A review by bex_knighthunterbooks
The Book of Tea: Beauty, Simplicity and the Zen Aesthetic by Kakuzo Okakura

informative reflective relaxing medium-paced

3.25

An interesting look at Japanese culture and the history of Tea. It was written in the early 1900s and originally intended to be delivered as a speech, and so it doesn't surprise me that it didn't quite stand up for me in terms of engagement and relatability with modern non-fiction books I've read. It is quite short and covers a lot of ground and so it serves well as an introduction to it's topics, but don't expect lots of detail. However, it is an interesting cultural historical document, showing also views of the time and comparisons east with west. There were definitely a few of the musings I found very interesting, but it is also some parts that didn't keep my attention as well. I listened to this on audio, and the narrator had quite a strong Japanese accent - I'm not sure if this is more of a pro (adding authenticity and atmosphere) or a con (just making it harder to parse for me).