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Fear: A Powerful Guide to Overcoming Uncertainties and Personal Terrors, and Finding Peace and Freedom from Anxiety, by Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh Paperback – March 4, 2014
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End the constant cycle of stress and anxiety, stop worrying about the future, and start thriving in the present—A moving guide to a more mindful life from bestselling author Thich Nhat Hanh
Most of us live in a constant state of fear—of failure, of our past, of illness and aging, of losing the things we treasure most, and of never discovering our most authentic self. But it doesn't have to be this way, promises renowned Zen master and Buddhist monk Thich Nhat Hanh. Drawing on a lifetime of mindfulness in action, Hanh shows us how to use the practice of living in the present to acknowledge and embrace our fears, recognize their origins, and render them powerless.
By offering mantras, meditations, breathing exercises, and ancient wisdom, Fear guides us through practical exercises for:
· Transforming crippling uncertainty into clarity
· Acknowledging and harnessing emotions while relinquishing their control
· Communicating with compassion and understanding
· Utilizing the immense power of community during times of struggle and hardship
· Trusting the spiritual process and reconnecting with our internal guiding light
The worries of the past and the anxiety of the future disappear as we discover the power of the present moment. Restore balance, find lasting happiness, and take control of your own journey by live freely and fearlessly.
- Print length176 pages
- LanguageEnglish
- PublisherHarperOne
- Publication dateMarch 4, 2014
- Dimensions5.31 x 0.4 x 8 inches
- ISBN-109780062004734
- ISBN-13978-0062004734
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Editorial Reviews
Review
“Thich Nhat Hanh shows us that by looking deeply and embracing our whole experience with acceptance, love and understanding, we can go beyond fear and anxiety to find fearlessness and inner peace.” — Sogyal Rinpoche
“Nhat Hanh stresses compassion, nonviolence, and community building at all levels as a strategy for transforming the fear and anger in the world….The Zen master’s understanding of the grip that fear and anxiety have on modern individuals is profound. His unfailing simplicity, direct approach, and humanity shine on every page. ” – Publishers Weekly — Publishers Weekly
From the Back Cover
Fear has countless faces: from the fear of failure to worries about everyday life, from financial or environmental uncertainties to the universal despair we all experience when faced by the loss of a friend or loved one. Even when surrounded by all the conditions for happiness, life can feel incomplete when fear keeps us focused on the past and worried about the future. While we all experience fear, it is possible to learn how to avoid having our lives shaped and driven by it. In these pages, Thich Nhat Hanh offers us a timeless path for living fearlessly.
About the Author
Thich Nhat Hanh was a world-renowned Buddhist Zen master, poet, author, scholar, and activist for social change, who was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. He was the author of many bestselling books, including the classics Peace Is Every Step and The Art of Living. Through his books and retreats at the monasteries he has founded in the U.S., Europe, Asia, and Australia, he became a pre-eminent figure in contemporary Buddhism, offering teachings that are both deeply rooted in ancient wisdom and accessible to all.
Sister Chan Khong is Thich Nhat Hanh’s most senior monastic disciple and lifelong collaborator. A leading force in his engaged Buddhism programs and humanitarian projects, her books include Learning True Love and Beginning Anew.
Sister True Dedication is a former journalist and monastic Dharma Teacher ordained by Thich Nhat Hanh.
Product details
- ASIN : 0062004735
- Publisher : HarperOne; Reprint edition (March 4, 2014)
- Language : English
- Paperback : 176 pages
- ISBN-10 : 9780062004734
- ISBN-13 : 978-0062004734
- Item Weight : 2.31 pounds
- Dimensions : 5.31 x 0.4 x 8 inches
- Best Sellers Rank: #15,512 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #19 in Zen Spirituality
- #93 in Meditation (Books)
- #503 in Personal Transformation Self-Help
- Customer Reviews:
About the author
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Thich Nhat Hanh (1926–2022) was a Vietnamese Buddhist Zen Master, poet, and peace activist and one of the most revered and influential spiritual teachers in the world. Born in 1926, he became a Zen Buddhist monk at the age of sixteen. His work for peace and reconciliation during the war in Vietnam moved Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. to nominate him for the Nobel Peace Prize in 1967. In Vietnam, Thich Nhat Hanh founded Van Hanh Buddhist University and the School of Youth for Social Service, a corps of Buddhist peace workers. Exiled as a result of his work for peace, he continued his humanitarian efforts, rescuing boat people and helping to resettle refugees. In 1982 he established Plum Village France, the largest Buddhist monastery in Europe and the hub of the international Plum Village Community of Engaged Buddhism. Over seven decades of teaching, he published a hundred books, which have been translated into more than forty languages and have sold millions of copies worldwide.
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Learn more how customers reviews work on AmazonCustomers say
Customers find the book provides good insights and wisdom. They find the writing simple and engaging, with clear concepts. The book offers breathing techniques and mantras to help deal with fear. Many readers describe it as joyful and optimistic. They praise the author as wonderful and a great teacher. The book arrived in perfect condition. Opinions differ on the pacing and death fear.
AI-generated from the text of customer reviews
Customers find the book insightful and inspiring. They appreciate the wisdom and insights it provides, bringing them to a deeper level of self-understanding. The book helps them put things into perspective and encourages faith.
"...two weeks now, restoring harmony to my relationships and starting to enjoy life again, which is no small feat considering where I started only a..." Read more
"Smooth read and easy to follow meditations. A book that could be read over and over to feel the essence of it." Read more
"...Certainly among my favorite books for its insight into meditation, self-knowledge, and the ability to live with sanity. Really outstanding book...." Read more
"...There are some good meditations in here, but there are points where he says, sit down, and talk to your inner child by pretending they are sitting..." Read more
Customers find the book easy to read and understand. The simple words allow them to comprehend the message on a level. The concepts are easy to understand and generate peace in life. Readers appreciate the author's friendly and engaging writing style. They find the book a smooth read that is easy for them to recommend to clients and friends.
"...I am also experiencing a clarity of mind that I have almost never experienced...." Read more
"Smooth read and easy to follow meditations. A book that could be read over and over to feel the essence of it." Read more
"...his "Miracle of Mindfulness," but i think this is a quick easy read that is a nice addition to anyone's spiritual journey...." Read more
"...that he is able to share his thoughts about a tough subject in a calm, simple, easy to understand manner. Do not hesitate to get this book...." Read more
Customers appreciate the breathing techniques in the book. They find them simple and effective for dealing with fear. The techniques are based on mindfulness, conscious breathing, acceptance, and inner peace.
"...There are specific suggestions for mantras and breathing exercises for self-calming in the moment, as well as larger philosophical ways to shape..." Read more
"...This book teaches practical ways to live in the moment through mindful breathing, walking, and continual focus on what you are doing in the moment..." Read more
"...In the beginning, it was riddled with self-doubt, anxiety, and a lot of fear...." Read more
"...It provides mantras and breath exercises to help deal with the fear...." Read more
Customers enjoy the book's joy and wisdom. They find it warm, optimistic, and mention it helps them practice mindfulness, compassion, respect, and virtues. The book is an enjoyable reading experience that explores fear and how to manage it using mindfulness.
"...This book was a most enjoyable reading experience!! Swanson Premium L-Glutathione Item# SW936 • 100 mg 200 Caps (7)..." Read more
"...Zen philosophy to help one find balance, calm, happiness, joy by practicing mindfulness, compassion, respect, virtue and wisdom, in regular modern..." Read more
"...Both were OK, not great for me...." Read more
"...All books from Thich Nat Han bring so much peace, love and light into our hearts <3 It’s such a treasure to have his books in our lives!..." Read more
Customers like the author. They say he's a great man who writes wonderful books with clear instructions on how to deal with fears.
"I think this has come to be my favorite book by this wonderful person...." Read more
"...The author's voice is calm, peaceful and kind...." Read more
"...He offers several meditations toward the end of the book. Love this man and the way he writes. Very down to earth and relatable." Read more
"Thich Nhat Hanh walks the walk. Kind, specific instructions for how to deal with the fears we humans struggle with...." Read more
Customers are satisfied with the book's condition. They mention it arrived in perfect condition and was the best book they have ever read.
"This 2012 edition in good condition considering its age! Quick ship and great price!" Read more
"The book was in great condition and" Read more
"I've always loved the author, and the book arrived in perfect condition...." Read more
"Excellent condition and fast shipping of the best book I have ever read...." Read more
Customers have different views on the pacing of the book. Some find it moving and helpful, with good moments and profound impact. Others feel it goes off topic or strayed far from the topic.
