Wabi Sabi: The Wisdom in Imperfection

by Nobuo Suzuki, Héctor García (Foreword), Russell Calvert (Translator)

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.

Genres: Nonfiction, Philosophy, Self Help, Japan, Spirituality, Japanese Literature, Zen

192 pages, Hardcover

First published March 9, 2021

About the author

Author and philosopher, he studied Art and Literature in Europe before starting to write about creativity and personal development. He loves playing the piano, traveling around the world and living with cats.

Reviews

[☘Misericordia☘ ⚡ϟ⚡⛈⚡☁ ❇️❤❣ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Q:
It is said there was a monk in charge of the garden of a Zen monastery in Japan who had a peculiar habit. When sweeping the fall leaves from the stone path, he would let one leaf fall to the ground just before going back inside his house. (c)
Q:
... the Japanese spirit of wabi sabi, which regards things that resemble nature as beautiful, and which may be summed up with the following three principles:
1. Nothing is perfect.
2. Nothing is finished.
3. Nothing lasts forever. (c)
Q:
... in a wabi sabi life there are no mistakes. Life is imperfect by definition, so if I make a mistake, so be it!” (c)
Q:
If each person has their own truth and we cannot even be certain of the reality we believe ourselves to be living in, what sense is there in having certainties about how things are or how they should be? (c)
Q:
Give up on yourself. Begin taking action now, while being neurotic or imperfect, or a procrastinator, or unhealthy, or lazy, or any other label by which you inaccurately describe yourself. Go ahead and be the best imperfect person you can be and get started on those things you want to accomplish before you die. (c)
Q:
“In all things, uniformity is undesirable. Leaving something incomplete… gives one the feeling that through this imperfection the life of living things is extended.”
...
Leaving something incomplete makes life interesting. It is said that even when building the imperial palace, some corner is always left unfinished. And in the writings of the old spiritual masters, there are always chapters and parts missing. (c) Tsurezuregusa by Yoshida Kenkō
Q:
Kintsugi (gold joinery) is a slow and mindful process, involving many steps and a lot of waiting before moving from one step to the next. The gold highlights and celebrates the break that leads to the repair, as well as the repair itself. The repair, performed with love and care, creates something new out of what which was broken, something even more precious than the original. (c)

[T O À N P H A N · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Hạnh phúc là thực tế mà chúng ta sống trừ đi những gì chúng ta khao khát và hy vọng đạt được."
•
Biết đủ là hạnh phúc. Wabi sabi (ngày xưa khi lần đầu bập vào khái niệm này, tui hay đọc là wasabi 🙄) không quá khó để thực hành. Triết lý này rất đơn giản, hãy tối giản mọi thứ, từ đồ vật đến tâm trí, cố gắng đừng để bản thân bị vướng bận bởi tiêu dùng vô lối và những người phiền nhiễu. Cứ thả lỏng, chấp nhận cuộc đời như một nhành cây, lá xanh rồi sẽ vàng, dẹp bớt kỳ vọng, bình thản mà sống.
•
Sách mỏng, nhưng khái quát đầy đủ, dễ hiểu, dễ làm. Bản thân tui đang hướng mình vào lối sống tối giản, nhưng đôi lúc hay bị chệch choạc, ngoài những phương pháp, tui còn cần một mớ động lực, cuốn sách này đã thảy cho tui cái mớ động lực đó. Tâm trí thoải mái, vạn sự hanh thông.
•
Nói chung là, đừng suy nghĩ nhiều. Biết đủ là được. Vậy nghen.

[Yuen Tan · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a book full of great quotes, with quick intro to many great concepts apart from wabi saving - kintsugi, naturalism, ichigo ichie, danshari and Zen.
Beautiful book, can do with more depth.

“Accepting our imperfections is not an excuse for sliding into conformism and standing still. We must take a step forward each day to be the best imperfect person we can be.”

“The world breaks everyone and afterward many are strong at the broken places - Hemingway”

“Wabi sabi - reality is neither uniquely joyful nor sad, but include both emotions at once.”

[Viki · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was great! It's the type of self-help book I like—the kind that teaches you something new while also making you pause and think.

