This is a lovely compilation of some of Thich Nhat Hanh's best writing on how we can save the planet. And it all begins with our individual selves and how we live each moment. Whether you've read his books or not, you'll appreciate his inspiring, gentle, kind, encouraging words toward peace in the inside, which will spill over into the rest of our lives.

It took me awhile to get through this book - not because the content was boring or because I was uninterested, but rather because this book holds so much useful and essential information that it’s best eaten in small bites.

I love Thay - his teachings and his principles never cease to ease my mind and worries. It’s no surprise that this book is just another great collection of his wisdom and experience.

This was the first time I’d read anything from Truth Daughter, and it definitely won’t be the last. She’s a powerful voice, learning from the best teacher out there. Highly recommend this one!

A bit misleading as it's not really "by" Thich Nhat Hahn - it's a compilation of some of his teachings, Buddhist stories, and personal tales and reflections from one of his students. And while they are all very interesting and useful in a general sense, only some have a strong correlation to "saving the planet." I had much higher hopes.

Interconnection with the earth and one another is the path walked in this book of inspirational teachings.
Climate change and the troubling and uncertain times that we live in is a wake up call. We are surrounded by beauty and life and the gift of one another. We have been given the opportunity to tap into the earth and one another with mindfulness and an awakening of the gifts set before us. The trials that can consume us with day to day living often shadows the positivity, beauty and truth. Taking the time to tap into the possibilities of working together with compassion is a powerful means to save one another and our planet. All doors are open. Truth and honesty develops are consciousness and we can see the power in working and respecting each other and our world.
Beautiful, enlightening and highly recommended.
Thank you NetGalley, Thich Nhat Hanh and Harper One for anARC in exchange for an honest book review.

Zen and the Art of Saving the Planet is an inspiring book that offers an insightful Zen Buddhist viewpoint and approach to correcting our current climatic and environmental crises. In it, Thich Nhat Hanh and Sister True Dedication describe how, if more of us wake up to our interconnectedness with and the beauty of the earth, we can recognize not only how we are harming ourselves, each other, and the planet, but also find the motivation to change our minds and behaviors to prevent further harm, and correct the harm that’s been done.
The book is divided into three parts: changing how we view our relationship with the earth, taking action to implement changes, and building communities that share these insights and viewpoints, respectively.

In Mahāyāna Buddhism, the Diamond Sutra provides four notions a person must abandon to realize life as it really is: the notions of self, human being, living thing, and life span. Once we internalize this teaching, we will be able to recognize our connection with the earth. I found this part really interesting, and realize it’s something you need to mull around and meditate on for a while.

Once we’ve awakened to our interconnectedness with the earth, we can take action. In Buddhism, it’s understood that before we can really help others we need to help ourselves. Fittingly, the majority of the action part involves self development. The Five Mindfulness Trainings are described as a powerful spiritual code of conduct, and I think they’re very good. The expanded list of Fourteen Mindfulness Trainings taught at Plum Village and which is a foundational doctrine of the Order of Interbeing is also very good and worth remembering. While discussing each of the five trainings in detail, the book discusses several other Buddhist trainings, concepts, and practices for cultivating our mental attitudes and outlooks to live more peaceful and enjoyable lives.
Examples include the 4 Nutriments, Thay’s foundation of Engaged Buddhism, information of key Bodhisattvas, and the idea that we each have an inner meditator, artist, and warrior. I found all of this really interesting and enlightening, and plan to incorporate and read more about a lot of it.

Life can be stressful at times, especially with so much work to be done to help reverse our negative effects on the climate and environment. The third part of the book discusses why it’s so important to have a community—a sangha, in Buddhism—in which to find support and encouragement. We each need a source of mindful communication, deep listening, and loving speech. By forming communities with a collective consciousness based on the Five Mindfulness Trainings and the Six Togethernesses, we can establish, as quoted from Dr. Larry Ward, a lay Buddhist teacher, “‘communities of resilience’-communities where we make a conscious intent to live together ‘in kindness, openness, generosity, sanity, and love.’” I love this idea, and hope we can someday reach a point where more communities share a collective spirit of togetherness and healthier and more harmonious living both amongst ourselves and with the earth.

Overall I really enjoyed this book, and plan to add a copy to my holiday list for future reading, reflection, and reference. Thank you so much to the publisher and NetGalley for letting me read an advanced copy! And thank you to Dear Thay and Sister for bringing this insightful book to fruition for all of us 🙏

Living a Zen lifestyle helps you to realize how connected we all are. To each other and to nature.
This book was a great wakeup call for me, even though I live as much like a buddhist as I can, there are still ways I can reduce my impact and make better lifestyle choices for not only myself, but those around me as well.