"I found this book very beautiful, very moving, and very helpful for dealing with my fearfulness...." Read more
"The book is alright. It gets off topic often when it tries to relate fear to other aspects of our lives...." Read more
"...This book has some very good moments, though - as did the other book I read from him (No Death No Fear). Common themes in both books...." Read more
"...I have found my spirit lighter, and actually am able to intentionally live in the moment far more frequently...." Read more
Customers have different views on the book's approach to death fear. Some find it helpful in overcoming fears of death, illness, and losing loved ones. Others feel Buddhist philosophy is not enough to end suffering and that the concepts of non-annihilation and breathing improve everyday life.
"Really helped with my fears of death, illness and losing loved ones (recently lost my mum)...." Read more
"...Though rooted in reality, Buddist philosophy is not enough to end suffering, as should be evident by the length of time that it has been practiced..." Read more
"...The two core learning, Breathing and the belief of non-annihilation, will improve my everyday life forever...." Read more
"I loved reading this book once and again. The concept of not dying, and overcoming the fear of loosing a loved one and disappearing..." Read more
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Top reviews from the United States
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- Reviewed in the United States on September 19, 2013I stumbled upon this book after years of dealing with growing fear, anxiety and anger-related issues that were greatly impacting my private and professional life, robbing me of a good night's sleep and just plain making life miserable. When I bought this book, I was battling moderate depression that was transitioning to severe depression, I knew I had to act fast before it completely incapacitated me. I noticed in the comments that someone had recovered from a moderate depression and I had also heard talks by Thich Nhat Hahn online which attracted my interest with their 'unconventional' approach. I was ready to put any good advice into practice and not just for the short term.
Not only was the mere reading of this book comforting and relieving for me, but the exercises it introduces helped me transform fear in an unconventional way. Though in the presence of intense emotions, perhaps even in a panic attack, my first reflex was to run, to find a way to escape, the exercises suggest meeting it head on - but not with aggression or in a challenging manner as proposed by some of the inevitably flawed techniques I have tried - but with compassion, curiosity and concern. Thich Nhat Hahn suggests that we observe our emotions, acknowledge them - even handle them with the concern we would for a crying baby through deep listening - and begin to work our way back into the present moment, back to ourselves.
By sticking to the exercises in this book and filling my mind with good food for thought (reading more books on this subject, watching dharma by Thich Nhat Hahn on youtube), I moved from being consumed by despair, fear, frustration and the psychosomatic illness that accompanies it to being on the road to recovery. About four and half weeks after starting the book and encountering 'Thay's' approach to 'the art of suffering' I am working again at full capacity, sleeping through the night for over two weeks now, restoring harmony to my relationships and starting to enjoy life again, which is no small feat considering where I started only a month ago. I am also experiencing a clarity of mind that I have almost never experienced. As my back was up against a wall, I started practicing his exercises right away and multiple times every day in a gentle and cautious fashion. I believe that this and good food for thought were what got me back on track - without drugs or any other treatment of any kind.
I have read many books on how to deal with fear, phobias and panic attacks, still my depression and anxiety continued to advance and cripple my life even further. I stumbled upon the books by Thich Nhat Hahn quite literally in my darkest hour. I hope that my story can give others in crisis and despair the hope to carry on. Barely a month after starting this book, I am largely restored, but still have a ways to go so I will be continuing to practice and to gain insight through introspection, mindfulness and reading more Thich Nhat Hahn not to mention others like him. As I regain my strength, I am compelled to share this experience to help others suffering like I did.
- Reviewed in the United States on December 7, 2024Smooth read and easy to follow meditations. A book that could be read over and over to feel the essence of it.
- Reviewed in the United States on September 10, 2024I think this has come to be my favorite book by this wonderful person. Certainly among my favorite books for its insight into meditation, self-knowledge, and the ability to live with sanity. Really outstanding book. I am humbled by it. I go back to it again and again, like I do with The Power of Now and Mindfulness In Plain English and Jane Robert's The Nature of the Psyche.
- Reviewed in the United States on April 2, 2014Why are we afraid? Well, for one thing, we are all afraid deep down of one thing-annihilation ( well, to be honest, I was afraid of trying to spell annihilation also !) We are afraid of many things really-being unloved, going broke, losing our jobs. Really though, if you ask yourself the question, why am I afraid of being made fun of? Let's get to the bottom of this. If someone makes fun of me, that means they don't like me. If they don't like me, then others won't like me. If others don't like me, I will have no one. If i have no one, I will be miserable and alone. If i am miserable and alone, I will die. If seems dramatic when I write it all down, but if you really dig deep, this is the real reason why we feel bad when someone doesn't "love" us. If i get fired, I'm unloved. If you get dumped, you feel unloved. Being loved is one of the basic human needs. We all have this basic desire to just survive. Stop looking at every moment of suffering as something that drums up old feelings. The past is gone. When we get anxious, we live in the future, When you are depressed, you live in the past.
