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Blink 3 of 8 - The 5 AM Club
by Robin Sharma
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Wabi Sabi summary
Beth Kempton
Japanese Wisdom for a Perfectly Imperfect Life
25 mins
Brief summary
Wabi Sabi by Beth Kempton is a guide to finding beauty in imperfection and embracing simplicity. It offers practical advice on how to live a more mindful and fulfilling life by appreciating and celebrating the imperfect beauty that surrounds us.
Table of Contents
Wabi Sabi
Summary of 8 key ideas
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Key idea 1 of 8
The concept of wabi sabi is best understood by considering the two words separately.
You could live in Japan your whole life and never hear the words wabi sabi spoken aloud. The most authoritative Japanese dictionary, Kōjien, doesn’t have an entry for it. It includes the individual words, wabi and sabi, but not the combined term.
Instead, wabi sabi is something that exists as an underlying philosophy, running like an invisible thread through Japanese life and culture. But what does it mean?
The key message here is: The concept of wabi sabi is best understood by considering the two words separately.
Let’s start with wabi. In modern Japanese, it means something like “subdued taste.” However, the word was originally associated with poverty, insufficiency, and despair, coming from the verb wabiru, meaning “to worry.”
To get at the full meaning, though, we need to go back to the ancient tea ceremonies that have played a significant part in shaping Japanese culture and life. During the mid-sixteenth century, although Japan had an emperor in place, the country was really ruled by feudal lords known as daimyo. The samurai warriors who protected the daimyo’s castles and estates had begun drinking tea to keep themselves awake on their night watches. The ceremony that came with tea drinking was also a chance to enjoy a moment of tranquility in their violent lives.
Soon, though, drinking tea became part of the lavish courtly life of the ruling classes, with ornate tearooms and utensils. Rather than a tranquil ceremony reflecting its Zen origins, it became another luxury pastime.
Then, a tea master for the famous daimyo Toyotomi Hideyoshi named Sen no Rikyū decided to revolutionize the tea ceremony. He rejected the opulence of the courtly tea ceremonies, favoring a more austere version, with simple utensils and smaller tearooms. Rather than signify wealth, it should celebrate simplicity and natural beauty. Rikyū’s style of tea ceremony became known as wabi tea, or “wabi-cha.” Wabi, then, implies a mindset that appreciates simplicity, humility and frugality.
Now, let’s turn to sabi. Translated into English it would be something like “patina, antique look,” or “elegant simplicity.” Over time, the word has come to communicate a beauty that comes with the passage of time – an appreciation of weathering, tarnishing and the marks of antiquity. In his classic work, In Praise of Shadows, Jun'ichirō Tanizaki explains it best when he says of the Japanese people: “We do not dislike everything that shines, but we do prefer a pensive luster to a shallow brilliance…”
Taken together, the combined term wabi sabi implies a worldview that appreciates simple beauty, imperfection and the transience of all things. It is most accentuated when it is compared to certain tendencies in the West – materialism, perfectionism and the fear of confronting the passage of time. In our fast-paced consumer culture, there is much wisdom we can take from the way of wabi sabi.
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What is Wabi Sabi about?
Wabi Sabi (2018) sets out the different ways that the Japanese concept of wabi sabi can shape our lives for the better. Based on simplicity, impermanence and imperfection, wabi sabi acts as an antidote to the consumerism and fast pace of modern living.
Wabi Sabi Review
Wabi Sabi (2018) by Beth Kempton explores the Japanese concept of finding beauty in imperfection and embracing the transient nature of life. Here’s why this book is worth reading:
- With insightful stories and practical exercises, it offers a fresh perspective on embracing imperfections and finding joy in simplicity.
- Blending history, philosophy, and personal experiences, it provides a well-rounded exploration of the Wabi Sabi philosophy and its relevance in modern life.
- Through its thought-provoking ideas and invitation to slow down, the book offers a gentle reminder to appreciate the present moment and find beauty in the ordinary.
Best quote from Wabi Sabi
Wabi sabi teaches us that dynamic transience is the natural state of all things.
—Beth Kempton
Who should read Wabi Sabi?
- Anyone looking to get their priorities right in life
- People interested in Japanese wisdom
- Those seeking insight from the natural world
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Wabi Sabi FAQs
What is the main message of Wabi Sabi?
The main message of Wabi Sabi is finding beauty in imperfection and embracing the transient nature of life.
How long does it take to read Wabi Sabi?
The reading time for Wabi Sabi varies depending on the reader's speed. However, the Blinkist summary can be read in just 15 minutes.
Is Wabi Sabi a good book? Is it worth reading?
Wabi Sabi is worth reading for its inspiring insights on mindfulness and appreciating the simple joys of life.
Who is the author of Wabi Sabi?
The author of Wabi Sabi is Beth Kempton.
What to read after Wabi Sabi?
If you're wondering what to read next after Wabi Sabi, here are some recommendations we suggest:
- Kaizen by Sarah Harvey
- Ikigai by Hector Garcia Puigcerver & Francesc Miralles
- One Small Step Can Change Your Life by Robert Maurer
- The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
- The Art of Simple Living by Shunmyo Masuno
- Build the Life You Want by Arthur C. Brooks & Oprah Winfrey
- The Way of Zen by Alan W. Watts
- Gemba Kaizen by Masaaki Imai
- The Longevity Formula by Avanti Kumar-Singh
- The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo