Thoughts On Books From A Non-Reader

Thoughts on Books from a Non-Reader

How Do You Live by Genzaburo Yoshino

As you read from above, I call myself a "non-reader", but really what I'm trying to communicate is that I don't think I've read books for fun since the fourth grade. I've had spells here where I've tried to read extensively but after one book I just never got back into it. These set of notes I'm going to make will hopefully keep me motivated to read more! These notes aren't for critical analysis of a book (although hopefully it's a skill I develop), but instead are just my thoughts on what I've read. Spoilers ahead...

Now on the book: WOWZA! I think this has to be my favorite book I've ever read (which is not saying much lol since I don't have a lot to compare it to). This book was written to be an ethics book that ended a series of books referred to as Nihon Shosan Bunko Bunko. The story follows Copper, a 15 year old boy who has recently lost his father, and how he develops as a young adult morally. He is supported by his uncle, who writes journal entries giving advice to Copper on how to lead a great life. The story alternates between the lived experiences and reflections that Copper has and journal entries that his uncle writes for him. As someone who thinks a lot about the kind of person I want to be, I really appreciated the lessons on "Copernican" ways of thinking, relations of production, poverty, and regret. Even if some of the lessons shared in the book are things that I feel to be true for myself, it makes me really happy to know that Copper has someone as kind as his uncle helping him develop as a person (I know these aren't real people but it still made me really happy).

"I think I have to try to be a truly good person. As you said, I am an expert consumer, and I don’t produce anything. Unlike Uragawa, I couldn’t produce anything even if I wanted to. Still, I can become a good person. I can become a good person and create one good person for the world."

I really loved Copper as a character. He is extremely conscientious and really thinks about the impact of his actions on other people and the world at large. How he grieves for his father wasn't explored all that much in the story, but I imagine that his father would be extremely proud of the life Copper is choosing to live. Before he passed, Copper's father wanted him to become "a fine example of a human being". To know that Copper is working so earnestly towards fulfilling his father's final wish fills me with an indescribable joy.

Overall, this book is a 10/10 for me and I think it was the perfect start for me to get back into reading! I'm currently in the middle of Convenience Store Woman by Sayaka Murata and Lonely Castle in the Mirror by Mizuki Tsujimura. If anyone has any book recommendations for me, I would love to become a mutual and hear them from you! I would especially love the recommendations of any South Asian authors (as someone who is South Asian myself). Please share whatever thoughts you have!

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Dragons are a lot like lobsters

Can in theory grow forever, usually die either crushed by their own hubris or by the hands of people

Come in all kinds of colors, but are commonly depicted as red

Powerful