The concept of Wabi Sabi is fascinating, and I would love to learn more about it.
The structure of the book was well thought out, featuring meditation prompts and beautiful pictures, both in color and black and white.

This book made me realize that sometimes I create my own stress and anxiety by striving for something that doesn't exist: perfection. It helped me see that there were many times in my life when I felt everything was going wrong because I had imagined a "perfect" path that didn't unfold as I expected. Later, I would often realize that things actually worked out for the best, and I didn't need to worry so much that I couldn't sleep or think.

If you like self help books, I highly recommend this one!

Here are some quotes that I loved:

"Perfection does not even exist to begin with; it is only in the realm of our human imagination" 🌸💭

"Why should we worry about the future or present if nothing will be the same tomorrow as it was yesterday?" ⌛️

"I secretly wish for the day to come when everything in my life is stable and perfect. On the other hand, I also know that this paradisiacal state will never come, since the only constant in life is change" ✨

[Surattikorn · Rating 5 out of 5]

เป็นหนังสือที่จะอ่านง่าย ๆ สบาย ๆ อ่านไปเรื่อย ๆ ก็ได้

หรือจะอ่านช้า ๆ พยายามคิดตาม ทำความเข้าใจ ก็จะกลายเป็นหนังสือที่อ่านยากขึ้นมา
เพราะหลายอย่างมันขัดแย้งกับความคิด ความเชื่อ ค่านิยมของคนทั่วไป

โดยความเข้าใจหลังจากอ่านจบ
วะบิ ซะบิ มีหลัก 3 เรื่อง
1. ไม่มีสิ่งใดสมบูรณ์แบบ
2. ไม่มีสิ่งใดเสร็จสมบูรณ์
3. ไม่มีสิ่งใดคงอยู่ตลอดไป

โดยส่วนตัว อ่านแล้วรู้สึกดี รู้สึกสบายใจ ปล่อยวาง
รู้สึกว่าแนวคิดของ วะบิ ซะบิ เป็นแนวคิดที่ ชีวิตเบาสบาย

[Lefteris Knt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Όσο όμορφο είναι το εξώφυλλο άλλο τόσο όμορφο είναι και το περιεχόμενο! Με απλά λόγια αποκτά αξία η ομορφιά της ατέλειας! Ας ζήσουμε τη στιγμή και ας μην βάζουμε εμπόδια στη πραγματική μας ευτυχία η οποία εμπεριέχει τις ατέλειες της!

[Ayon Ibrahim · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm surprised that this book has just 100 ratings because it's a fantastic intro to this sort of Eastern philosophy! It doesn't go super deep into the various aspects of Wabi Sabi and Zen Buddhism, but that was never its aim (in fact, it explicitly says so right in the foreword). But still, there is enough substance in here (especially for a novice like me) that I know I'll be coming back to this book time and time again.

If I had to describe this book in terms of the main emotion I felt while reading it, tranquility immediately comes to mind. The words felt gentle and calm, which is generally the opposite feeling I get with most self-help books that urge you to grab life by the horns and be as productive as you can be. This is sort of the opposite, in a very good way. Wabi sabi is about accepting and finding beauty in transience, natural simplicities, and imperfection, and this book leisurely takes you through this idea and how it can be implemented in your art, your work, your home and your life.

Nobuo Suzuki judiciously employs enjoyable and thought-provoking anecdotes, legends, and hypothetical situations to help you consider why incorporating wabi sabi into your life would be a positive thing. Two of my favorites include: the monk who sweeps the garden in front of the monastery but then purposefully knocks one autumn leaf off a branch onto the otherwise immaculate path, cheerfully accepting that the inevitably of that happening anyway; and, the situation where you get a new car and mindfully and peacefully accept that soon enough, whether it happens the next day or the next year, it will get scratched and dented (and that's OK!).

Honestly, I'm having a hard time finding the right words to describe why I liked this book so much. I think many of ideas in this book - that maximizing productivity isn't the meaning of life, that it's absolutely fine to feel satisfied doing nothing sometimes, that imperfections are OK, that a chipped mug isn't worth less, that a worn-out book is likely more loved than brand-new one, that stories and projects don't ever truly finish, you just choose to finish working on them so you can move onto other things - are thoughts I've kept in the back of my mind for a long time, and reading this book has made me more consciously aware of them.

