Call Me By My True Names

Introduction by Ocean Vuong

“Thich Nhat Hanh’s work has proven to be the antidote to our modern pain and sorrows.” – Ocean Vuong

The definitive poetry collection by the world renowned Zen master, peace activist, and author of “The Miracle of Mindfulness”.

Though he is best known for his groundbreaking and accessible works on applying mindfulness to everyday life, Thich Nhat Hanh is also a distinguished poet and Nobel Peace Prize nominee. This stunning poetry collection explores these lesser-known facets of Nhat Hanh’s life, revealing not only his path to becoming a Zen meditation teacher but his skill as a poet, his achievements as a peace activist, and his experiences as a young refugee.

Through more than fifty poems spanning several decades, Nhat Hanh reveals the stories of his past—from his childhood in war-torn Vietnam to the beginnings of his own spiritual journey—and shares his ideas on how we can come together to create a more peaceful, compassionate world. Uplifting, insightful, and profound, “Call Me By My True Names” is at once an exquisite work of poetry and a portrait of one of the world’s greatest Zen masters and peacemakers.