Wabi-Sabi for Artists, Designers, Poets & Philosophers

I planned to read this over the span of a few days, but once I opened it I couldn’t put it down! Exploring the concept of Wabi Sabi felt like learning a new feeling. Absolutely recommend this to any and all Artists, Designers, Poets & Philosophers ♥️

I was surprised at the brevity of this book, though not disappointed by it, as it made for a very concise read. I got through it in just an hour or two.Leonard Koren approaches this material as someone with a background in design/architecture. I bought it based on a primarily philosophical interest in the subject. The book focuses, I think, a bit more on design/art theory than pure philosophy, but it still makes for a very informative read, and the philosophical basis of Wabi-Sabi is nonetheless given due consideration and explanation. The book itself is designed pleasantly, with a great tactile feel on the cover and glossy pages with a pleasant gray font. The text is interspersed with Koren's beautiful photography, highlighting objects that embody the Wabi-Sabi aesthetic.If you're interested in learning about the history and nature of Wabi-Sabi, especially if you are a student of design, then I would highly recommend this book as a starting point.

It's OK. It's interesting to contemplate that it's a classic. I wouldn't have thought so. The presentation is beautiful; it's pleasing to hold and read. The content, however, left me wanting . . .

I had to wait for this because of the tim ferriss effect, LOL, but the book was worthwhile reading. At a leisurely pace it was about 2 hours on a lazy Sunday to reabsorb and grasp simple concepts. This is definitely a rare treat that will help meditatively reset your thinking yearly. The book is also printed with special fine paper that is cut unevenly which is interesting. Reminds me of the nice pages that you'd commonly find in Japanese books. Definitely a find addition to anyone's library.

THIS BOOK IS BEYOND SPECIAL. IT READS LIKE POETRY. THERE ARE NO WASTED WORDS.WHEN I FIRST READ THIS BOOK IN 1994, IT CHANGED MY WORLD VIEW. LEONARD KOREN WRITES," THE JAPANESE AESTHETIC OF WABI-SABI HAS LONG BEEN ASSOCIATED WITH THE TEA CEREMONY..."AND YET THIS BOOK IS NOT ABOUT THE TEA CEREMONY. KOREN WRITES," THE CLOSEST ENGLISH WORD TO WABI-SABI IS PROBABLY "RUSTIC". AND AGAIN, NO WORDS CAN PROPERLY CAPTURE WHAT ONE CAN GET FROM READING THIS BOOK. IF YOU WILL ALLOW YOURSELF TO BE DRAWN IN, YOUR DEFINITION OF BEAUTY WILL NEVER BE THE SAME, AND YOUR AESTHETIC AWARENESS WILL BE ENHANCED. THERE ARE SPIRITUAL ELEMENTS TO THIS BOOK FOR EYES SENSITIVE ENOUGH TO RECOGNIZE THEM,(MINUS THE DOGMA.) YOU WILL GAIN APPRECIATION FOR THE WORLD AROUND YOU. JOB WELL DONE, THANK YOU MR. KOREN

I love short books that are meaningful. This book I read in a couple hours and the message is so peaceful and life giving.Wabi Sabi is a term that comes from two Japanese words mashed together and it is rarely defined, indeed it kind of avoids being defined. The author says Japanese people know the feeling but not the definition. This was indeed my experience in Tokyo as I asked my friend to guide me to things that connected with Wabi Sabi culture.There are black and white photos on almost every other page of this book, of various things that convey the Wabi Sabi idea. The book spends a few pages on conveying the definition or more accurately, the feeling of Wabi Sabi, it gives a bit of history, then outlines the "Wabi Sabi Universe" which includes the following headings:Metaphysical BasisSpiritual ValuesState of mindMoral PreceptsMaterial QualitiesWabi Sabi is the opposite of the Rat Race. It reminds me of Jesus' Sermon on the Mount or the struggle against nature. It values simplicity and perhaps above all the process of nature. Thoreau and Emerson would approve.Some quotes:"Get rid of all that is unnecessary""Wabi sabi tells us to stop our preoccupation with success--wealth, status, power, and luxury--and enjoy the unencumbered life.""Things wabi sabi have no need for the reassurance of status or the validation of market culture."

As the title says, this is a book for artists poets philosophers and designers. The very beginning made me double over in laughter, but what follows is as profound as it is silly. A celebration of the imperfect, the incomplete and the unworthy. It is said that God does not love us for our perfections but for our occlusions. Reading this book I would say that those who practice Wabi Sabi know exactly what that means. And at first I thought the book would be about that green mustard they serve with sushi. It's much more profound than that, and was just what I needed to hit the spot.

I play music, write songs, play fiddle, guitar, slide guitar, flute and tenor sax. My style could be called rustic. I walk in the woods and am practically religious about nature. It is my fortress of sanity. I make rustic furniture. I make walking sticks, from saplings and found wood. I include the nature of the materials, be they hickory, ash or old-timey fiddle drones, saxophone voice, breathy blues flute or twangy slide. I am messy. Life is messy. I like it simple. I like it plain. I like honesty with song lyrics. Oh, I was a potter at one time, pressing found objects into slabs of clay and finding very odd bottles in the process. This is all wabi sabi. The minimal, the natural, the accidental, even. The Haiku, as art. The real, the unadorned, my uncombed hair, the sawdust in the cuffs of my jeans. This review even. Wabi sabi.