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The Book of Tea

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The Book of Tea

By: Okakura Kakuzō
Narrated by: Nicholas Tekoski
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About this listen

Here is a minor classic of the Orient. It is perhaps the most entertaining, most charming explanation and interpretation of traditional Japanese culture in terms of the tea ceremony. First published in 1906, it traces the custom from its roots in Taoism to its role as a Zen meditative discipline.

Public Domain (P)2012 Audible, Inc. Classics World China Taoism

Editor reviews

This book explains the origins and meanings of Japanese tea and instructs listeners on how to prepare tea Japanese style. More importantly it describes tea as an emblem of Taoism, and as a soulful triumph of the Japanese quest for perfect harmony. The act of brewing a pure cup of tea becomes a metaphor for living a more spiritually attuned life. Like the text, narrator Nicholas Tekoski’s respectful tone balances between prose and poetry. Tekoski reads in an American accent. His gently curious outsider stance energizes the studious and meditative language here. Tekoski seems to discover and understand the philosophy outlined here as he moves through the narrative. Listeners can join him and also learn what the book teaches about tea and life.
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teaism is a word, and tea is “tempest in a tea cup”.
interesting and relaxing. it focuses a lot on the spiritual meaning of the tea culture in Japan. it would have been a bit nicer with more information, not just the philosophy.

relaxing teaism

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Great book narration was very poor in places where things had been recorded which let the whole recording down

Good book occasionally poor narration

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The narrator is beyond bad - he misreads basic words and takes a heavy breath after every sentence, it makes this audiobook unlistenable unfortunately.

Returning due to AWFUL narration

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I thought that this book would be a short description of the tea ceremony it turned out to be an amazing insight into Japanese culture wonderful and totally entertaining

the quality of the writing and the narrator

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Learned a lot about tea and tea house. Now, I am going to impress people with my knowledge.

Very good

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