Finding Yoyu is a lovely book about always keeping something in reserve (physical energy, emotional energy, money, time, and so on) to better deal with daily life. Without that margin, everything feels rushed and stressed; building in that little bit of extra creates space and ease and can move us from constantly reacting to more thoughtfully navigating challenges. Author Marci Kobayashi uses her experiences in Japan to explain the concept of yoyu and offers practical advice -- all relatable and helpful. I especially enjoyed the idea of taking a brief "Dozo Gratitude Walk" to build a bit of reserve and help keep things in perspective. Kobayashi says dozo means "here you are" or "for you"; as we walk and notice things in the natural world, we say dozo as a way of offering thanks. It's lovely, easy, can be as long or short as time allows, and reminds me that there is always something to be grateful for -- even if it's not at first apparent.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC.

A Japanese person can simply respond to a situation with "I don't have yoyu" when they can't help or can't do something. An English speaker will always need to be more specific: I'm shattered, I'm slammed, I'm chock-a-block, I'm broke, etc. Using this flexible term "yoyu", our author takes us on a tour of the different situations when a Japanese person might use "I don't have yoyu" and what can be gleaned from this.

This is a light read for the stressed middle-class woman who's struggling to keep all the plates spinning. The author provides various exercises throughout the text which I didn't do as they're full of spirit guide chants/invocations and the dreaded word "manifesting". I also didn't like the author's use of "transitioned" when she meant dead - just call a spade, a spade.

Nothing radically new but parts are a helpful reminder to slow down, ask for help and take time out if your emotions are at boiling point. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I really enjoyed FINDING YOYU and found it to be relaxing and helpful.

I thought the author did a good job of telling us and showing us how to slow down. This is a real problem for Americans.

The chapters that discussed that it's okay to adapt your routines to fit YOUR life and it's difficulties was also helpful.

A lot of us try to fit into the box that we consider what most others do, and sometimes, you need to do what's best for you and your family.

Picking your battles kept coming up for me throughout the book. Not everything is worth a fight.

Some of the material seemed repetitive at times, but nonetheless, I enjoyed the book.

Thank you Netgalley and BooksGoSocial for an e-copy of FINDING YOYU to review.

I rate FINDING YOYU four out of five stars.

I mostly liked this. It was interesting and an entertaining read. However at times it felt a little self indulgent and I sometimes found myself wondering what the aim of the book was. Did I enjoy it - yes. Did I come away with useful things I could try? I’m not sure. Thanks to NetGalley for the early copy.

Honestly this book made me more anxious than it helped me. I thought it would be more about how to help vs. the author creating her own problems and then cultivating yoyu as a way to decompress or gain “energy”. Some of the tips were helpful and I’m going to use them, however most of the problems the author experienced would have helped her better by just communicating and seeing someone for her anxiousness. Truly the way she acted sometimes had my mouth dropping and I couldn’t believe it.

If life feels like a never-ending to-do list, this book is the reset button you didn’t know you needed. Marci introduces the Japanese concept of yoyu—the idea of having enough (or more than enough) time, energy, money, or mental space—and shows how embracing it can help us break free from burnout and overwhelm.

drawing from her 30+ years in Japan and personal experience caring for her Japanese father-in-law, Marci blends cultural insights, real-life stories, and practical exercises to help readers reclaim balance. unlike typical self-help books that tell you to “just make time for yourself,” this digs deeper into why we feel so depleted in the first place. whether it’s struggling to set boundaries, constantly running on empty, or feeling like there’s never enough (money, time, space—you name it), this book offers tangible strategies to shift your mindset and reclaim your resources.

i really liked it because the author gets it—she understands the mental load of managing work, family, and everything in between. she doesn’t sugarcoat the struggles but instead offers small, doable shifts that actually work. her approach is refreshing, focusing on abundance in all forms, not just financial, and helping readers find balance without guilt.

4.5 ⭐️
thank you BooksGoSocial!