's Best of 2001
Anger can be one of the most frustrating emotions, carrying us headlong away from ourselves and depositing us into separation and dismay. Vietnamese monk and world teacher Thich Nhat Hanh tackles this most difficult of emotions in Anger. A master at putting complex ideas into simple, colorful packages, Nhat Hanh tells us that, fundamentally, to be angry is to suffer, and that it is our responsibility to alleviate our own suffering. The way to do this is not to fight our emotions or to "let it all out" but to transform ourselves through mindfulness. Emphasizing our basic interdependence, he teaches us how to help others through deep listening and how to water the positive seeds in those around us while starving the negative seeds. Serious though lighthearted, Anger is a handbook not only for transforming anger but for living each moment beautifully. --Brian Bruya

From Publishers Weekly
In an age of road rage, Americans would do well to cool down with prolific Buddhist monk Hanh (Living Buddha, Living Christ). There is plenty in this small volume worth skipping, such as Hanh's tedious call for "Healing the Wounded Child Within." And some of his advice is banal (e.g., if a husband is angry at his wife, he should tell her). But some of Hanh's suggestions cut refreshingly against the grain. He dissents, for example, from the popular therapeutic wisdom to "express our anger": when we beat a pillow to get rid of our feelings, he insists we are merely "rehearsing" our anger, not "reducing" it. Hanh reminds us that anger begins and ends with ourselves we may feel that we are mad at our wife or son, but really we are the direct objects of our rage. Hanh doesn't limit his task to discussing anger between families and friends; he also deals with anger among countries and between citizens and governments. That expansive vision is not surprising (Hanh, after all, is a Nobel Peace Prize nominee) but it is refreshing, lifting this book out of the self-absorbed self-help pile. Like Hanh's other books, this is not weighed down with Buddhist terminology. The appendices, which contain meditations designed to help release anger, give it the specifically Buddhist spice that some readers will appreciate. The meat of the book, however, will be accessible to a broad, ecumenical audience. Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal
"You cannot eat raw potatoes," charmingly states Nobel Peace Prize nominee and best-selling author Thich Nhat Hanh (Living Buddha, Living Christ). He then describes how the deep, compassionate "cooking" of anger can transform this emotion, allowing for greater personal and planetary peace. The Buddhist monk then addresses the causes of anger and suggests practical tools to embrace and heal it (e.g., 15-minute guided meditations and visualization exercises). Moreover, he teaches that the conscious, selective consumption of films, conversation, and food energizes us to become profound listeners, lessening the formation of habitual anger; he also asserts that, contrary to popular belief, physically venting anger is destructive in the long term because it "feeds the fire" and does not reach the roots of this emotion. To avoid possible misinterpretation of these teachings, the reader must first accept the idea that it is advantageous to become a deep listener in order to rescue a suffering person (a departure from 12-step thinking). Reminding us that small spiritual matters are really large spiritual matters, the author offers wisdom and serenity to comfort readers as they work through anger to a place of "being peace." Recommended for public libraries. Lisa Liquori, MLS, Syracuse, NY Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From AudioFile
A highly respected Buddhist holy man gives impressively down-to-earth advice on dealing with anger in relationships. Managing anger is a lifestyle choice, as all Buddhist practices are. Mainly it's the practice of compassionate listening, easing the suffering of anyone angry with you and knowing that our perceptions of wrongdoing toward us may be flawed. The author's symbols for communicating these dynamics are among the richest, most beautiful I've heard, and they will contribute much to helping the listener develop the patience and discipline to communicate respectfully. This strongly intuitive audio, read with great sensitivity, contains lessons that can be embraced by anyone open to considering them. T.W. © AudioFile 2002, Portland, Maine-- Copyright © AudioFile, Portland, Maine

Review
"Thich Nhat Hahn is a holy man, for he is humble and devout ... a scholar of immense intellectual capacity."--Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

FROM OUR EDITORS

Anger can slash through a friendship as quickly as a sword. Utilizing Buddhist teachings and his own personal experiences, Vietnamese monk Thich Nhat Hanh explains what anger is, and how we can anticipate and creatively defuse its painful eruptions. Buy two copies: one for yourself and one for a significant other.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

Anger. It can not only ruin our health and our spirits, but destroy lives as well. In this timely, compassionate, and important new book, the great spiritual teacher and author of Living Buddha, Living Christ provides real help for transforming the negative force of anger into a positive and useful energy, bringing harmony and healing to all aspects of our lives.

Author Biography: Thich Nhat Hanh, a rare combination of mystic, scholar, and activist, is a Vietnamese monk and one of the most beloved Buddhist teachers alive today. Poet, Zen Master, and chairman of the Vietnamese Buddhist Peace Delegation during the Vietnam War, he was nominated by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., for the Nobel Peace Prize. The author of more than one hundred books of poetry, fiction, and philosophy, including the bestselling Living Buddha, Living Christ, he teaches meditation around the world.

FROM THE CRITICS

Publishers Weekly

In an age of road rage, Americans would do well to cool down with prolific Buddhist monk Hanh (Living Buddha, Living Christ). There is plenty in this small volume worth skipping, such as Hanh's tedious call for "Healing the Wounded Child Within." And some of his advice is banal (e.g., if a husband is angry at his wife, he should tell her). But some of Hanh's suggestions cut refreshingly against the grain. He dissents, for example, from the popular therapeutic wisdom to "express our anger": when we beat a pillow to get rid of our feelings, he insists we are merely "rehearsing" our anger, not "reducing" it. Hanh reminds us that anger begins and ends with ourselves we may feel that we are mad at our wife or son, but really we are the direct objects of our rage. Hanh doesn't limit his task to discussing anger between families and friends; he also deals with anger among countries and between citizens and governments. That expansive vision is not surprising (Hanh, after all, is a Nobel Peace Prize nominee) but it is refreshing, lifting this book out of the self-absorbed self-help pile. Like Hanh's other books, this is not weighed down with Buddhist terminology. The appendices, which contain meditations designed to help release anger, give it the specifically Buddhist spice that some readers will appreciate. The meat of the book, however, will be accessible to a broad, ecumenical audience. (Sept.) Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.

Library Journal

"You cannot eat raw potatoes," charmingly states Nobel Peace Prize nominee and best-selling author Thich Nhat Hanh (Living Buddha, Living Christ). He then describes how the deep, compassionate "cooking" of anger can transform this emotion, allowing for greater personal and planetary peace. The Buddhist monk then addresses the causes of anger and suggests practical tools to embrace and heal it (e.g., 15-minute guided meditations and visualization exercises). Moreover, he teaches that the conscious, selective consumption of films, conversation, and food energizes us to become profound listeners, lessening the formation of habitual anger; he also asserts that, contrary to popular belief, physically venting anger is destructive in the long term because it "feeds the fire" and does not reach the roots of this emotion. To avoid possible misinterpretation of these teachings, the reader must first accept the idea that it is advantageous to become a deep listener in order to rescue a suffering person (a departure from 12-step thinking). Reminding us that small spiritual matters are really large spiritual matters, the author offers wisdom and serenity to comfort readers as they work through anger to a place of "being peace." Recommended for public libraries. Lisa Liquori, MLS, Syracuse, NY Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.

AudioFile