As I wrote above, I will definitely be coming back to this book in the future, and I think I have just begun walking the long (never-ending) road to understanding more of this sort of philosophy. I highly recommend this book to anyone, but especially to those who sometimes feel helplessly caught in the rat race of fast-paced modern life, where we are told that the correct way to live and succeed is to keep trying to get the better job, the better house, the better whatever.

I'll close this by listing the 3 main tenets of wabi sabi, which I hope to mindfully incorporate into the philosophy of the rest of my life:

Nothing is perfect.
Nothing is finished.
Nothing lasts forever.

[Richa Sharma · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wabi Sabi: The Wisdom in Imperfection by Nobuo Suzuki, is a book on the Japanese Zen Philosophy that everything is imperfect, impermanent and ever changing. The book guides us through Wabi Sabi in art, history and how this philosophy will affect our life. Wabi Sabi doesn't conform to adding but following a more minimising lifestyle that's freeing and fruitful.

The book is a perfect beginning to the Japanese Zen Philosophy, the author himself accepts that Wabi Sabi cannot be defined, it is a journey. With many sections based on the Wabi Sabi philosophy and the author's personal accounts, this book reads like a dream, a soothing dream. It's a fast read with various quotable lines, adding to it is the meditations that will keep you motivated and curious.

[Hanin Reads · Rating 3 out of 5]

يعرض الكاتب كيف يمكن للجمال أن يكون في الأشياء غير الكاملة، في التفاصيل البسيطة، وفي مرور الزمن نفسه. ويمنح القارئ طريقة جديدة للنظر إلى العيوب—not as flaws but as part of the story.

أجمل ما في الكتاب أنه يدفعك للبطء، للهدوء، وللرضا عن الإيقاع الطبيعي للحياة. ستجد نفسك تفكر في بيتك، في روتينك، وفي مشاعرك بنظرة أكثر تسامحًا وعمقًا.

[Rithun Regi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Why chase perfection when there is beauty, wisdom and a sense of naturalness in imperfection. This is a very good book with a lot of nuggets of wisdom. Thoroughly enjoyed the book.

[Yamaguchi · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of those rare books that manage to make me feel more calm and peaceful just by reading them.

[Roya · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5⭐️
1- کتابایی که با جودی می‌خونم رو یه‌جورِ دیگه‌ای دوست دارم و یه‌جورِ دیگه‌ای تو ذهنم می‌مونن. راستش اینکه من رو قابل می‌دونه که یه کتاب رو باهام بخونه خیلی منو ذوق‌زده میکنه. اینکه بدونم اون راجع به این فصل از کتاب چه فکری میکنه، اون کدوم قسمت رو بیشتر دوست داره، به بهونه کتاب باهاش صحبت کنم و چیزایی که راجع به کتاب پیدا کردم رو باهاش شِر کنم رو واقعا دوست دارم.💜

2- یکی از دلایلی که این کتاب رو دوست داشتم، این بود که با کلماتی از یه زبانِ غریب آشنا میشدم که توی زبانِ دیگه‌ای (و یا حداقل توی فارسی) معادل نداره و یک مفهومِ عمیق رو می‌رسونه. اینکه یه کلمه توی فرهنگ و طرز فکر مردم یک کشور ریشه داره و خاصِ زبان خودشونه و نه تنها ترجمه‌ای به زبان دیگه‌ نداره بلکه برای درک معناش باید با اصول و تفکر مردم اون کشور آشنایی داشته باشی، برام بی‌نهایت زیباست.

3- وابی سابی از این جهت خیلی زیباست که مثل کتاب‌های دیگه راه حلی برای بهترین و کامل‌ترین و بی‌نقص‌ترین انسان بودن نمیده! بلکه می‌خواد بگه هیچکس کامل نیست و اتفاقا همین نقص‌هامونه که ما رو محشر میکنه😌 هیچ چیز پایدار نیست و همه‌چیز بالاخره یه روز تموم میشه پس غصه‌شو نخور و این رو جزو طبیعتِ دنیا بدون.