Thich Nhat Hanh reminds us to be mindful. To accept our past. To realize, we are all pieces of the same puzzle. He reminds us , we will die. Everyone we love, will die. Absolutely nothing is permanent. We can't take anything with us, yet every day we try and accumulate more. More money, more fame. We do this because we believe the more we have, the better we will feel. The better we feel, the less we will die. This is obviously not true. Once you accept impermanence, and accept the fact that one day, we will get old and die, then you will really find peace, It's not from accumulation. Peace comes from acceptance of the inevitable. This all may sound morbid, but this is the essential beliefs of Buddhism. There is no birth and no death.
Anyway, I am probably getting a bit deep for this review. I think any read by Thich is a great read. He has a calming style in his writing and his books put things in perspective. I prefer his "Miracle of Mindfulness," but i think this is a quick easy read that is a nice addition to anyone's spiritual journey. The reason I took a star off is because I think it gets a little weird at points. There are some good meditations in here, but there are points where he says, sit down, and talk to your inner child by pretending they are sitting across from you. Maybe some may enjoy this, but I just felt strange attempting to do it. Anyway, I hope you all find peace in your never ending journey!
Top reviews from other countries
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Georges TormenReviewed in Canada on February 16, 2025
5.0 out of 5 stars Don't be afraid to say it /Ne pas avoir peur de le dire
I read a lot, but really a lot, always with the same desire to know, to evolve, to learn and unlearn the knowledge that lives within me, and to appreciate what I have and which comes to me from past and present life, to love the people around me and who return it to me well, to help in the measure of my means, and in what enhances my existence.
The book "Fear" moved me, took me to the heart: I felt deep inside myself what I hadn't discovered or couldn't insist on.
I feel myself transforming and discovering my claim to be and to know.
Not only do I now see, more and more, all the fragility of my existence, but also what is my void, my gap, my passage to this existence, and then this other passage to another state.
I recommend this book and others like "Anger" and "Silence".
Je lis beaucoup, mais vraiment beaucoup avec toujours le même désir de savoir, d'évoluer, d'apprendre et de désapprendre les connaissances qui m'habitent, et, apprécier ce que j'ai et qui me vient de la vie antérieure et présente, aimer les personnes qui m'entourent et qui me le rendent bien, aider dans la mesure de mes moyens, et, dans ce qui bonifie mon existence.
Le livre "La Peur" m'a bouleversé, m'a pris au coeur : j'ai senti au plus profond de moi ce que je n'avais pas découvert ou sur lequel je n'ai pas pu découvrir ou voulu insister.
Je me sens en transformation et je découvre ma prétention d'être et de savoir.
Non seulement, je vois désormais et de plus en plus toute la fragilité de mon existence, mais aussi ce qui est mon vide, ma béance, mon passage à cette existence, puis cet autre passage vers un autre état.
Je recommande cette lecture et celle des livres comme "La colère" et "Le Silence".
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RobertoReviewed in Mexico on May 22, 2021
5.0 out of 5 stars Excelente libro
Me gusta la facilidad con la que expresa ideas de un tema tan profundo
- NemoReviewed in the United Kingdom on April 29, 2021
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent book!
Another excellent book from Thich Nhat Hanh. This acclaimed author offers the calm wisdom of someone who has been practising Mindfulness for a long time, and who has learned the true benefits of it. His method of teaching is straight forward, and easy to understand. His life experiences add to the authenticity of his teachings, and when reading his books, there is the sense that one is in the presence of a true teacher.
In this book, he offers a very tender-hearted way of working with fear, with gentle teachings and firm encouragement. He shows us that fear is something that we need not be afraid of.
- TruthseekerReviewed in Australia on March 2, 2021
5.0 out of 5 stars Easy to follow, hard to master
Very well written, with lots of good advice. You will get to know yourself better as you read the book.
- Kyrie EleisonReviewed in Japan on July 15, 2019
5.0 out of 5 stars Aliveness, authenticity beyond survival traits
This is a great book to learn aliveness beyond survival traits and one’s authenticity.
At the same time, this helps me to understand more about neuroplasticity and epigenetic,
though he the author does not define any words on this. I suggest neuro scientists, med.doctors
to read this. Thanks