I knew nothing about wabi-sabi before reading this, but the book's description intrigued me. It is accessible and provided me with a good introduction to all that wabi-sabi entails. I appreciated the reading list at the end of the book too.

The Wabi-Sabi Way is part educational text on the terms and origins of Wabi Sabi and how they are practiced in Japan and part how to apply the methods to everyday life. There are some good exercise questions at the end of each chapter which do require some work and meditation. It was interesting however a little repetitive at times. Unfortunately, I dont think it is the way of life for me but I do see the appeal for others.

This is a beautiful book that really practices what it teaches. Wabi-Sabi a beautiful concept that has always fascinated me, and this book is wonderful no matter if you have little or no experience in Japanese culture, or if you know a lot. I couldn’t possibly explain wabi-sabi as well as the author, but it is about the beauty of simplicity, of change with time and of appreciating beauty in things that have experienced time and life. If you are drawn to Marie Kondo’s method, you will probably love this book; even though (as the author explains) the practices are different, they share some common beauty. The book touches on a wide variety of beneficial practices including meditation, what Westerners call “earthing,” and the idea of detachment and impermanence. This book is a much deeper and more profound look at these practices than most self-help and “decluttering” books I have read.

Wabi-sabi has to do with letting go of and minimizing material things, and I cannot say I have yet mastered this. But the book really motivated me to try, and to live a richer and more beautiful life.

Thanks to NetGalley, Mike Sturm and Rockridge Press for the advance copy of this lovely book in exchange for my honest review.