4- من قبل از خوندنِ این کتاب، شیفته‌ی تمامِ ویرانگی‌ها، نقص‌ها، آوارها، دَرز و تَرَک‌ها، چین و چروک‌ها، پوسیدگی‌ها، رنگ و رو رفتگی‌ها، بخیه‌ها، زخم‌ها، شکستگی‌ها، وصله و پینه‌ها‌‌‌‌.... بودم و همچنان هم هستم🥹
انگار مثلِ آهن‌ربا منو سمتِ خودشون می‌کشونن. یجور شکوه و اصالت و اُبهتِ بی‌اندازه‌ای دارن.
زیباترین خونه‌ها برام، خونه‌های خشتیِ نم‌دار و ترک‌خورده‌ست. چینی‌های گل‌سرخی بند زده شده رو به کریستال ترجیح میدم و عاشقِ زبری دستِ آدمام.
و خوندنِ این کتاب باعث شد عشقم به تک‌تک نقص‌های دنیا شونصد برابر بشه😍💙

5- چیزی که از همون اول دوست داشتم با خوندن کتاب بیشتر بهش باور کنم، اصل عدم قطعیت بود. یجوریه که آدم میدونه و تاییدش میکنه ولی حقیقتا بهش باور نداره!
یعنی هیچکس انکارش نمیکنه و مدام هم تکرار می‌کنیم که چیزی موندگار نیست ولی پاش که برسه، می‌بینیم قلبا بهش باور نداریم، چون انتظار داریم چیزای خوب همیشه پایدار باشن ولی کتاب میگه که: "نکته خوب درباره عدم قطعیت این است که همه‌چیز ممکن است. همین که بپذیرید هیچ چیز در کنترل شما نیست و نیز اینکه جهان تغییر می‌کند و بر پایه سناریویی اسرارآمیز تحول می‌یابد، دست از نگرانی می‌کشید و از این ماجراجویی لذت می‌برید."

6- برای منی که هر لحظه آماده‌ی رها کردن و دورانداختنم، کتابِ وسوسه‌انگیزی بود!😂
هر روز دوست داشتم وسایل‌مو که هیچ نیازی هم بهشون ندارم بریزم دور و به یه روستای کوچیک اون سرِ دنیا فرار کنم، هر روز مراقبه کنم، توی ظروف چوبی غذاهای سالم بخورم، با تکنولوژی قهر کنم، غروبا روی تپه یوگا کنم و ....
(در صورتیکه کتاب فقط میگفت از هیاهو و مشغله دوری کنید و زمانی رو برای آرامش خودتون در نظر بگیرین)

7- چند کتابِ مختلف با عنوان "وابی سابی" نوشته شده که ما کتابِ "نوبو سوزوکی" رو از نشر سنگ خوندیم.

8- به طور کلی، کتابِ کوتاهیه که بهتون آرامش تزریق و حالِ خوبی القا میکنه. از خوندنش لذت ببرین :)))))

[Alexis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Học cách yêu những điều không hoàn hảo
Học cách chấp nhận và sống giản đơn

[Les mots d'Alix · Rating 5 out of 5]

« Au lieu de nous attrister, accepter que rien ne dure toujours nous pousse à apprécier la beauté de l'instant, qui est la seule chose que nous pouvons capturer ici et maintenant. »

Un de ces livres qui m'a fait énormément de bien.

Je vous explique.

Rien n'est parfait.
Rien n'est achevé.
Rien ne dure toujours.

Ce sont les trois principes qui régissent la philosophie japonaise du Wabi-Sabi (et pas le wasabi).
Fortement inspiré de la nature et son esthétique, ce mouvement de pensée nous invite à vivre pleinement l'instant présent, et à l'accepter dans toute son imperfection. Voire, même, à magnifier ses défauts, nos défauts, car ils sont ce qui nous différencie et nous forge.

Nos imperfections nous constituent autant que nos qualités. Et il serait dommage de les camoufler. Elles font partie de nous. Nous sommes la somme de nos imperfections, sans elles, nous n'existons pas. Alors, abordons les avec bienveillance et faisons leur une place au lieu de vouloir les enterrer.

