In Praise of Shadows

Like the title states, this book is written in praise of shadows. It compares a lot of the Japanese ideals with the western ones and interestingly draws parallels between them.
It reiterates how subtle, mindful, and intentional the Japanese are with just about everything, and in it's own unique way calls out to the Japanese youth to embrace themselves, to embrace a part of them that while it may be different, has its own beauty.

The characteristics described sort of put my explorations of East Asian art and literature in a new light and has made me appreciate the importance of shadows in a way I'd never thought of before.