When Things Don’t Go Your Way

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What to expect

Brought to you by Penguin.

Every person's life is a journey toward themselves.


The School for Broken Hearts, founded by bestselling mega-monk Haemin Sunim, provides a safe and caring space for people going through a difficult stage in life. Following on from his first two immensely successful books (where the first was about slowing down, and the second was about accepting imperfection), this time, it's about finding one's path.

In this book, which offers ancient wisdom for modern living and embodies Haemin's trademark mixture of illustrations, narrative, quotes, poems, aphorisms, he shows how you too can find both inner tranquillity and "small but certain happiness", whatever burden you are carrying - be that a broken relationship, an unmanageable work/life balance or a painful bereavement. Along the way there are chapters on Self-Knowledge, Family, Friends, and Loneliness, and as Haemin proves, when our minds grow tranquil, everything becomes clearer; we can be healed of our pain and live our best lives.

© Haemin Sunim 2023 (P) Penguin Audio 2023

Critics Review

  • Imagine receiving a warm hug from a book – that’s exactly what you’ll experience with this one. Sunim skillfully offers comforting wisdom in an accessible and gentle manner, while also embracing profound vulnerability, just as he has done with his previous books.

    Vex King
  • In When Things Don’t Go Your Way, Haemin Sunim offers readers a warm and reassuring path through the most challenging moments of our lives. By sharing his hard-won wisdom, he guides us from hardship to self-discovery, helping us to stay centered and feel whole.

    Lori Gottlieb, New York Times bestselling author of Maybe You Should Talk to Someone
  • Haemin Sunim is one of the wisest, most honest and authentic teachers I know. Drawn from his own lived experience, When Things Don’t Go Your Way offers the kind of guidance we most need when life doesn’t cooperate and we’re painfully, emotionally stuck. It shows us how our challenges themselves can become powerful fuel for spiritual awakening

    Tara Brach, author of Radical Acceptance

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