The Abundance of Less: Lessons in Simple Living from Rural Japan Paperback – August 1, 2017

This book has me thinking about my relationship (and my culture's relationship) with time, money, work, art, and the earth. It's a positive, hopeful, inspiring book. It is also a sweetly intimate glimpse into the lives of some fascinating people who have consciously chosen to do what the author says in the introduction he has always thought possible: "...to live well, to connect with each other, to do meaningful work, to make powerful art, and to forge a different kind of future...." The writing is simultaneously lively and lovely, brimming with a deep respect for the subjects, for nature, and for the fluid beauty of poetry. For some readers, it may be a blueprint for avoiding burnout, balancing a life of activism with self-care and creativity. After reading it, I'm primed to think and rethink my everyday choices, to see places where I might step a little aside from the everyday rush and hustle, breathe a little more deeply with gratitude and respect for the soil under my feet. I just finished reading it, and am about to dive right back in. I'm sure I'll keep coming back to this book.

The title is a little miss leading because it’s way more than just about ‘less is more.’ There is a lot of timeless wisdom in these stories that goes way deeper than what you hear from the minimalist movement. Stories are important and this book has something for everybody. Especially those of us with an affinity towards the Japanese culture. It’s not a book you just read, it’s a book you find yourself writing not reading. (This will make sense later.) Savor it, take it at a slow pace and devour it.There are a few typo errors but not a big deal. The author could’ve asked some better, more thorough questions with certain individuals but the jest of it is their. I feel he got to the right people, but he had to go a long ways to find them, but that’s how it usually goes. The most beautiful people don’t seek attention and many remain aloof...hidden. This one am taking home with me, it’s a keeper. I’ve learned some important things and been reminded of many more.

None of the people in this book live simple lives and very few of them have anything in abundance other than some kind of artistic skills.. What they all chose is a life away from the cities. Most of them chose to live in hard to reach beautiful mountainous rural areas. Most of them grew their own food including rice the old fashioned way using simple tools. Most of them lived with very little money.These ten people wanted to have the time to live sustainable lives doing the things that gave them pleasure. They didn't want the salary man lives of crowds, long work days, city living, and commuting.Except for one older man all of the people showcased were approximately baby boomer aged. They all lived in India while younger to study or develop artistic skills.These ten people did not choose rural life because they didn't want to be around people, but because they wanted to have time to pursue their interests. That could be art, writing, making one book at a time, thinking, gardening, pulling weeds, growing food, protesting nuclear power, etc.In this more recent edition of this book the author, Andy Couturier, visited all of the people featured in the first edition and updated each chapter on each personality at the end. He also told us about his life and his rural property in Northern California. All welcome additions.I wish I had read a few chapters at a time instead of reading through the first eight in several days and then tiring of the sameness and reading a mystery novel before reading the last 100 pages. It would have been better for me to read some, think about it for a few days and go back to reading it. I needed breaks. Other people may not.

“As we drew closer, we could make out a white hanging lantern, Japanese style—white paper with black calligraphy on it, lit by a candle inside. And then we saw that it was Gufu, coming down to guide us, not with a flashlight, but elegant, simple and pure, in the old style, walking down the road. To greet a friend.” from The Abundance of LessThe author describes the landscapes and people in this book which such beautifully crafted language—you almost feel you’re there. Everything is slow and appreciative. The glimpses into the lives of these ten Japanese men and women living in the countryside are truly a gift of their simple wisdoms. They spend a great deal of time growing and tending their rice fields and gardens, gathering wood and cooking with it. Firing their kilns with it. They take the time and by doing so have more of it to share. An amazing feat of living more with less. A wonderful book.

I haven’t relished a book like this one in a very long time. It was my slowest, most enjoyable, thought-provoking, heart-warming read. Besides being a fantastic example of writing with words that melt and stories layered like a crescendo with the most compassionate ending, the details about talented Japanese people choosing an alternative lifestyle are recorded with amazing observation. I simply can’t do justice to how much this book nourished my soul. Thank you Andy, for the work, for intruding us to these wonderful people and for all the important topics discussed in the book. And especially thank you for including your own story. It was the cherry on top!

The book wasn't what I expected. It was an interesting treatise on Japanese culture through the eyes of the writer but not a book on getting rid of clutter and being a minimalist.

This was a lovely book. I picked it up by chance at the library before the pandemic, and ended up with it for months during lockdown and library closures. I ended up buying a copy to give to a friend. The theme of simple and thoughtful living went very well with this time. It's not a page turner; I just read it in little bits here and there, but was always happy to return to it. The gift recipient said he liked it too.

De esto se trata leer! Que verdadera joya de lectura. No lo he leído todo porque no he tenido el valor de terminar esta obra de arte. NADA pretencioso, bien escrito por un observador externo de la cultura japonesa: pero que conoce la cultura y el idioma, y que sabe estrevistar y escribir. En pocas palabras: un filosofo y periodista occidental que escribe para un periódico de Kyoto entrevista a una serie de personajes de carne y hueso que hablan a través de sus actos.

This is a real treasure of a book and one of the rare ones where EVERY WORD COUNTS. The stories are inspiring without being sentimental. indeed it is the honesty that rings through this collection, that makes it such a spiritually worthwhile read.I recommend it to anyone asking themselves just what they think they are doing with their lives.

One of the best books I’ve read.

This book is a joy to read. Its message is simple and yet powerful. I would recommend it to anyone looking to enrich their life.