First, this book is constructed of beautiful materials. The paper weight and texture are amazing and of finest quality. The photographs are beautifully reproduced and are essentially the best part of this book. The text itself is awful, and could benefit from the heavy hand (red pen) of an editor. All the pages of text could be condensed--removing all trite phrases and zen-style attempts at platitudes--into perhaps two meaningful paragraphs. This volume is the absolute height of pretense and artifice.
In the modern world of everyday people, wabi-sabi is a concept that can be used to improve our lives. Wabi-sabi is a concept originating from Japan which stresses three important values for objects surrounding us: Impermanence, Imperfection, and the Incomplete. Before this book came out, I had never seen the first word used alone. Wabi means essentially "humble," and is the absolute wrong title for the book and its concepts. The book shows pictures of generally empty lodges, tea houses, and retreats--and these dwellings are invariably set on a lake front, or next to the ocean, or feature a stunning view of the Alps through its unadorned window. Space--affording a house (or chalet, or loft) and then keeping it empty save perhaps a stack of rocks or one vase--is the ultimate luxury in this world. This book purports to idolize that which is humble: A retreat on the side of the mountain, where guests are made to pad single file across the grounds and then step into the tea house. But a European retreat, its grounds, and associated tea house are a mark of unattainable luxury! So too are two barns featured in this book. Both barns make their way to Europe; but one of them is commissioned and built in Japan first.
The next time -you- have a barn designed, commissioned, and built in another country--and then have it shipped to your estate in Belgium--I suggest you reach for this book, because it provides some ideas for how to furnish it [one wingback chair, one roughly-hewn porcelain water vessel; done!]. The rest of us without millions in discretionary funds will simply select and use companion objects that contain and reflect the cherished values of wabi-sabi for our meager, normal, average lives. One need not be a millionaire (or billionaire) to enjoy them.