★ 09/20/2021
First published in 1937, this deeply thoughtful Japanese classic—filmmaker Hayao Miyazaki’s favorite childhood book—is offered in its first English translation via Navasky’s quiet, carefully measured prose. Born and raised in Tokyo, 15-year-old Honda Jun’ichi, known as Copper and small for his age, “can be a bit too mischievous.” When his bank director father passed away around two years ago, Copper and his mother downsized and moved to a modest suburban home, now frequently visited by Copper’s maternal uncle, with whom he is “terribly close.” Interspersed with prosaic recollections of a year of Copper’s school days, interpersonal dramas, and developing friendships, entries from Uncle’s Notebook relay affirmative messages to Copper, covering topics such as science, philosophy, history, and poverty. What results is a gentle tale of self-discovery and reflection, and a compassionate guidebook on integrity punctuated by rich sensory details. If the book unfurls a bit slowly, Yoshino’s timeless lessons (“You must live your life like a true human being and feel just what you feel”), will resonate with sensitive readers young and old. Front matter includes a foreword by Neil Gaiman; back matter includes a note from the translator. Ages 10–14. (Oct.)
A New York Times Bestseller An Indie Bestseller
“All classic children’s books are works of philosophy in one sense or another. But few classics for young readers are as entirely philosophical and contemplative, as engineered to instruct, as Genzaburo Yoshino’s How Do You Live? . . . not easily forgotten. . . Some may feel, as this reader did upon closing it, inclined to affirm an unusual truth: ‘I am wiser for having read this book.’”—Adam Gopnik, The New York Times Book Review
“A heartwarming and empathetic text engineered to help kids comprehend the world around them and their places in it . . . Like the best Miyazaki films, [the] lessons are often deceptively simple, but they have implications for every person who comes of age through adversity.”—Vulture
“How Do You Live? is that rare thing, especially in YA: a shamelessly philosophical novel, starting with its interrogative title. It asks its young readers to think about the person they want to be, and its adult readers to reflect on the person they’ve become.”—Wired
“A teen ponders the complexities of life, history, and humanity in this 1937 classic from Japan being animated by Hayao Miyazaki . . . Simple and beautiful seasonal details reflect Copper’s emotional journey. Small glimpses into prewar Japanese life and culture, including tofu making, school social hierarchies, city life, and the intricacies and symbolism of words, contribute to the atmosphere. A foreword by Neil Gaiman perfectly captures the mood and significance of this book, a childhood favorite of Miyazaki’s and one that is sure to find a select, but eager, readership outside its homeland. A quiet, introspective look at life and how to be human.”—Kirkus Reviews, starred review
“[A] deeply thoughtful Japanese classic . . . A gentle tale of self-discovery and reflection, and a compassionate guidebook on integrity punctuated by rich sensory details . . . Yoshino’s timeless lessons will resonate with sensitive readers young and old.”—Publishers Weekly, starred review
“Thoughtful and hopeful in the vein of classic children's literature. [An] excellent translation, providing insight into Miyazaki's works.”—Anime News Network
“Important, worthwhile, and surprisingly of-the-moment.”—Asian Review of Books
“A beguiling . . . and ruminative coming-of-age tale . . . to excite interest and—happily—inspire thought.”—Booklist
“Now is the perfect time for the translation of this novel and an even better time for today’s youth to give it a read. This book guides your way of living toward the right path.” —Shelf Unbound
“A thought-provoking coming of age novel that teaches children how to navigate through life…beautiful…engaging.”—YA Books Central
★ 2021-06-11
A teen ponders the complexities of life, history, and humanity in this 1937 classic from Japan that is being animated by Hayao Miyazaki.
Honda “Copper” Jun’ichi is an introspective 15-year-old living in Tokyo with his mother; his father died two years earlier. Like a typical teenager, Copper goes to school, spends time with his friends, and has experiences that affect his worldview and personal growth. Copper’s analyses of his friendships and the bullying of a classmate from a poorer family, along with his youthful maternal uncle’s thought-provoking conversations on science, ethics, and world history, add dimension to a spare plot. It is this latter relationship that produces Copper’s nickname, shortened from Copernicus and reflecting his uncle’s observation that, despite his age, Copper was already developing an expansive, Copernican approach to the world. The colloquial tone of the uncle’s notebook entries and the omniscient narrator’s occasional comments directed at readers are engaging. Simple and beautiful seasonal details reflect Copper’s emotional journey. Small glimpses into prewar Japanese life and culture, including tofu making, school social hierarchies, city life, and the intricacies and symbolism of words, contribute to the atmosphere. A foreword by Neil Gaiman perfectly captures the mood and significance of this book, a childhood favorite of Miyazaki’s and one that is sure to find a select, but eager, readership outside its original homeland.
A quiet, introspective look at life and how to be human. (translator's note) (Fiction. 10-adult)
Brian Nishii narrates this uniquely thoughtful audiobook, translated from a 1937 Japanese classic. It is surprisingly relevant today. Fifteen-year-old Copper’s experiences with school friends and bullies alternate with conversations with his beloved uncle, who also writes essays. As Uncle, Nishii speaks with the slow quiet of an elder accustomed to receiving respect. Uncle shares ideas with Copper on his problems, offering timeless perspectives that seamlessly encompass concepts of science, consumerism, history, and more. His teachings are philosophical, rather than didactic. Nishii creates a heartfelt Copper, respectful and pleasant in both manner and voice, yet we hear painful remorse and shame when he deserts his own lofty ideals. A showdown with school bullies is particularly tense. Nishii’s slight Japanese accent reminds the listener of the book’s universality. L.T. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award, 2022 Best Audiobook © AudioFile 2022, Portland, Maine
Brian Nishii narrates this uniquely thoughtful audiobook, translated from a 1937 Japanese classic. It is surprisingly relevant today. Fifteen-year-old Copper’s experiences with school friends and bullies alternate with conversations with his beloved uncle, who also writes essays. As Uncle, Nishii speaks with the slow quiet of an elder accustomed to receiving respect. Uncle shares ideas with Copper on his problems, offering timeless perspectives that seamlessly encompass concepts of science, consumerism, history, and more. His teachings are philosophical, rather than didactic. Nishii creates a heartfelt Copper, respectful and pleasant in both manner and voice, yet we hear painful remorse and shame when he deserts his own lofty ideals. A showdown with school bullies is particularly tense. Nishii’s slight Japanese accent reminds the listener of the book’s universality. L.T. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award, 2022 Best Audiobook © AudioFile 2022, Portland, Maine
