Zen: The Art of Simple Living

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book, as it provided me with clarity on various aspects of life. It helped me navigate through significant life changes and career challenges, proving to be a valuable resource for finding peace in solitude. The concepts of Zen are presented simply and comprehensibly, making them accessible to all readers. The explanation of Zazen is particularly enlightening. I highly recommend this book to senior government officials and management professionals.

Love it !!!

Overall a good book. Many thought provoking topics.

Easy enough to read and understand; encourages a little action Every day.

Good so far.

Very basic and without the substance I was hoping for. The nice part is each page is a lesson in its own, making for easy reading.

Simple advices to Zen life and bring calm, peace and order.

This book is so well written. The concepts are described in small chapters in very simple language. It feel very good and peaceful reading through the pages

Even the existence of the book makes you feel better

This is a book that BookSloth has opened not once, but twice. On her first reading, she approached it with resistance, sceptical that simplicity could truly be so powerful. Her monkey mind scoffed: can lining up your shoes or savoring morning air really make a difference? She finished that initial read unconvinced, feeling the advice was pleasant but perhaps too simple. Yet something quiet happened in the weeks that followed. BookSloth found that phrases from Masuno’s gentle instructions kept surfacing in her daily life. They weren’t quotes she’d consciously memorised, but they lingered in her subconscious, arising unbidden at just the right moments. The wisdom of the book had planted seeds. Bit by bit, Zen: The Art of Simple Living was working on her from the inside out. This realisation moved BookSloth to pick up the book a second time, now with a more open mind. And this time, one particular lesson struck her heart with full force. Masuno, who is not only a Zen monk but also a renowned garden designer, writes about the danger of being swayed by too many opinions when creating something. He shares from experience: “If I focus too much on what the team sees, then it can be difficult to complete the garden as an expression of my own thoughts. Although it may seem counterintuitive, when it comes to coordinating what direction the rocks will face, the fewer people involved, the easier it is to synchronise. And when it’s time to make the final adjustments, it’s best to do it alone.” For BookSloth, who does books for a living, this passage became the quote she wanted to share with every author she works with. It’s a gentle nudge to trust one’s own vision. In a world where writers are often inundated with feedback from teams, beta readers, and market trends, Masuno’s words remind us that art (whether a garden or a novel) sometimes flourishes best with fewer voices and a bit of solitude. BookSloth finds this insight quietly profound. She has already started telling her writers: carry your project with a team when needed, but for the final touches, don’t be afraid to step into the quiet and listen to your own creative voice. The book also taught BookSloth that “simple” doesn’t always mean “easy”. The practices Masuno suggests are straightforward–wake up 15 minutes earlier, arrange your room simply, breathe deeply. They sound easy enough, yet implementing them proved to be a true exercise in mindfulness. BookSloth noticed how her own monkey mind would resist these small changes. One evening, for example, she tried the book’s advice to pause after every bite during dinner. Such a simple act–and yet her thoughts kept racing, impatient to move on. This is where the real challenge of the book lies: its tips are plain and practical, but following them asks you to slow down and wrestle kindly with that restless part of your mind. BookSloth came to appreciate that simplicity is a discipline. In embracing these humble practices, she often confronted her busy modern habits. With patience, though, each little exercise reflected just how full her mind had been and how much calmer it could be. The simplicity that she once dismissed as trivial turned out to be stealthily transformative. This book changed BookSloth. Not with a thunderbolt epiphany, but in a quiet, enduring way. She carries herself a bit differently now. Mornings start with a brief moment of emptiness (just as Masuno gently instructs), and it leaves her feeling more present throughout the day. When anxiety swells, she finds herself recalling the book’s gentle voice: “The answers you seek are within.” BookSloth is grateful she gave this book a second chance. Shunmyō Masuno’s warm, no-frills wisdom seeped into her life and work, proving her initial scepticism both right and wrong: yes, the book really is simple–and that’s exactly why it’s so powerful. Warmly recommended to anyone feeling overwhelmed by the noise of modern life. Read it slowly, let its lessons percolate, and you may just find yourself, as BookSloth did, a little more at peace, a little more you, on the other side of its pages.

The book is amazing, but I'm upset because it didn't come in a package, so I received the book with stains that can't be cleaned.

Da leggere e rileggere. Design molto bello, da aprire ogni giorno random e prendersi la pillola del giorno. Super raccomandato per se stessi o come regalo

Book is good.. delivery before time..