How does Thich Nhat Hanh makes Buddhism relevant to the twentieth-century?

Thich Nhat Hanh is one of the most influential modern Buddhist teachers of the twentieth-century. Having fled his home country, Vietnam, during the political turmoil and war there in the late sixties, Hanh created a spiritual community in France and spent many years traveling and teaching internationally.
Hanh has written more than 100 books, over 40 of which have been published in English. In the past decade, some of his most intriguing titles include Savor: Mindful Eating, Mindful Life, Reconciliation: Healing the Inner Child, You Are Here: Discovering the Magic of the Present Moment and The Art of Communicating.
His writing style is simple and clear. He offers dharma wisdom in plain terms, such as: “Freedom is not given to us by anyone; we have to cultivate it ourselves. It is a daily practice. No one can prevent you from being aware of each step you take or each breath in and breath out.”
Although Hanh is a Zen monk and master, through his teachings and writings, he speaks directly to modern day women and men living in the fast-paced world of ever evolving technology and dealing with the demands of balancing personal, work, relationship and family time.

Thich Nhat Hanh makes Buddhism relevant to the twentieth-century by taking the concepts of mindfulness and applying them to aspects of everyday life. An example of this application can be found in his book Savor: Mindful Eating, Mindful Life, co-written with Dr. Lilian Cheung, a lecturer at Harvard's School of Public Health. In this book, Thich Nhat Hanh and Dr. Cheung explore how the concepts of mindfulness can be applied to an everyday practice such as eating in order to promote better health and a better quality of life.
Thich Nhat Hanh addresses other issues relevant to the twentieth century through the lens of mindfulness such as care for the environment, maintaining healthy relationships and communication issues in books such as: Love Letter to the Earth, Teachings on Love and The Art of Communicating. Each of these books helps the reader relate mindfulness to a practical aspect of everyday life.
Finally, in addition to his extensive writings, Thich Nhat Hanh has offered several retreats where individuals can experience first-hand how to practice mindfulness in the modern world. Whether through writings or retreats, throughout his life Thich Nhat Hanh has offered the world several ways to connect the tenets of mindfulness to a modern life.

Thich Nhat Hanh applies Buddhist concepts to twentieth-century dilemmas and issues. For example, in writing about the ancient Buddhist concept of mindfulness in his book The Miracle of Mindfulness, the author shows how mindfulness can be applied to busy, modern lives. He uses the example of a man named Allen who has two children and a wife. In the past, Allen felt stressed about not having enough time for himself. Now, using mindfulness techniques, he realizes that time spent with his family is time for himself. Instead of rushing through time with his son, for example, he relishes being spiritually present during the time he spends with his son. Therefore, being mindful helps Allen be present and share the time with his son in a meaningful way. Thich Nhat Hanh makes ancient Buddhist concepts relevant to modern audiences by showing the utility and power of these concepts in our world.
In his work How to Love, Thich Nhat Hanh shows that ancient Sanskrit ideas about love, including maitri, karuna, mudita, and upeksha (loving kindness, compassion, joy, and equanimity) can be brought to modern relationships. In explaining how these ideas apply to modern life and relationships, he makes them universal. For example, he explains that understanding the suffering a person has experienced in his or her own life allows that person to understand the suffering of another. These are emotions that everyone has experienced, and he explains their applicability to modern-day situations.
Thich Nhat Hanh is also very much a part of the modern world. Rather than retreating, as many Buddhists teachers have done in the past, he believes in a form of Engaged Buddhism. His practice involves applying Buddhist ideas such as mindfulness to real-world problems in an effort to bring about change and justice. He believes that by finding peace within oneself, a person can also work for peace in the world. For example, in the 1960s, he forged an alliance with Dr. Martin Luther King to work together to end the Vietnam War. He is engaged in the problems of the world.