Anger: Wisdom for Cooling the Flames

Author: Nhat Hanh, Thich Nhat Hanh
List Price: $13.00
Our Price: Click to see the latest and low price
ISBN: 1573229377
Publisher: Riverhead Books (September, 2002)
Sales Rank: 4,607
Average Customer Rating: 4.5 out of 5

Customer Reviews

Rating: 3 out of 5
Disappointed - Mindful Living Recycled
This is not a well designed book addressing Anger. Rather, this is a rehash of Thich Nhat Hanh's message concerning mindful living. Hanh's message is powerful and valuable; it is not well crafted to be responsive to those seeking to resolve Anger. Like the evangelicals of the 70s who gave the answer to all of life's problems, "trust Jesus," Hanh gives a similar superficial answer to the problem of Anger, "trust mindful living." If you have not read Hanh, I highly recommend it. But if you need to deal with Anger, this really wont help. His first solution to anger is to eat only organic food, where anger is not a part of the creation of the food. As a vegetarian, I have a lot of sympathy for that message; I just do not think it is an appropriate first message for someone struggling with Anger. Then he suggests making a peace treaty with the one with whom you have anger. Well that belies the circumstances where anger is a real struggle. There are some circumstances where anger is an issue and "peace treaties" are not possible - such as dealing with people with emotional disabilities. And then there are abuse situations where you should not make a peace treaty: just because I acknowledge that a Tiger is a tiger, and do not hate the tiger, does not mean I try to make personal friends with the tiger. Their are certain contexts, that cause a lot of anger, where reconciliation with the cause of conflict is not the appropriate answer. Bottom line: I found the book superficial suggesting that all of lifes ills can be cured through simple answers. Read Hanh; skip this book.

Rating: 5 out of 5
An outstanding book which speaks direct to heart
I felt very enlightened after reading this book in a single sitting. Anger is basically a book which shows us how we can apply the great principles of Buddhism to solve our emotional and spiritual problems. Author Thich Nhat Hanh clarifies abstract and intricate points in a story telling way that speaks direct to heart.
I learnt many practical ways to combat my anger and shows a "Mindful way of life" in which we can be very joyous and productive. In short, dont hesitate to read this book. Reading this book is like listening to Buddha in person. You will feel sense of exhilaration and peace in getting a glimpse of great but simple truths of life. Author Thich Nhat Hanh deserve more than five stars. Great work. Dont miss it.

Rating: 5 out of 5
Gentle, humane, wise
Thich Nhat Hanh, a Buddhist monk, writes with gentle compassion on how to care for the anger which is within all of us, and transform its negative energy into positive energy. His guidance on breathing, walking and acting 'mindfully', with stillness and concentration, is the most clear and helpful I've ever read.

And this book is not relevant to anger alone. I have long been unsuccessfully fighting the craving to overeat - and found that when I simply noticed the craving lovingly and non-judgmentally, it lost its hold over me.

For anyone who has wrestled unsuccessfully with anger and its consequences, I recommend this compassionate, practical book with all my heart.



Book Index