La lecture de ce bouquin a été un véritable délice. Vraiment. En plus de nous délivrer des conseils pour mieux vivre avec les imperfections de nos mondes intérieur et extérieur, il est vraiment très bien écrit / traduit et fourmille d'exemples artistiques et culturels qui ont trouvé une jolie résonance dans mon pitit être

En bref, inspirant, apaisant, beau. Pour nous rappeler que la vie est parfaitement imparfaite. Et que c'est OK.

Je vous le conseille fortement 🤍

[GONZA · Rating 3 out of 5]

The topic was not new to me, but this approach helped me to better understand some details and nuances, which were not clear to me before. The fact of trying to be imperfect, however, has been clear to me for some time.

L'argomento non mi era nuovo, ma questo approccio mi é servito per comprendere meglio alcuni dettagli e sfumature, che prima non mi erano chiare. Il fatto di cercare di essere imperfetta, invece, mi é chiaro da tempo.

THANKS EDELWEISS FOR THE PREVIEWS !

[Pauline Fireheart · Rating 4 out of 5]

My healing book !

I took my sweet time reading this book just after closing it for the first time. I read a chapter every morning just after waking up and let the philosophy it teaches become a mindset to have in my day to day life.

[Hawraki · Rating 5 out of 5]

هذا الكتاب بسيط، ومباشر وغير معقد. يشرح فلسفة وابي سابي بشكل متكامل، ويتطرق إلى كيفية تطبيقها في الحياة. يحمل بين طياته الكثير من العمق والاقتباسات التي تستوقفك وتهزك من الداخل.

مُتعة الحياة في عبورها..

[Mari · Rating 5 out of 5]

I will re-read this book again. It is a very valuable book.

[Marc ZEIMET · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a Westerner, what to expect from reading a book on this core Japanese philosophy, Wabi Sabi, in addition, largely influenced by Zen-Buddhism, where its focus is put on the wisdom in imperfection? The reader may need to perform a paradigm shift in her brain and mindset to follow the teachings.
And this is probably the first and most important requirement: be open-minded to the explanations provided by the author, Nobuo Suzuki.
Not everything is so easily understandable at the first read, and this has nothing to do with the amazing texts presented in this publication. It is rather more related to the challenge of letting all those new ideas and views, at times quite opposed to Western thinking, enter one’s mind and be appreciated for what they present as a world view, a way of looking at the world and more importantly at life, its value, its sense, the handling of it as we live from day to day, every single moment.
The Western thinking-driven permanent search for perfection may be less the option to find inner peace, as frustration is inevitable in front of attempting to reach the higher ideal of flawless and ultimate perfection.
In this way, the Wabi Sabi concept makes all its sense. It is worth a thought and reflection, and for some who want to mediate further on a new way of life and thinking, this book is a great starting point.
Carefully worded, in an appealing at times poetic prose, illustrated with photos from nature, art and architecture, it guides around the Wabi-Sabi occurrences and implementations that can be observed and contemplated in everyday life.
At the end of the book, there is also a part dedicated to a set of self-help instructions for anyone who would like to train herself in the Wabi-Sabi lifestyle.
A challenging read for people who seek to enter the realm of Wabi-Sabi philosophy, but then for sure - enlightening, enriching, not least opening the door to a new world of ideas, helping to see the world and our life in a different way.

[Sreena · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this inspiring book while traveling on a train, and since then, it has become a constant source of inspiration in my life, reminding me to appreciate the beauty in the flawed and to find contentment in the present moment.

This book offers a fresh perspective on how to embrace life's flaws and find serenity in the midst of chaos. It reminds us to appreciate the simplicity and authenticity that lie within every moment. "Wabi Sabi" is a gentle reminder to find joy in imperfection and discover the profound wisdom it holds.

"In embracing the imperfect, we find the true essence of beauty."❤️

[daisy · Rating 4 out of 5]

a really lovely book which provides a stillness in our modern hustle. a reminder to be present, to be forgiving on our own imperfections and that there is so much joy found in nothing but also everything all at once.

i loved the meditations, images, and quotes throughout the book. these additions really helped to practice the concepts of wabi sabi and too acknowledge its presence in all areas of life.

[Lívia Hlavačková · Rating 3 out of 5]

Insightful but slightly annoying

There were many thoughts that I liked, that gave me insight to life and beauty. On the other hand, I found the style of writing somewhat annoying as the book seemed to be preaching about the right way to live and a wrong way to live with whatbthe author understood as wabi-sabi being the only right way to live.

