thich nhat hanh makes Buddhism accessible and enjoyable to read. This book serves as a great reminder to live in and savor each moment fully. makes me wish i had a Sangha locally that i could work with.

quotes:
I have arrived, I am home,
In the here and in the now.
I am solid, I am free,
In the ultimate I dwell.

"After walking for a few minutes with the words of this poem, you will see that you are much more solid. The past and the future can no longer grab you and pull you away from life. As a result More...

Reading Ronnie Hsia's study of Matteo Ricci piqued my interest in Buddhism, a subject which I didn't know very much about. I am really not quite sure what to make of "You are Here," by Thich Nhat Hanh. Some aspects of TNH's book are very thought-provoking, particularly Buddhism's rejection of mind-body dualism, and TNH's positive treatment of suffering and emotion. TNH's message about the importance of living in the present moment was perhaps the most powerful take-away message for me. Yet someh More...

I was really liking this book all the way through, thinking that even though it can be called simple and "self-helpy", it was really helping me to look at the world more positively, question my sometimes cloudy perceptions, and begin to practice some practical methods to alleviate stress and to relax. So I would have given it four stars until I reached the last chapter and Camus' The Stranger was mentioned. ThenI loved it. Thich Nhat Hanh talks about Meursault's "moment of awareness"--when, conf More...

This was my first Thich Nhat Hahn book, and I must say--I was really impressed. He takes Buddhist teachings and makes them relatable to people who live in our chaotic, 21st century world but who are looking for something a little deeper. And the way to really tap into your life is to be present in the moment (as challenging as that can be). He mentioned a metaphor that stuck with me...flowers use compost to grow healthy and strong. So why not use our own compost, our baggage, our junk, our past More...

If Thoreau and the Vietnamese Buddhist monk Thich Nhat Hanh had been associates, the Transcendentalist couldn't have lamented he'd "never yet met a man who was quite awake," Hanh is fully awake and alive and there's something about his simple message that rings the bell of mindfulness for the rest of us.

I say "simple" message, but digesting that message requires stepping out of Western paradigms. Personally, I've inherited a cultural and religious model for spiritual improvement that could best More...

I picked this up in Tattered Cover Bookstore while on a walk through downtown Denver. The title practically threw itself at me and is my only purchased souvenir from the trip. This bookstore was about as amazing as the city. If in town, check it out when you have a few hours to spare.

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'You Are Here' is simple and amazing. A book that I plan to pass on to friends in hopes they pass it on to others. I cannot imagine keeping this book. It is not a thing that deserves to rest on a shelf - it has More...

This small book by the Vietnamese Buddhist monk and teacher, Thich Nhat Hanh, is not a philosophical text but a very personal sharing from teacher to student; it seems as if you are present at a retreat, and he is speaking to you as you sit in the front row. Like his other writings, he writes of deep matters in a deceptively simple way. I particularly liked how he describes being in the present moment as entering "the kingdom of God," a familiar expression for readers who come from a Christian t More...

There's nothing particularly new here- it's the same old "breathing in, I know that I am breathing in, breathing out, I know that I am breathing out."
For all that, it never gets old for me. I need, constantly, to be reminded to be mindful, to be reminded that now, this very moment, is all I ever have.

I'm not at all religious, but the doctrine of mindfulness speaks deeply to me and is one I strive, unsuccessfully, to practice. This little gem of a book is a bell bringing me back to my present mom More...

I listened to The Art of Mindful Living three years ago and it really helped me through a difficult time. It helped me become centered and to focus on the present, what's right in front of you. You Are Here is a very condensed version of Thich Nhat Hanh's writing, but it focuses on that very important point, being present in your everyday life. Being present honors your friends and family and helps you focus on them and less on your own worries. This book is great for those stressed, distracted More...

You Are Here is a slender volume containing a simple message: you are here, live mindfully. I haven't read a lot on Buddhism and this is the first I have read by Thich Nhat Hanh. On one hand I found it too simple, and very repetitive. It's mentioned in other reviews that this book is condensed, that it sums up messages in other Thich Nhat Hanh writings. And that's exactly the feeling I got while reading through it, like he just rephrased a line and reworked some metaphors he had used before, try More...

It is just as simple and moving of a message as you can get. You are here! yes, you are. But living in the present is not something that you can wrap your brain on easily. Well, the Thich Nhat Hanh has an amazing way of explaining to you how to do just that. This book connects with the reader, and it connects fast. From the actual instructions of how to connect with the present moment to the philosophy behind that connection, and the implications for your and all's well being, this books spoke t More...

Thich Nhat Hanh speaks to us about transformation: how to be fully present in our lives and compassionate with ourselves and others. In You Are Here he speaks to us from his heart very effectively; it is as though he is in the room smiling into our eyes with understanding, directly addressing our most tender concerns with deep affection and understanding. Although it embraces some deep philosophical truths, this is not a cerebral book, it is a heartfelt book that I will read again and again.

What do I think about this book?
Everything I read from Thich Nhat Hanh is thought-provoking and inspirational. I am not a Buddist but I always learn something from his teachings. For me, the big take-away from this book is that we have everything we need already inside of us. And, the same is true for the people around us. A simple concept and one we already know, but a good reminder to approach the day with the awareness of that truth.

I love Buddhist philosophy. I'm not a particularly religious or spiritual person but I can get down with the messages: everyone suffers, be compassionate to everyone, don't need/want too much, stop being a jerk all the time. But this book was pretty boring in terms of Buddist philosophy. The entire book could have been condensed to one chapter. It's not that this is that terrible, it's that there are better books out there.

I have a hard time giving this a "rating". I think there are some books that just aren't rate-able, because it's not about how well they're written, etc. That said, I feel like I only absorbed about 10% of what You Are Here had to offer, as I listened to it on CD going to and from work. To say that I was intrigued by what I did grasp is an understatement, and there are certainly ideas and ways of thinking here that will hang with me. In the meanwhile, I really think I need to get my hands on a h More...

"you are here" is one of the best buddhist books I've read. Thich Nhat Hanh as all kinds of practical advice that can be integrated into one's life. Of particular interest are his ideas on dealing with anger and other problematic emotions. Instead of having a "battlefield" in your mind, as Joyce Meyers suggests, he has a more peaceful approach, of accepting the anger (or guilt, or whatever) as part of yourself, and continuing to breathe. A nice contrast to a dualistic approach to difficult emoti More...

How often am I thinking about what I need to get done later or looking forward to a vacation in a few weeks while ignoring the present moment. This book was a great reminder to be present in the little things, laughing with my son, washing dishes or dealing with an angry person. Will add this to my permanent collection as it must be reread often as a reminder.

"Some people live as though they are already dead. There are people moving around us who are consumed by their past, terrified of their future, and stuck in their anger and jealousy. They are not alive; they are just walking corpses. If you look around yourself with mindfulness, you will see people going around like zombies. Have a great deal of compassion for the people around you who are living like this. They do not know that life is accessible only in the here and now."

This book was my introduction to the philosophy and delicate nature of Buddhism. I realize now that everything I thought I knew about Buddhism was either false or incomplete. This book opened windows in my mind for a refreshing breeze to blow and removed part of the mystery of meditation and human nature (in a good way).

Very short, lovely introduction to a Buddhist way of looking at the world. Very uplifting and reading the joy and wonder Thich Nhat Hanh approaches the world with made me happy.

Definitely one I'll reread periodically.

Uh, no star rating since it just seems weird to give books on spirituality a rating :P

This is the first Thich Nhat Hanh book I have read, and I found it to be an excellent and simple description of Buddhist philosophy. Many other books on Buddhism have left me scratching my head, thinking, "Huh?" You are Here was easy to read and, most importantly, understandable.

This will be a book I come back to, again and again.

This book helped me through rough times and is one I turn to regularly. Though I think the flow is lost in translation, it is still a valuable read, full of strategies for starting to live life more mindfully. It's also easy to flip through later at random and find nuggets of wisdom and useful advice.

From the very first page this book made me feel peaceful. Even translated, there is something lyrical and soothing about the writing. Emphasizing the importance of mindfulness and breathing, the author provides basic Buddhist thoughts in a way that is easy to access, understand, and apply.

I really enjoyed this book. It was hard to get into at first because it was reminding me to be mindful. Eventually I got out a pencil and underlined a few things. Because I go back and forth between fiction and non-fiction (in my book group and in general) I think that was where part of my difficultly getting into this book came in. But in the end, I loved this book.

I found it extremely informative and accessible. I've begun practicing mindfulness in my running and yoga practice and I've been t More...

I have read several of Thich Nhat Hanh's books now. He's a Vietnamese Buddhist monk (and, a rather prolific writer!). His writings are simple, yet profound. I actually find that even reading a few pages from his books will have a calming effect on me. Highly recommend.

This book reads more like a self-help book than a book of philosophy. for that reason, it is something I cannot connect to as well. "Do this" and "Do that" is all over the book, and though it fits with the teachings of the Buddhist philosophy, it settles awkwardly in my mind.

This book was one of my first forays into Buddhist philosophy. Very interesting. Some things really resonated with me and others were harder to grasp or didn't seem relevant to me at this time. The order of discussion seems kind of random and scattered, but overall I found some of the ideas presented to be very powerful.

A lot of what's in this little book is similar to his other books yet it's always good to be reminded. You can never be told too many times to water the positive karmic seeds and to be present. The reminder to focus on the breath deep in your abdomen, beneath your navel, when feeling emotionally turbulent is also a simple yet effective technique to stabilize your mind.

This a fantastic guide to practicing mindfulness and a great intro to Buddhism. In just a matter of days of practicing what the book suggests I noticed a shift in my awareness.
While writing to a friend I share the following: "I was walking in from my garage yesterday and caught myself rushing for no reason. I switched to mindfully feeling and hearing my feet on the snow and feeling the snowflakes hit my cheeks. What utter bliss! I have spent many years searching for peace, searching for joy and More...

I read this many years ago while in college but it really changed my life. It is so hard to learn to live in the present that the meditations and advise given in the book are like constant light bulbs going off while I read.