Background
Published on November 12, 2024, How to Let Things Go: 99 Tips from a Zen Buddhist Monk to Relinquish Control and Free Yourself Up for What Matters by Shunmyo Masuno offers readers practical guidance on achieving a calmer, more focused life. Drawing from Zen Buddhist principles, the book presents 99 concise lessons that address modern challenges such as information overload and social media distractions. Masuno emphasizes the importance of setting boundaries, embracing imperfection in relationships, and accepting that not everything is within our control. By adopting these practices, individuals can cultivate mental clarity and emotional well-being.
My Thoughts
This book was literally so good I had to go through it again. It was a short but highly applicable set of mantras and good ideas from someone who has thought about them for more than the usual 5-10 seconds. My favorites are “Be humble, be humble, be humble” and “stop with all the bragging”. There were a few that I can accept as good ideas, but I’m not quite ready to get rid of all my unused clothing. (Sometimes it gets cold and I need to match…)
Recommendation
Great read.