[Madalina Dan · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best books I've read so far. It taught me a lot of valuable lessons regarding the beauty of imperfections, vulnerability, resilience and ceasing the moment. Highly recommend! 💖

[Kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Definitely worth reading. There's really something with the way Japanese perceive life and maneuver it in a calm, fulfilling way.

[Brianna · Rating 3 out of 5]

While the book did a good job of explaining Wabi Sabi philosophy, I expected to like this one a bit more. The first two parts about the philosophy and Wabi Sabi in art were a bit repetitive, and some parts were too abstract. I enjoyed part three about imparting wabi sabi into your lifestyle and the practical steps for minimalism in all aspects of life. I was hoping for more in depth chapters like the final two. Overall, I'm still glad that I read it.

[Mark · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found Wabi Sabi thematically coherent, but not always structurally so; Suzuki seemed to jump around a lot, and as a result, I often found myself wishing for more elaboration and expansion, more time spent in one place, a more contemplative pace for a book on contemplative matters. Nevertheless, even if I didn’t love the presentation, I liked the principle espoused, in its various manifestations, and the ways in which Suzuki made me consider it from various perspectives. Some of the applications were ones that I had already stumbled into doing—often blindly, as an apparent fallback position or in a manner that felt defeatist—but I was gratified to learn not only that such behaviors were in keeping with the philosophy of wabi sabi but also to learn the rationales and bases behind them, so that I can continue them in a more purposeful and thoughtful manner. Other applications were new ideas, but ones that intuitively both appealed and made sense, my favorite being that of creating negative space in one’s life and letting it fill up organically (rather than actively filling it with one’s preconceived notions of how one would like to), which promotes staying attuned to the present moment and one’s ever-changing self, and has a freeing aspect such that even when the negative space is created involuntarily, it can be received as contributing to the same end goal.

But a significant number of pieces of advices seemed to be given with no steps provided, no explanations or even suggestions of how to put them in practice, sometimes even without clear definitions (for example, it is suggested “in order to lead a wabi sabi lifestyle, do not add or eliminate more than is necessary,” without any indication of how to define how much is too much in either direction, or even how to get a sense of this admittedly personal range); sometimes we are at least given clues—or, more commonly, examples, so that we can at least see how a wabi sabi–related aim might manifest itself in our lives, though without the work being show of how to get from principle of manifestation—which can makes parts of the book feel a bit like being shown a series and having to determine the pattern, which often at least provokes productive thoughts, if inconclusive ones.

Suzuki does note, near the end of the book, that he is not a fan of offering formulas (though he makes a significant exception at that time), but by then I had come to terms with the fact that these exclusions might well be intentional, and that my inability to gain clarity was somewhat fitting, not so much in that it required me to accept the unalterable circumstance, or even that it fulfilled the principle of reduction more generally—the principle of being able to be satisfied without that which we desire, en route to being without the desire, with satisfaction derived internally or from what does exist externally in one’s life)—but in the fact that one, in seeking to live a life in accordance with wabi sabi, should not be trying to impose a singular set of rules, or be thinking about the changes to one’s life in terms of rules at all. Suzuki’s suggestion of keeping a wabi sabi–centered diary is one of the most compelling ideas presented, and emphasizes learning to think of wabi sabi in many different ways, and as being highly individualized in the context of one’s life. Wabi sabi, ultimately, needs—and has—no fixed template leading to it—not even an individualized one—because the principle exists not as an endpoint, or an achievement, but almost as a kōan, an asymptote to be approached from various directions (similarly to the ideal asymptotic approach of what one wants to what one has, of what is hoped for to reality), the accumulation of the lessons of one’s life and one’s attempts to approach it comprising that which is being approached.

[chachachoco · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book teaches you to embrace the imperfection of life and see the beauty of it.

[Satangan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reading Source: Hoopla Digital (Free)
Content: Ebook
Length: 192 pages
Written: Nobuo Suzuki
Published: Tuttle Publishing
Year: 2021

I was looking for some positivity reading and brain thinking. I kind of needed something to make me feel better and back on track. I browsed and found this ebook. I though I should read more like this and gave it a read.

