Wabi Sabi by Nobuo Suzuki (Book Review: 4.5*/5) !!!

2161st BLOG POST

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.

PURCHASE THE BOOK HERE

Thanks!

WRITING BUDDHA

The Sacred Weight of Sadness/Melancholy!

2160th BLOG POST

I was reading a book where melancholy was given a positive perspective. It spoke about how, in the modern world, people suppress the feeling of melancholy through medication, terming it an illness. There are moments in life when you don’t understand what’s happening with your mind, and the automatic way of handling it brings out tears for no particular reason. People around you get confused about why you are acting depressed and throw every kind of motivational talk at you. How do you ever explain to them that there is nothing making us sad, but that it is a phase where the mind seems unable to calculate what it is being overpowered by — null moments of happiness and a trace of sorrow, or a complete silence of emotions, which makes it difficult for the mind to comprehend what exactly scares it enough to respond with tears?

 

Maybe these are those moments when we are not controlling our mind, but the mind itself is controlling our senses. Hence, it processes emotions in a particular manner that makes it even more difficult for us to understand the whole phenomenon. These melancholic moments appear rarely, and often when we least expect them. It can happen on a fine evening when your day has been wonderful, perhaps while driving back after one of the most happening parties where you have danced your heart out. Perhaps the mind balances its emotions; rather than allowing itself to be overwhelmed by happiness and joy, it makes you shed a few tears so that you realize there is more at work within you than you consciously understand. Your mind may be trying to tell you that, ultimately, it is the boss and not you.

 

I remember going to the very first satsang organized by the Isha Yoga Foundation after completing my Inner Engineering program with them. Through a guided meditation by Sadhguru, all of us were practicing a new meditative process with our eyes closed, following all kinds of visualizations the voice on the audio asked us to imagine. After a few minutes, I found many people crying with loud outbursts, which scared me for a moment. But, as instructed by the hosts before beginning — not to open our eyes and to concentrate on our own practice — I continued with my meditation.

 

After we opened our eyes, I found all of them wiping their tears and smiling. That smile which emerges from nothingness — where it feels as if you were given a blank canvas and could paint anything on it: a Full Moon radiating brightness or a New Moon painting the entire canvas black, revealing the deepest darkness imaginable. It was evident that people had found their minds blank after shedding tears and releasing excess pain. They had a choice to begin afresh, and they did — with a smile so powerful and soothing that even a spectator like me could feel its energy, though I hadn’t experienced the same thing myself.

 

Sometimes, we should respect the inevitable and accept it as life — or as a part of it. We shouldn’t judge every aspect of our actions, reactions, responses, and emotions. Some things happen because we are part of this vast universe and are deeply connected to it. We can’t disassociate ourselves from nature. You must have heard about the Butterfly Effect, and perhaps we have become the effect of nature’s cause somewhere in this world. We should feel acknowledged by this planet and the universe for allowing us, among billions of lives, to experience melancholy rather than feeling bad, sad, or depressive about it. Let life be the way it is, without constantly trying to change it.

 

Thanks!

WRITING BUDDHA

Pune Junction by Pranay Bhalerao (Book Review: 3.25*/5) !!!

2159th BLOG POST

2^nd Book of 2026

There is always an excitement in reading one of your favourite authors trying a new genre. I remember feeling the same excitement when Chetan Bhagat, Ashwin Sanghi, and Amish Tripathi experimented with non-fiction, and I experienced a similar feeling when I saw Pranay’s update on social media about his attempt at a love story. I have finally finished reading his latest book, “Pune Junction,” which is around 270 pages long. It felt refreshing to read him writing a soft, emotional story after having read his dark and action-packed duologies and trilogies like The Lost World and The Kavaach series respectively.

 

Pranay’s writing style has been kept simple to cater to Gen-Z and young school- and college-going readers who do not enjoy complicated storytelling. This is a light read in terms of storyline and works perfectly as a travel companion or a relaxing weekend read. Pranay has structured the chapters interestingly—even though the timelines do not switch this time, the voice of narration does, as the story is told in the first person alternatively. The two main protagonists, Parth and Rucha, keep narrating their versions of the same storyline, with slight progression each time, which helps the reader move smoothly into the next scene.

 

The author has nicely created the setup of how a fresh college graduate enters the corporate world and finds everything new and different from his previous life. The way he describes the room of a bachelor employee, the habit of saving colleagues’ contacts names with company references, the new addiction to coffee, and how older employees prefer stepping outside the campus for tea or coffee despite free options at work—all these details feel relatable and authentic.

 

The characterization of both protagonists is well communicated. You get a clear glimpse of how anxious, nervous, and excited Parth is, while Rucha comes across as confident, ambitious, and a dreamer. Their initial interactions and subsequent dates are handled with restraint, without forcing unnecessary steamy scenes into the narrative. This shows Pranay’s confidence as a writer, as he avoids adding artificial elements merely to spice up the story. He works with a simple plot and builds the narration around it effectively. However, while reading the love story, you may be reminded of films like Saiyaara or Aashiqui 2, especially in the last one-third of the book where the setup feels quite similar. I personally wished the author had chosen a different direction, as it reduces the sense of freshness and makes it feel like another familiar love story.

 

While reading, I initially wondered why Pune as a city was repeatedly being brought into the conversations between the characters, but then it struck me that the title itself is based on the city. The author’s love for Pune is evident in the way he begins the journey from Shaniwar Wada and takes readers through different locations. However, I felt he could have explored the city more deeply by mentioning local cuisines and popular couple hotspots. That would have made the city feel more organically integrated into the love story rather than slightly forced in certain sections.

 

Talking about the drawbacks, I feel the simple storyline could have been comfortably wrapped up within 230–250 pages and did not necessarily require the current length. The author also needs to invest more in proofreading, as I noticed several typos and grammatical errors this time—something quite different from his earlier books, which were more polished. It felt as if the book went to print in a hurry. As mentioned earlier, the final section resembles several Bollywood films and books with similar storylines, making the ending somewhat predictable. I would rate this book 3.25 stars out of 5. Definitely not Pranay’s best work, but I am sure he will bounce back strongly with his next one. Do read it if you enjoy sweet and simple love stories.

 PURCHASE THE BOOK HERE

Thanks!

WRITING BUDDHA