I’m continuing to prepare my mindset for Japan. I love Japanese literature. There is a softness to it, and an ability to dissect even the simplest of gestures into passionate, agonizing, emotional moments. Mieko Kawakami’s “All The Lovers In The …
Read: A Night of Long Knives
What a great time to read about the rise of the Nazis. Berlin during the storm that became the German Reich. Because I am sitting in America, I thought this might be a perfect set-the-table foreshadowing of what could be …
Read: Where Men Win Glory
If you are looking for a feel good book, well, this isn’t it. In short, they lied. All of them. Top to bottom. And from what I can gather from Jon Krakauer’s book “Where Men Win Glory: The Odyssey of …
Read: Six Four
My reading preparation for Japan continues. You might wonder why I would chose to read a novel over non-fiction. That’s a valid wonder. A friend who has been to Japan many times loaned me this book. You can learn a …
Read: The Roads to Sata
Okay, for you numbers people. One hundred and twenty-eight days and roughly 3,300 kilometers. Top to bottom. Japan. Most importantly, as a “gaijin” or foreigner, and boy does this play a part in the overall experience. Both good and bad. …
Read: Tokyo Vice
The great Japan-centric reading fest has begun. And it started with a Jake Edelstein journalistic bang. “Tokyo Vice: An American Reporter on the Police Beat in Japan,” is now a television series, but I would start with the book. Japan …
Read: The Moth and the Mountain
Climbing Mt. Everest is so easy a child could do it, and most likely there is a line of children cueing at what’s left of the Hillary Step at this very moment. What was once considered the “Third Pole,” has …
Read: Travels in a Thin Country
The first thing I do when traveling to one country is read a book about another country. Not entirely sure why I do this, but it’s been working for me for quite some time. Decades, actually. This recent trip to …
Read: Apocalyptic Planet
I have friends on both sides of the aisle. I have family members on both sides of the aisle. I have friends on both sides of most major issues. I’m not a “cut you off” person when it comes to …
Read: Crossing Open Ground
No idea when Crossing Open Ground was written, but my best guess is quite some time ago. Barry Lopez is a nature writer. And you could call him a travel writer. And you could call him a range of other …
Read: Warmth
I like to play a game where I’m put in charge of “fixing” our society, culture, species and planet. Yes, I enjoy things that are totally implausible. When I look at around at America, I see system failure. Not just …
Read: What Matters Most, James Hollis
Author James Hollis has written many books including “What Matters Most: Living a More Considered Life.” This book was recommended to me by a friend who reads diverse, interesting material. So, based on the nudge, I secured a copy and …