Tba more……

[Kes Kanlaya · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a reminder that nothing is perfect and we need to learn to appreciate imperfections.

[Abhilash Ruhela · Rating 5 out of 5]

3rd Book of 2026

Whenever life is not very pleasant, I try picking up a self-help book because there is always one or a couple of insights that make it easier to move forward through tough phases. Sometimes, even if the ideas are not new, a book presents them differently, bringing the same old advice into a more productive and implementable perspective. Reading “Wabi Sabi” by the Japanese author Nobuo Suzuki did exactly that for me. This 160-pages hardover book takes us deep into one of the Japanese Zen philosophies, which also forms the title of the book, meaning “The Wisdom in Imperfection.” The book carries a foreword by none other than Hector Garcia, the co-author of another famous Japanese bestseller, Ikigai.

The author explains the individual meanings of the words Wabi and Sabi, and what they represent when considered together. Taking us through different interpretations, Nobuo emphasizes that it is about finding wisdom and beauty in incompleteness, imperfection, the unfinished, and the impermanent. The book is divided into three sections—The Philosophy of Wabi Sabi, Wabi Sabi in Art, and Wabi Sabi as a Way of Life.

In the first section, the author introduces Zen philosophy and Wabi Sabi briefly before delving deeper. One chapter explains why we should not be too hard on ourselves while chasing perfection, as the world conditions us to believe that perfection is the ultimate goal. It highlights how, when we begin to accept our own imperfections, we also learn to accept the imperfections of others. In doing so, the world becomes slightly more bearable and empathetic.

The author further discusses relationships, explaining how expectations can often lead to disappointment. Everyone is living life according to their own timeline and vision; comparison and expectation only complicate relationships unnecessarily.

In the chapter on drawing inspiration from nature, the author explains how nature is endless and rarely perfectly finished. Even ancient palaces often have a corner left incomplete. The foam of the sea forms and dissolves endlessly. The idea of a “proper ending” is largely a human construct, and it is often the source of our inner turmoil.

The second section is dedicated to Japanese art and aesthetics, where creations are not always made with the intention of being perfectly finished. Instead, broken parts, recycled elements, and purposeful incompleteness are embraced to create something unique. Within this section, the chapter on melancholy stood out for me. The author beautifully explains why melancholy is an indispensable emotion and how it can exist without necessarily leading to depression or loneliness. Nobuo also highlights how people today often suppress melancholic feelings through medication. He gently guides us toward understanding how creativity, calmness, and even happiness can emerge by embracing Wabi Sabi principles.

In the third section, the author shifts towards practical implementation. He provides examples and tabular formats that contrast how things are commonly perceived versus how they could be approached through Wabi Sabi. The example of a broken bucket and the story of a painter who never saw his work as genius—even at the age of 110—illustrate how imperfection can lead to excellence. It reinforces the idea of focusing on personal growth rather than comparison.

The chapters on creating space through minimalism may sound like common advice, but the step-by-step guidance on decluttering both externally and internally makes it actionable. The author also references modern habits—constantly checking emails, scrolling social media, rushing towards our phones—instead of spending time in silence or with nature.

The book contains beautiful black-and-white and coloured glossy images, reinforcing how imperfection can be just as beautiful as something seemingly perfect. Each chapter ends with a poetic “Meditation” section. There are numerous lines that feel deeply reflective, even if they are not presented as typical motivational quotes.

Talking about drawbacks, I felt the author could have provided clearer guidance on how to maintain a Wabi Sabi mindset when professional and personal expectations constantly demand urgency and deadlines. Living this philosophy in a fast-paced environment is challenging. Additionally, including more real-life examples of public figures who embraced imperfection and turned it into success could have strengthened the practical aspect. For most of the book, the narrative leans more towards philosophy than implementation, placing it in the same segment it subtly critiques in other self-help books.

Overall, Wabi Sabi feels like a meditation in itself—best read when life feels chaotic and cluttered. It resonates deeply in such moments; otherwise, it may come across as just another philosophical self-help book rooted in spirituality. I give this book 4.5 stars out of 5. Thanks to my sister-in-law for gifting it to me.

Thanks!

WRITING BUDDHA