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meremeth's review against another edition
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
4.0
I found this book comforting, I liked the message of not wanting to have your sole worth in society based on what you can do for it.
I enjoyed the author's candid honestly about not particularly wanting to be a good Samaritan, just doing what he found interesting.
I enjoyed the author's candid honestly about not particularly wanting to be a good Samaritan, just doing what he found interesting.
Content Warnings
Minor: Forced institutionalization and Suicide
brea's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
informative
lighthearted
fast-paced
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicide
Minor: Bullying
emelynreads's review against another edition
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
I really enjoyed the quiet and subdued look at rental person's clients, experiences and thoughts. A little peek into Japanese society that speaks to themes of loneliness and the human condition.
The physical book is probably a better reading experience since each story is showcased with tweets.
The physical book is probably a better reading experience since each story is showcased with tweets.
Content Warnings
Minor: Suicide
babblingbooks's review against another edition
lighthearted
reflective
slow-paced
3.5
Generally fascinating, but mostly very shallow in terms of insight. I think this is perhaps a result of the way it was written - an editor and a writer asked Morimoto questions and he gave basic answers and it was turned into a book. I suspect it would actually be much more interesting to read something which examined the response to Rental Person through the lenses of contemporary Japanese culture. But for what it is (not what it is not) it was an entertaining enough read.
Content Warnings
Minor: Suicide and Murder
Brief mention of the Sarin Gas terrorist attack and associated cult.jadeleonardo's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
medium-paced
4.5
This was such a good book! I didn’t know much about it going in to it so I didn’t really know what to expect. On the surface, it was a fun book about an interesting endeavor. But more than that, it is a sweet reminder that our value does not come from what we can offer society. We are valuable just because we exist. I am thankful to the author for sharing his experience and a bit of his life with us.
I gave this book 4.5 stars, as towards the end it felt like there was a lack of wrapping things up. I know that is addressed in the “instead of an afterward” section, but as a reader who enjoys a nice tidy ending, it made it a bit difficult to feel satisfied when finishing the book.
All together though, the book was amazing.
Thanks for “doing nothing!”
I gave this book 4.5 stars, as towards the end it felt like there was a lack of wrapping things up. I know that is addressed in the “instead of an afterward” section, but as a reader who enjoys a nice tidy ending, it made it a bit difficult to feel satisfied when finishing the book.
All together though, the book was amazing.
Thanks for “doing nothing!”
Content Warnings
Minor: Suicide
balletbookworm's review against another edition
informative
medium-paced
3.75
3.5 to 4 stars.
Really interesting in how Morimoto describes his...job? kinda job?...since he doesn't really "make" money as just a person you can request to join you for kind of mundane things as long as he don't really have to do anything. He'll come sit while you clean the house, walk with you to file court papers, hold your place/meet you at the cherry blossom viewing, and so on. And this is kind of dependent on whether this sounds interesting to him - like, if he's met too many people to sit with them while they have coffee, he might not accept those requests for a while.
It is a really interesting concept, especially when he notes that clients have told him that they felt that a neutral/neutralish stranger was much better to tell something or ask to do a new thing with them than with their regular friends because of the fear of being judged or not heard by a friend, even a well-meaning one. Which...fair. And it was interesting to look at this job in the context of Japanese culture, where it really doesn't seem out of place as opposed to US culture where a "rent-a-friend" is kind of a weird thing.
But the book does feel repetitive after a while, so it does have the feel of an expanded New Yorker profile. (also interesting in that Morimoto is the "author" but it was "written" as others asked him questions and he gave them simple answers, so that probably contributes to the more repetitive feel)
Really interesting in how Morimoto describes his...job? kinda job?...since he doesn't really "make" money as just a person you can request to join you for kind of mundane things as long as he don't really have to do anything. He'll come sit while you clean the house, walk with you to file court papers, hold your place/meet you at the cherry blossom viewing, and so on. And this is kind of dependent on whether this sounds interesting to him - like, if he's met too many people to sit with them while they have coffee, he might not accept those requests for a while.
It is a really interesting concept, especially when he notes that clients have told him that they felt that a neutral/neutralish stranger was much better to tell something or ask to do a new thing with them than with their regular friends because of the fear of being judged or not heard by a friend, even a well-meaning one. Which...fair. And it was interesting to look at this job in the context of Japanese culture, where it really doesn't seem out of place as opposed to US culture where a "rent-a-friend" is kind of a weird thing.
But the book does feel repetitive after a while, so it does have the feel of an expanded New Yorker profile. (also interesting in that Morimoto is the "author" but it was "written" as others asked him questions and he gave them simple answers, so that probably contributes to the more repetitive feel)
Content Warnings
Minor: Suicide and Suicidal thoughts
Morimoto does talk about how the pressure to succeed kind of destroyed both of his siblings, to the point that his sister took her own life. It's a couple of paragraphs.rendireads's review against another edition
2.0
repetitive and robotic. could have been half the length and even then it still wouldn't be rated highly because this book is really just a compilation of tweets with some adlibs. It made me think at times, but ultimately it was not at all enjoyable to read
Content Warnings
Minor: Suicide
katherinew's review against another edition
reflective
medium-paced
4.5
Content Warnings
Minor: Suicide
stories's review against another edition
reflective
fast-paced
4.5
Fascinating. I really enjoyed this. Interesting philosophy, including insight into Japanese cultural worldview, and I’m deeply intrigued by the idea that the writer isn’t a fan because the book certainly didn’t read as such to me.
Also wow the Murderbot-vibes gracious me.
Very human. Very sincere. Very kind.
Also wow the Murderbot-vibes gracious me.
Very human. Very sincere. Very kind.
Content Warnings
Minor: Grief, Suicide attempt, Alcohol, Bullying, and Suicide
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