This was really quite enjoyable. Some have criticized the structure of it, or the fact that it seems self-serving, but I think it's honest to itself. Beth Kempton is a self-help author and this book reads like such. But that doesn't mean she misses the mark on describing wabi sabi or how it integrates into the lessons she imparts. I found her personal anecdotes helpful in bridging that gap. What's left is not a pure sociological view at an element of Japanese culture, nor is it entirely a self-help book in the style of Marie Kondo, nor is it a travel journal, but by weaving elements of all three it is something imperfect and beautiful.