It is always interesting to learn about how other people view the world. There are some pretty solid tips in this book about cleaning your body, surrounding space, and consequently your mind. I do however think that the author is close-minded in some ways; having noted the interactions between mind, body and surroundings, they then proceed to dismiss the roles that physical and mental illnesses have to play in the lives of many.

Criticising people who struggle by calling them 'lazy' lacks nuance and fails to recognise that different people have different abilities and capacities, and that these can and do fluctuate. Instead it is kinder to build your readers up by encouraging them to do what they can when they can, and to try their best.

A short and nicely written book with a couple of fascinating insights into Zen peppered throughout. I liked reading about the actual day-to-day reality of a monk; it's cast what I've read before about Zen in a clearer light.

Edit: The book has grown on me since I finished it. Two things I read cemented themselves in my head: 1 - Clean in the morning, and 2 - "do what you need to without delay". Without making much effort to convince me, Matsumoto has got me cleaning as soon as I make a mess and getting a morning vaccum in. It sounds silly, but I feel much more at ease in my environment since reading this. Retroactively +1 star!

Not great content but a wonderful sleep story.