Wabi Sabi: The Wisdom in Imperfection

by Nobuo Suzuki, Hector Garcia (Foreword by), Russell Calvert (Translator)

Overview

Be the best imperfect person you can be!

Wabi Sabi is the Japanese Zen philosophy that all things are imperfect, unfinished and impermanent. It is a fresh way of seeing and moving through the world when our lives, literally and figuratively, feel cluttered. This book shows us how to apply this concept in the context of daily life and offers ideas on how to see it, embrace it and incorporate it into everyday thoughts, objects and situations.

In a simple and accessible style, Wabi Sabi: The Wisdom in Imperfection shows you how embracing imperfections and impermanence frees you to become a better person, by reevaluating what "better" means—what really matters and what you truly want. A few simple challenges and exercises encourage you to get creative—such as a Wabi Sabi diary, a haiku exercise and a "make art" challenge—plus some tips on minimizing and decluttering (mentally and physically) for a simpler life. It allows you to mindfully make space in your head, home and with your time.

In the foreword, Hector Garcia— the bestselling author of Ikigai: The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life—introduces readers to the Wabi Sabi aesthetic and shares his personal Wabi Sabi journey: from being asked about it on live TV fifteen years ago (before he knew what it was) to today, when it permeates every aspect of his life.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9784805316313
Publisher:	Tuttle Publishing
Publication date:	04/06/2021
Pages:	192
Sales rank:	771,275
Product dimensions:	5.40(w) x 7.70(h) x 1.00(d)

About the Author

Nobuo Suzuki was born in 1968 and has dedicated his life to studying approaches to Japanese philosophy and psychology. After traveling all around Asia, he developed a method of connecting Zen with art therapies, and now works with clients seeking alternative ways of approaching their life issues. He loves playing piano, writing about his trips and recording his reflections.

Foreword by:
Hector Garcia was born in Spain and worked at CERN in Switzerland before moving to Japan, his home of more than 15 years. In Japan he developed voice recognition software and the technology for young Silicon Valley companies to enter the Japanese market. His popular blog kirainet.com led to his internationally successful book A Geek In Japan. Along with Francesc Miralles, he is the author of the bestselling Ikigai: The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life, The Ikigai Journey and Forest Bathing.

Translated by:
Russell Calvert has a masters degree in translation studies from Pompeu Fabra University (Barcelona). He has 25 years TESOL (Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages) experience, including posts at ESADE Business School (Barcelona) and Salalah College of Applied Sciences (Oman). He was the subtitler, translator and interpreter for the 2012 Mecal International Short Film Festival of Barcelona.

Table of Contents

Foreword Hector Garcia 9

Prologue: The Magic of Imperfection 15

The Three Dimensions of Wabi Sabi 21

I The Philosophy of Wabi Sabi 27

Origins of the Concept 31

Zen and Wabi Sabi 37

Don't Be Too Hard on Yourself and on Others 49

Lessons from Nature 57

II Wabi Sabi in Art 65

Principles of Wabi Sabi in the Japanese Arts 69

The Beauty of Melancholy 81

From Inflexibility to Spontaneity 89

Wabi Sabi and Creativity 97

III Wabi Sabi as a Way of Life 107

Imperfection as a Road to Excellence 111

Wabi Sabi and Resilience 119

Creating Space 129

The School of Minimalism 139

Wabi Sabi Spirituality 151

Epilogue: Be the Best Imperfect Person You Can Be 156

Bibliography 158