Kokoro

By Beth Kempton,

Book cover of Kokoro: Japanese Wisdom for a Life Well Lived

Book description

Kokoro is an invitation to cultivate stillness and contentment in an ever-changing, uncertain world, inspired by ancient and contemporary Japanese wisdom. Drawing on a thousand years of Japanese literature, culture, and philosophical ideas to explore the true nature of time and what it means to be human, Kokoro--which mysteriously translates…

When you buy books, we may earn a commission that helps keep our lights on (or join the rebellion as a member).

Why read it?

1 author picked Kokoro as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

I hesitate to recommend a book about grief in a list about joy. Yet, although Beth Kempton’s heartbreaking account of losing her mother and friend certainly made me cry, her explanation of the Japanese concept of kokoro left me feeling lighter and wiser.

While incredibly hard to define, kokoro incorporates a sense of tuning into nature’s fleeting beauty, the bittersweetness of love, and the innate wisdom in our hearts. Before listening to this book, I felt self-conscious about my lack of direction and planning. Afterward, I understood that ever since losing my father 12 years ago, I’ve simply been following…

Want books like Kokoro?

Our community of 12,000+ authors has personally recommended 100 books like Kokoro.

Browse books like Kokoro

Book cover of Joyful: The Surprising Power of Ordinary Things to Create Extraordinary Happiness
Book cover of Your Brain on Art: How the Arts Transform Us
Book cover of 52 Ways to Walk: The Surprising Science of Walking for Wellness and Joy, One Week at a Time

Share your top 3 reads of 2024!

And get a beautiful page showing off your 3 favorite reads.

1,188

readers submitted
so far, will you?