Breakfast with Buddha: Book Review

UPDATED 02/21/2025

I just finished reading Breakfast with Buddha and it was had a very strong reminder for me. One that I had to share with you.

The book is about a man, Otto, who’s parents died suddenly. He has to travel halfway across the country to settle the estate. And to his surprise, his sister asks him to bring a monk along for the ride. Otto has never met this monk and doesn’t necessarily believe in everything the monk stands for. Along the journey, Otto tries to show the monk a little of American lifestyle. Otto shows him tourist spots, beautiful scenery, and of course, the food. The monk also tries to show Otto a bit about his practices by way of speaking engagements that Otto resists learning. Thankfully, Otto’s mindset eventually changes and he comes around. In the end, Otto realizes he needs to look at his life very differently.

Breakfast with Buddha has a very strong message for me. It wasn’t about practicing religion or becoming a buddhist. Rather it was about finding gratitude. That word has a fairly big meaning for me but it took a while to get there. Most people don’t spend too much time actually thinking about being grateful. The food we eat, the ability to communicate freely, and all the other things around us that make our lives easier are things we should be grateful for.

Instead, what we do is think of all the bad or negative things that are happening around us. I try to take those negative instances and use them as learning lessons. Turning them into something more positive is how I’ve been able to grow as much as I have. Now I try to savor my food, enjoying all the flavors, and know that my smartphone helps me communicate with someone at the drop of a hat.

This book helped me understand that I have the opportunity to be grateful for something every day. So I started paying attention to the world around me. I started noticing colors, smells, sensations on my skin. Today, I write down at least one thing I’m grateful for every day.

If you’ve read Breakfast with Buddha, let me know your review and tell me what moment of gratitude you had today.

My mission is to empower individuals to launch their side hustle and transform it into a thriving, successful business.

I provide tailored packages for business owners in New England and across the U.S., offering administrative, marketing, and operations support designed to meet your unique needs.

Jenn Mullen holds degrees in Psychology and Business Management, as well as a certification in healthy and wellness coaching. She combines over a decade of corporate experience with more than five years of small business expertise, bringing a unique blend of skills and insight to her work. Beyond her expertise, she’s a high-energy, passionate individual with ADHD who thrives on staying organized, bringing laughter to every project, and finding joy in the work she loves.