Diary of a Monk

Takahiro UedaDiary of a Monk

Welcome to our website. For those of you who are visiting our blog for the first time. First of all, please click here.

Nice to meet you. My name is Takahiro Ueda, the administrator of this blog. This blog started as my attempt to look at various things in my daily life and write words with the motto of asking myself questions, as you can see in the title of the blog.

This article will give you a general guide within our blog. If you are new to our blog or wondering what to read, please read this article first.
Kumagusu MinakataDiary of a Monk

Takamitsu Shimamoto, "Minakata Kumagusu, Cats and Islam" - Was the Conventional Image of Kumagusu Really Right? A stimulating book that questions the state of research on the great man!

This work, "Minakata Kumagusu, Cats, and Islam," is a departure from conventional reference books on Minakata Kumagusu.

Minakata Kumagusu is known as a "naturalist and folklorist with genius qualities" and is famous for his research on slime molds and plants.

Minakata Kumagusu's superhuman collection of materials and the scope of his research earned him the respect of later researchers. He was praised as a genius and a great man who was ahead of his time.

However, was this person, Minakata Kumagusu, really the great man he seemed to be? In this book, we will carefully examine whether the image of Minakata Kumagusu, filled with the praise of later researchers, was really correct.

It is a stimulating work that can be called a Minakata Kumagusu version of the now popular "Buddha, the Man" by Toshifumi Shimizu!
Reading PragueDiary of a Monk

24 novels recommended by book-loving monks - a quick look at recommended works at each level from introductory to advanced!

In this article, we will introduce novels that we highly recommend for each level of readers, from beginners to advanced readers.

Basically, the books introduced here are all great books that I recommend with confidence. All of them are extremely interesting works, so please take a look at the linked pages for the books that interest you, regardless of whether they are categorized as introductory or advanced.
Special Investigator QDiary of a Monk

J.A. Olson's "Special Investigator Q: The Woman in the Cage" Synopsis and Comments - A recommended foreign mystery with a naïve and awesome protagonist!

This is indeed a mystery that is currently receiving a great deal of attention!

Mystery unfolds into mystery. The tension. This is a quick read. I devoured the book as if I were devouring it. It is impossible to read it little by little. I can't stop reading because I am curious about what is going to happen next.

I don't have to tell you how wonderful the author's storyline is, but I think the translation is also excellent. It is just so easy to read! This is a great foreign mystery.

This work is a must-read for those who like Haruki Murakami and Keisuke Ito. Conversely, if you like this work, "Dance Dance Dance" and "Slaughterhouse Organ" will surely be a hit. Highly recommended!
Improve your observation skillsDiary of a Monk

Overview and Impressions of "Sharpening Your Observational Skills: Reading Famous Paintings" - If you change the way you look at things, you can change the world! A great book that I highly recommend students to read!

In this book, you will complete a number of practices through various paintings and works of art.

The practice through that famous Vermeer is extremely stimulating and interesting.

The details that can never be noticed by just looking at it casually. What is actually depicted in these paintings? This book will make you understand how we cannot see anything. Please read this book first to try it out. You will be shocked at how vague your view of the world is.

I was shocked at how big a difference there was between "seeing" and "watching.

This is an important skill for study, for work, and even for all of life. This is an amazing program that I hope many people will experience.
Organizational ThoughtDiary of a Monk

Shigehiko Toyama's "Organizing Thoughts" Summary and Comments - The best reference book for thinking about how to study! A great book for an introduction to reading!

You may think that studying and reading are rigid and difficult, but this book turns those stereotypes upside down. This book will help you understand the meaning of "learning" and how fun it can be.

I also feel that reading this book has made my reading much more enjoyable. I feel that I am now able to "organize my thoughts" and lead a richer reading life, rather than just reading unnecessarily. Most importantly, I can now read more books with confidence. This book has taught me how to appreciate books and various studies more deeply.

It is a wonderful work that invites us to be active learners rather than passive learners. I would recommend this book to all, not just students.
motivate a personDiary of a Monk

D. Carnegie's "Motivating People" Summary and Impressions - Lost in a book title! A masterpiece that makes you reflect on your own inadequacies. A classic that can be called the originator of self-help books.

In this book, you can learn the subtleties of human nature and the depths of human psychology with plenty of examples. The book is very easy to read, so even those who are not good at reading will be able to read it easily.

This book is a work that asks us to be ourselves. I think that the title of the book, "Moving People," is a bit of a misnomer.

It is not just a small life technique. It is not just a small life technique. It is not like a book that says, "Read this book and you can use it in business," or, "Let's move people around and make things happen. Of course, you can use it that way, but I think it is the exact opposite of the true value of this book.