Beth Kempton

I really enjoyed Andrew Juniper's book, Wabi Sabi: The Japanese Art of Impermanence so i thought i'd may as well give Beth's book a read as well.

However, unlike Andrew's book, which i seemed to remember focussed more on the actual aesthetics and the Zen side of Wabi Sabi, with Beth's book we look deeper into the lifestyle and world view of this wonderful concept.

In reading this book you soon become aware that Beth really has done a lot of homework, lifework, career work and academic work on Japan, and she does a wonderful job of bringing another take on the concept of Wabi Sabi to us non-Japanese readers who are always eager to learn more.

When it all boils down to it, it's essentially a self help book coming from a really interesting angle.   There's plenty of food for thought in here for anyone looking to make their life even a little bit better tomorrow than it was yesterday.   I'm fairly certain that everyone could find at least one thing in here to help improve their own lives in a really good way.… (mais)

I had this book for months and months before I finally decided to give it a shot and then declutter it to the street library. I expected it to be some lifestyle-design fluff without much depth and very obvious advice. And while it had some of that, it had quite a few gems that stopped me in my tracks. I ended up taking my time to read it and may not declutter it after all. Some chapters spoke to me (career, seizing moments) while some fell flat (relationships). Overall a worthwhile read and a wake up call in some areas.… (mais)

If you are looking for ideas to promote a calm Christmas season, moving away from commercialism and hectic lifestyles, then this book might be of help to you. This is really a workbook that can help readers focus on what is meaningful to them during the holidays, and pay attention to potential stressors. The book contains a chapter on the five components or "stories" that might make up a person's individual meaning of Christmas: faith, magic, connection, abundance, and heritage. Using the exercises and thoughtful questions, the reader can gain insights into his or her own ideas for a meaningful holiday season and into a peaceful New Year. The ideas within the book encourage personal well-being and enjoyment of the events and activities that mean the most to a person.

I received this book from the publisher and from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are entirely my own.… (mais)