"Smash hit in Japan, and easy to see why. Adlerian psychology meets Stoic philosophy in Socratic dialogue. Compelling from front to back. Highly recommend."

"One of my favorite love stories. A deaf-and-dumb garbage man/surfer and his deaf girlfriend who is in complete admiration of him. I remember thinking of them when I saw a group of surfers on a beach at 5 a.m. in Japan. They were waiting for waves that never came... This is the moment I fell in love with Japan."

"Why was Japan, the juggernaut of the 1980s, eclipsed by South Korea and China? And can its economy come back? A smart look at the future of a fascinating country."

"A recent college graduate moves to Japan to teach English and struggles with a) her feelings and b) local rules about disposing of garbage. This novel is very smart and very funny."

"Even though this film is supernatural, and set in centuries-old rural Japan, it has had a deep influence on Mad Men, with its exploration of the tragic contradiction of a family man."