No Mud, No Lotus -Thich Nhat Hanh

by | Mar 6, 2019 | Book Reviews

Book Info:

No Mud, No Lotus: The Art of Transforming Suffering, by Thich Nhat Hanh. Available as eBook or paperback (128 pages).

“The main affliction of our modern civilization is that we don’t know how to handle the suffering inside us and we try to cover it up with all kinds of consumption.”

Summary:

Most people don’t like to be with pain or suffering – especially not their own. We may talk about topics such as grief, sorrow, and pain, but it is rare that a book will help us learn to first sit with the suffering and understand it – and then even transform it. Often meditation books address the positive feelings and benefits that come from a meditative practice. These books may also address philosophy. But few books so specifically guide the reader to find the peace, beauty, and transformation through sitting with our pain, sorrow, and fear. A wonderful introduction to understanding our difficult emotions, it also helps us understand our selves better in the process.

Things to Know:

  • Written in Thich Nhat Hanh’s signature gentle style, this book has many deep concepts that are written in an understandable way.
  • This books explores difficult human emotions and experiences. While it is powerful, at its core, this book is an introduction. If implemented, this book will guide the reader to sit with, understand, and transform emotions and feelings the reader may not have known how to explore in the past.
  • If you are looking for a deep exploration of sorrow, transformation, and meditation, this is a good starting point. Other books you may be interested in are: Radical Acceptance, and Solve for Happy.

The Bottom Line:

This book will help the reader release past grievances and work through sorrow. Self discovery and healing await those who practice the exercises and teachings in this book.

The Verdict:

Check out more of our “short and sweet” book reviews HERE.

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The Anatomy of Peace- The Arbinger Institute

by | Mar 4, 2019 | Book Reviews

Book Info:

The Anatomy of Peace – Resolving the Heart of Conflict by The Arbinger Institute. Available as eBook, paperback (288 pages), or audiobook (6 hours, 5 minutes).

“Difficult people are nevertheless people, and it always remains in my power to see them that way.”

Summary:

The Anatomy of Peace demonstrates how to have a heart at peace even in times of war (literally or figuratively) through a fictional story about struggling parents and teenagers. As their teenagers set out on a two month long wilderness survival program- essentially a last-chance behavior modification program, a group of parents with very different backgrounds take part in a two day workshop to understand the things their children will be taught. The discussion tackles weighty subjects such as parent- child relationships, marriage relationships, racial strife, workplace culture, and gender issues.

Things to know:

  • I enjoyed the story format for teaching pretty deep concepts.
  • This book doesn’t have a gripping plotline, but it is still engaging because you are able to turn the lessons inward and experience a paradigm shift about the way you see the world.
  • The book gives the reader a tangible understanding of how to “be the change”- however that manifests in your life.
  • There are several diagrams and drawings in the book that might be harder to conceptualize if you are listening to the audiobook. However, the diagrams are available as a free download on The Arbinger Institute’s website.

The Bottom Line:

The Anatomy of Peace would be helpful for anyone experiencing conflict in relationships (and who doesn’t, at times?). The story is relevant for families, the workplace, politics, and societal issues.

The Verdict:

Check out more of our “short and sweet” book reviews HERE.

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links that earn us a small commission, at no additional cost to you if you purchase using our link.