I enjoyed this very much indeed. The writing flagged at times, but it was consistently honest, surprising, and enlightening. Funny, too. Sparked a lot of interesting conversations about Japan.

This is quite fascinating reading; Feiler is unafraid to criticize certain aspects of Japanese culture even as he tries to explain it from his perspective. The narrative sections are quite good, and I’m trying not to fall asleep during the historical bits.

From the bargain shelf at the Booksmith. Bedside table reading.