What I am reading:
Why We Sleep, by Matthew Walker. Chilling science for the modern, sleep-deprived human.
What I have read
Tale of Saigyo, wannabe monk kicks his daughter off the porch, then attains sainthood through poetry and prayer.
Breath : The New Science of a Lost Art, by James Nestor, in which the author points out how we’re breathing all wrong and shows us how to change this. Great results so far.
Essays in Idleness and Hojoki, Kenko and Kamo no Chomei, two works on life’s fleeting pleasures by Buddhist monks from medieval Japan.
The Pillow Book of Sei Shonagon, 1000-year-old gossip and lady-in-waiting continues to delight and scandalise.
A Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson, Travel writer in his 40’s tries to walk 2000 miles and doesn’t really enjoy it, much to the reader’s amusement.
Endurance: How to Cycle Further by Mark Beaumont and Laura Penhall. World record ultra-cyclists make it seem easy and maybe even fun.
Travels with a Writing Brush : Classical Japanese Travel Writing from the Manyoshu to Basho translated and edited by Meredith McKinney. A survey of Japanese travel writing from the early days to Basho. Easy five stars.
The Last Yakusa: Life and Death in the Japanese Underworld, by Jake Adelstein. An addendum of sorts to his sublime Tokyo Vice.
The Narrow Road to the Deep North and Other Travel Sketches by Matsuo Basho, the classic of classics. Japanese haiku expert rides northwards, poetry ensues.
This Bloody Mary : Is the Last Thing I Own, Jonathan Rendall’s memoir of pugilism and promotion.
Lifescapes : A Biographer’s Search for the Soul, by Ann Wroe. The Financial Times obituary writer opens the door on her perception of the soul, as told through the obituaries she has written.
The Last Days of Roger Federer : And Other Endings by Geoff Dyer. The now ageing essayist and author reflects on endings, hysterically funny, knowingly profound.
What’s in the pile
See/Saw : Looking at Photographs
Six Facets Of Light
Snow Country (again)
The Art of Budo : The Calligraphy and Paintings of the Martial Arts Masters
One Robe, One Bowl : The Zen Poetry of Ryokan
The Himedomachi Cycling Club 