Introduction to Haiku (40 books)

This is a list of books that, if you find yourself particularly drawn to haiku and other Japanese forms of poetry, may help you gain a better understanding of what haiku are and how best to appreciate them.

These books would also contribute greatly to a person's ability to write literary haiku, as well.

flag

All Votes Add Books To This List

1	Japanese Death Poems by Yoel Hoffmann (Editor) 4.23 avg rating — 2,914 ratings score: 689, and 7 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
2	The Essential Haiku: Versions of Basho, Buson, and Issa by Robert Hass (Editor, Translator) 4.33 avg rating — 2,179 ratings score: 490, and 5 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
3	The Haiku Anthology by Cor van den Heuvel (Goodreads Author) (Editor) 4.18 avg rating — 558 ratings score: 398, and 4 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
4	Haiku, Volume 2: Spring by R.H. Blyth 4.46 avg rating — 108 ratings score: 394, and 4 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
5	Book of Haikus by Jack Kerouac 3.90 avg rating — 2,177 ratings score: 393, and 4 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
6	For All My Walking by Burton Watson (Translator) 4.30 avg rating — 147 ratings score: 297, and 3 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
7	The Narrow Road to the Deep North and Other Travel Sketches by Matsuo Bashō 4.02 avg rating — 6,263 ratings score: 294, and 3 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
8	On Love and Barley: Haiku of Basho by Matsuo Bashō 4.20 avg rating — 2,024 ratings score: 293, and 3 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
9	Haiku, Volume 4: Autumn-Winter by R.H. Blyth 4.46 avg rating — 83 ratings score: 291, and 3 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
10	Eating Salad Drunk: Haikus for the Burnout Age by Comedy Greats by Gabe Henry (Goodreads Author) 3.60 avg rating — 940 ratings score: 200, and 2 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
11	Beautiful Haikus to Cheer You Up by Reynaldo Casison (Goodreads Author) really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 2 ratings score: 193, and 2 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
12	Haiku, Volume 1: Eastern Culture by R.H. Blyth 4.55 avg rating — 110 ratings score: 191, and 2 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
13	Introduction to Haiku: An Anthology of Poems and Poets from Basho to Shiki by Harold Gould Henderson (Translator) 3.91 avg rating — 186 ratings score: 190, and 2 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
14	The Haiku Handbook: How to Write, Share, and Teach Haiku by William J. Higginson 4.31 avg rating — 469 ratings score: 100, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
14	Something A'Kin to Haiku by Alice Batchelor Hambright 4.75 avg rating — 4 ratings score: 100, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
14	Illustrated Basho Haiku Poems (Little eBook Classics) by Matsuo Bashō 3.54 avg rating — 26 ratings score: 100, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
14	The Joy of Writing Haikus by Reynaldo Casison (Goodreads Author) 3.17 avg rating — 6 ratings score: 100, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
14	Haikus oscuros by Luís Bermer (Goodreads Author) liked it 3.00 avg rating — 8 ratings score: 100, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
14	Another Country: Haiku Poetry from Wales by Nigel Jenkins (Editor) 3.27 avg rating — 15 ratings score: 100, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
14	That Lone Ship by Rhys Owain Williams (Goodreads Author) 4.14 avg rating — 14 ratings score: 100, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
14	Ryokan: Zen Monk - Poet of Japan by Ryōkan 4.26 avg rating — 57 ratings score: 100, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
14	Haiku: An Anthology of Japanese Poems by Stephen Addiss (Editor) really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 363 ratings score: 100, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
23	Right Under the Big Sky, I Don't Wear a Hat by Hosai Ozaki 4.33 avg rating — 24 ratings score: 99, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
23	Haiku in the Night by Ben Ditmars (Goodreads Author) 4.32 avg rating — 25 ratings score: 99, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
23	Beautiful Women Haiku by Reynaldo Casison (Goodreads Author) it was amazing 5.00 avg rating — 1 rating score: 99, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
23	This Single Thread by Paul Chambers it was amazing 5.00 avg rating — 2 ratings score: 99, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
23	The Little Book of Neuroscience Haiku by Eric Chudler 3.91 avg rating — 46 ratings score: 99, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
23	The Penguin Book of Haiku by Adam L. Kern (Translator) 3.69 avg rating — 212 ratings score: 99, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
29	Mountain Tasting : Zen Haiku by Santōka Taneda by Santōka Taneda 4.30 avg rating — 161 ratings score: 98, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
29	The Cool Jazz of the Haiku: Jack Kerouac by Reynaldo Casison (Goodreads Author) 3.86 avg rating — 7 ratings score: 98, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
29	The Year of My Life: A Translation of Issa's Oraga Haru by Kobayashi Issa 4.22 avg rating — 81 ratings score: 98, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
29	A Breath of Africa by Lysa Collins (Goodreads Author) it was amazing 5.00 avg rating — 1 rating score: 98, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
29	The Art of Haiku: Its History through Poems and Paintings by Japanese Masters by Stephen Addiss 4.51 avg rating — 92 ratings score: 98, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
34	Classic Haiku: The Greatest Japanese Poetry from Basho, Buson, Issa, Shiki, and Their Followers by Tom Lowenstein (Editor) 4.08 avg rating — 211 ratings score: 97, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
34	the delightful guide to poetry forms by Reynaldo Casison (Goodreads Author) 3.67 avg rating — 3 ratings score: 97, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
34	Redneck Haiku: Double-Wide Edition by Mary K. Witte 3.07 avg rating — 41 ratings score: 97, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
37	The Haiku Seasons: Poetry of the Natural World by William J. Higginson 4.27 avg rating — 48 ratings score: 96, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
37	A History of Haiku, Volume 1: From the Beginnings up to Issa by R.H. Blyth 4.10 avg rating — 49 ratings score: 96, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
37	Haikubes: Create Captivating Haiku With a Roll of the Dice! by Forrest-Pruzan Creative 4.25 avg rating — 16 ratings score: 96, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
40	A History of Haiku, Volume 2: From Issa up to the Present by R.H. Blyth 4.21 avg rating — 29 ratings score: 94, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars