivering. do not waste your money on the audiobook. rather, buy the book. i don't want to bring down the rating of the book itself, but the reading really deserves one star.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Pragmatic inner peace March 28, 2009

By G. Nguyen

Format:Paperback

I purchased this book about 5 months ago when it called to me from a bookshelf. I just finished reading it, and what a great read.

Thich Nhat Hanh is able to speak from a spiritual perspective in every day language with pragmatic examples. The intermingling of traditional Zen Buddhist stories with everyday situations provides a great medium to understanding the power in stillness and acceptance.

I have unknowningly been applying the concepts in my life over the past few months and reading this again reiterated that I have finally stumbled upon the correct path to happiness and inner peace. The beauty of all this is with that happiness and inner peace comes great power, and by that, I mean it has empowered me to succeed and accomplish more than I could have ever imagined by "trying and putting my head down and trying to power through something".

Want to reduce the stress in your life and regain control of deep spiraling fear? Read this book.