Customer Reviews

Just Enough: Lessons in Living Green from Traditional Japan

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There are many books with recommendations for living a more sustainable lifestyle. This one is very attractive, with its drawings and descriptions of Edo houses and technology. Farming and land management was wise and the use of simple, natural materials was aesthetically pleasing as well (as you would expect in Japan).

Early on, however, I had some problems with the glorification of the Edo period even though in a material way it could be called superior to ours. The author says that it fulfills the Hanover Principles for sustainable design (Hanover Expo, 2000) but he says that human rights and "open communication among stakeholders" are among those principles. He also tells us that population control in the form of infanticide was part of the Edo program for sustainability, as well as the prohibition of marriage for younger sons. (Of course they didn't have modern birth control.) There was a strict caste system in the land of Edo, with the Samurai half of the population using most of the land for their private homes. Frugality and humility were said to be important and necessary cultural values, but greed and arrogance must have been widespread too (as in most cultures). Is sustainability possible without some very serious sacrifices of human rights? (And I don't mean the right to buy or do everything you want.)

It would be interesting to see a comparison of the Edo culture with others of that period, such those of rural Europe. I expect there were many similarities.

JUST ENOUGH: LESSONS IN LIVING GREEN FROM TRADITIONAL JAPAN shares personal stories and observations from early Edo Japan to show how we can live happier, more sustainable lives. The early Japanese confronted the same issues our society now faces - and found ways to resolve these issues using 'just enough' from the world to lead meaningful lives. This book surveys systems of household management and living that achieve superior satisfaction.

I was brought up in Japan (born in China), and most of my playground was in my aunt's farm house.
Many beautiful pen sketches throughout the book brings back my childhood memory. The Old "Edo" period
began in 1600 and ended in 1868, but the type of things depicted in the book were seen until just 50 years
ago in Japan. So-called modernization , or Americanization, has wiped out eco-friendly, waste-nothing
culture completely. I hope people will realize that we can live happily without many modern amenities.
I bought 2 additional copies and gave to my Americal friends in my neighbourhood.

There's many reasons to recommend this book, depending on your interests.

The goal of this book is to analyze Edo Japan's sustainable practices and apply them to modern life. It does this by taking a fictionalized journey through the country, starting at a farming village and ending at the home of a lower-level Edo Samurai. As we travel with the narrator, the story points out various things we'd notice and what they mean. Between chapters different levels of society and locations are analyzed for useful lessons.

Thus you'll read about the energy-saving virtue of pickling, the value of latrine outputs, the life of traveling city pottery repairman, and samurai who farm on their small estates. It's actually a bit dizzying, and the author packs in a lot - almost a bit too much to be frank, but he's got a lot to cover.

This human-level look at a sustainable culture, why it evolved, and what it means is very intriguing and has high impact. Backed by illustrations and research, giving these fictionalized but historical examples of efficiency, good construction, food production, etc. helps one understand what we can learn and apply to our lives. This varies from ethical/personal approaches to serious thoughts about material usage and land.

The book will make you think, will help you see the value of history, and will give you ideas.

Despite it's many triumphs of stability, efficiency, and literacy, the book doesn't set the Edo period as something to emulate entirely. The Edo period was also a time of social immobility for most, high taxes for farmers, the practice of infanticide for some, and a samurai class whose comparative wealth were constrained by propriety and social policy. The author clearly admires the Edo period, and perhaps in one or two cases praises it more than I feel it deserved, but he also acknowledges its many flaws. He regards these issues with a kind of sad affection, blots on a period that he feels shows important virtues, but blots nonetheless.

Do I consider this a book worth reading? I do - for the right audience.

Ecology/Sustainability: If you're interested in sustainability in a historical context, this book will definitely be for you.

Those Interested in Japan: If you're into Japanese food, culture, or history, then you'll probably adore this book. This might also be a great gift for anyone interested in period anime and manga because of the wealth of details.

Writers: This books way of using fiction, illustration, and analysis is actually very interesting from a pure level of literature. As a writer or instructional designer, if this book sounds at least mildly interesting to you, you may want to get it as a study of a useful instructional writing style.

So there you have it. The book's not for everyone, but it's quite a good book for the right people.

Wonderful book about simplistic lifestyles and sustainability. We could all use some of the techniques in this book.

This is most likely a great book.

I have yet to read it, because I live in Australia and delivery from Amazon.com is SLOW and OVERPRICED.

If you live outside of the US of A then you will most likely get better service and much faster postal delivery from amazon.co.uk

Good luck!