Point of View

Thich Nhat Hanh, that author of the book, narrates the novel from the first person point of view. As both narrator and author, Hanh is a reliable, honest, and compassionate voice throughout the novel. This method is vital to the book, since the information presented is primarily the teachings of Hanh. By using a first person point of view, Hanh is able to teach his method of mindful living through analogy and examples seen throughout his own personal life. These first person examples provide, not only necessary understanding of the concepts, but also a sense of honesty and reliability. Further, this point of view allows the focus of the book to remain on the teachings of Hanh, and the primary themes of the novel.

Setting

This book, as a self-help book and instructional manual for mindful living, does not have a particular setting. However, many of...