Coffee table book - The Beauty of Everyday Things

The definitive and highly influential exposition of the Japanese philosopher and aesthetician's folk art philosophy, defining the characteristics of Japanese design as we know it today: anonymity, quality, simplicity, and honesty—and, of course, wabi-sabi, the beauty of imperfection.

Our lives are filled with objects. Everyday things, used in everyday settings, that are our constant companions. Therefore, Soetsu Yanagi writes, they should be made with care and built to last, treated with respect, and even affection. They should be natural and simple, solid and safe—an aesthetic fulfillment of our practical needs. They should, in short, be beautiful things.

Long recognized as the authority on craft and Japanese aesthetics, Yanagi dedicated his life and work to championing the value of craft. In an age characterized by fragile and ugly machine-made things, The Beauty of Everyday Things is a call to each of us to develop a deeper relationship with the objects that surround us.

Inspired by the work done by the simple craftspeople Yanagi met on his lifelong journeys through Japan and Korea, this now classic book is a heartfelt defense of modest, honest, and handmade objects—from traditional teacups and jars to paper—objects that exemplify the beauty of everyday things.