Following his books on ecology, The World we Have (2008) and Love Letter to the Earth (2013), Zen and the Art of Saving the Planet continues to expose readers to the wisdom Thich Nhat Hahh. One of the foremost monastic teachers in the Zen Buddhist traditions, Nhat Hahn burst into Western consciousness with his dedicated peace efforts during the Vietnam Conflict.. Monk, scientist, poet, and activist Nhat Hahn has provided concise and engaging teachings on the fundamentals of Engaged Buddhism that promote moving away from the suffering of self centered ego and towards peaceful resolutions of key issues that threaten all.

In 2014, Naht Hahn suffered a major stroke that left him without the ability to speak. Fortunately, his lectures and writings were compiled by the monastics at his Plum Village Retreat Center in France. This volume is a collection of his writings combined with commentary by Sister True Dedication. The book is divided into three sections: Part One: Radical Insight: A new way of seeing; Part two: The Action Dimension: A new way of living and Part Three: Communities of Resistance: A new way of Being Together. The Afterword contains an essay by Sister Chang Khong, the most ranking senior nun in the Plum Village Community.

Part one uses the Diamond Sutra to introduce the idea that one's true self is not tied to ideas of individual self with a finite identity and life span. The concepts are written with the understanding that the reader might be new to Buddhist tenets. The clarity of explanations makes sometimes esoteric principles understandable.
Part two challenges the reader to look deeply into their current life and decide if moving towards a life of spiritual strength, and healthy living. Naht Hahn discusses his experiences both in Vietnam and in the early days of the Peace Accords. He also covers his interactions with corporations as he traveled the world promoting green awareness. The inclusion of the Five Mindfulness Trainings in this section, offers a good path towards self healing. Part three provides a blueprint for living in a new manner. Suggesting taking refuge does not mean withdrawing from the world, rather it means finding a supporting group that will allow living a life engaged with the world. Here the Six Principles of Togetherness show readers how a Plum Village Community comes together to develop a way to live in harmony.

This is not an easy read. Again and again the reader is reminded of the perils of over consumption; of the very fact our human existence may not continue. The saving grace is the work is not a polemic without a solution. It is a wake up call, but one that many might choose to answer.

Very highly recommended.

Full disclosure: I received this ARC from netgalley and Harper Collins in exchange for an unbiased review. Thank you for this opportunity.








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If you have read any of Thich Nhat Hanh's books, they are most enlightening and contain well written words of wisdom that gives profound meaning to all aspects of life. In this book he gives viewpoints on how to look at a world that is in crisis and which can be frustrating and disappointing. In this book he describes the Buddhist way of life and how by examining our own lives and perspective on things, we can gain a better perspective on how we perceive the world as such.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I should begin by saying I read Thic Nhat Hanh any chance I can— his wisdom is medicine to me, especially during a time when our world feels upside down. It’s also not easy to find words that do justice for his words- everyone needs to experience his writing.
This book is his interpretation of the Diamond Sutra and he makes it accessible to anyone.
He speaks about mindfulness, happiness, and compassion. He underscores that we are all connected. I love how he shares our connection to nature. My hope is that many people will pick up this book and read it, Then feel moved toward activism to protect our natural world.
I will be buying this one is print once it is available!

It was in 1992 with "Peace is Every Step" that Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh became a household name and would spend a good majority of the rest of his adult life as the main inspiration for engaged Buddhism and, in his later years, immersed within his community known as Plum Village located in southwest France.

In 2014, Thich Nhat Hanh, or Thay, experienced a dramatic stroke that significantly impacted his daily life yet his presence as a teacher, spiritual guide, and powerful influence has remained even as he has now turned 94-years-old.

While "Zen and the Art of Saving the Planet" is noted as "by Thich Nhat Hanh" it should be noted that the book is less "by" Thay and more immersed in his life of teachings as brought to life those who surround him at Plum Village and, in particular, Sister True Dedication, one of his longtime students whom, it would seem, is most adept at communicating in a way reflective of the beloved Zen Master.

"Zen and the Art of Saving the Planet" immerses us in Thay's longtime teachings, poetry, and beliefs and applies them to this art, "saving the planet," by creating a regenerative world in which all life is respected.

If, like me, you've followed Thich Nhat Hanh's writings since 1992 then there's a strong likelihood that much of what is written here will feel familiar and will follow the consistent path that Thich Nhat Hanh has traveled throughout his life. There is both a challenge to it and a comfort to it - it is challenging because living this way feels counter to much of what is promoted here in my home country of the United States yet it is also comfortable because deep down in our being we know these to be truths.

It's hard not to contemplate Thich Nhat Hanh's own journey in adapting to a body over these past few years that has dramatically altered his own path. This was on my own often as I experienced "Zen and the Art of Saving the Planet" and absorbed its wise lessons on healing myself and healing my planet with mindfulness and Zen meditation.

If I were to sum it up overly succinctly, I would simply say "More Being, Less Doing."

Thay is very clear that our way of looking, seeing, and thinking determines every choice we make, the everyday actions we take or avoid, how we relate to those we love or oppose, and how we react in a crisis.

"Zen and the Art of Saving the Planet" is written in the voice of the beloved Thich Nhat Hanh even if it is not written in its entirety actually by the beloved Zen Master who, at 94-years-old, remains one of the most powerful Buddhist influences worldwide and who has seemingly entrusted his teachings to his equally beloved Plum Village community that carries it with tenderness and faithfulness.

These teachings are enlightening, wise, open-hearted, and written with the gentle clarity we've come to expect from Thay yet because there are different voices involved here there is a tonal shift within the writing that is subtle yet noticeable for those familiar with Thay's writings.

Sister True Dedication's writings are simply noted throughout the book with a "T.D.," a way of acknowledging her presence throughout "Zen and the Art of Saving the Planet" without us ever forgetting that these are the teachings of Thich Nhat Hanh being brought to life. While one can question slightly the notion of listing the book as "by Thich Nhat Hanh," after a lifetime of teaching these very lessons I lean toward affording the grace that in becoming attached to Thich Nhat Hanh exclusively we've kind of missed the point.

As seems to always be true of Buddhist teachings, there are times I find myself in slight disagreement with an observation or insight that feels overly simplified. Yet, there is so much that is brilliant here that by book's end I was grateful and in a reflective space contemplating this wisdom. The final chapters, in particular, are exhilarating as "Zen and the Art of Saving the Planet" takes the building blocks it has laid out and applies them in simple yet profound ways that had me uttering "Wow."

"Zen and the Art of Saving the Planet" is yet another memorable work from an author, activist, and Zen Master who has graced us with memorable works throughout his life. This time, he collectively shares his wisdom with students who have immersed there own lives in his teachings and together we all benefit as we seek to save our planet.

Years ago, I read a book by Thay called, Peace is Every Step. The book opened up an entirely new world for me and ever since I have been drawn to his writings. This book, based on the Diamond Sutra reminds us all how very connected everyone and everything is.

This is a book that is being published at a time when our country is polarized with people taking stands and sometimes a line is drawn in the sand. There are those who would even hurt or kill people who disagree with them. This book can and will change lives for the better.

Thay reminds us to start with ourselves, and then we will be in a better place to help others. May it be so.

I love reading Thich Nhat Hanh and have read everything of his that I can get my hands on. A lot of this rings very familiar, it's once again Thay's interpretation of bits of the Diamond Sutra for contemporary readers to easily digest, and applied against the backdrop of putting forward an effort to salvage what we can of an already dying planet. Poignant, powerful, and 100% worth your time.

I have an issue, however. Most of the book does not carry Thay's written "voice." In almost every other book I've read of Thay's, his voice is distinctive, peaceful, gentle, and direct. This time around, I was left with the feeling that I was reading more of the translator than the author, or perhaps that Thay's previous writings have been slightly adjusted to match the topic material. It also made me call into question Thay's physical ability to write a book right now, years after the massive stroke that's mostly taken him out of the limelight. I even came to question whether or not this could be a crass move on the part of Plum Village leadership to wring out one last book from their most famous teacher. I'm not suggesting this is the case, but the writing style was so starkly different that my mind started wandering off the topic on paper.

Having said all that, I found the book to be as engaging as it needed to be, and would wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone with an interest in Buddhism.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the privilege of a complimentary ARC. This impacted neither my review nor rating.

I found this book hopeful, inspiring and a balm to my soul. I love Thay’s teaching so this is no surprise to me. There are some really very beautiful insights in this book.
They also speak a lot about Buddhism and their actions during the Vietnam War. Now I want to travel to Plum Village.
I was googling a lot about Buddhism after I read this book. Another wonderful rabbit hole to discover.
Thank you NetGalley and publisher for this book.

Thich Nhat Hahn , a Buddist monk, through his students, show us how to be there for the Earth.while being mindful and with great love. It is the authors thought that it is the responsibility of the next generation to in essence, Save the Planet. It is an interesting, current read.

Thank you to Harper Collins Publishing and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.
Publication date 10/5/2021