Master Stylist Journalist's Reading Method: 'Cultivate with a Hundred Books: Reading Techniques to Become Free [Expanded Edition]' Released
CE Media House released the pocketbook edition of 'Cultivate with a Hundred Books' by Asahi Shimbun journalist Kotaro Kondo on May 27, 2026. This version includes new commentary by philosopher Kojin Karatani and outlines 11 methodologies for deeply reading a personal canon of 100 books.
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- 📰 Published: May 27, 2026 at 16:30
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CE Media House published the pocketbook edition of Kotaro Kondo's bestseller, 'Cultivate with a Hundred Books: Reading Techniques to Become Free [Expanded Edition],' on May 27, 2026. This new edition features additional content, including commentary by world-renowned philosopher Kojin Karatani.
The author, a veteran Asahi Shimbun journalist, views reading as a 'lesson in loving people.' Moving beyond conventional speed-reading logic, he explores how to make books part of one's flesh and blood to live a better life. The goal is to become a 'Hundred-Book Reader' who cultivates themselves through books accessible to anyone.
The core of the book is not about quantity but about the process of selecting one's own 'canon' of 100 books and internalizing them so deeply that eventually, even those books are no longer needed. The methodology is explained through 11 themes of opposing dichotomies, such as 'Speed-reading vs. Slow-reading,' 'Criticizing vs. Possessing,' and 'Extracting vs. Reciting.'
Furthermore, the book serves as a philosophical work, encouraging readers to discover a new self through the act of reading. In this expanded edition, Kojin Karatani contributes a commentary, praising the book's significance as a 'practice for gaining freedom.'
Author Kotaro Kondo is not only a journalist but also a farmer and hunter. His 35 years of experience writing with a single pen support the unique and powerful language found in this book.
[Bibliographic Information]
Title: Cultivate with a Hundred Books: Reading Techniques to Become Free [Expanded Edition]
Author: Kotaro Kondo
Format: Pocketbook (Bunkobon), 384 pages
Price: 990 yen (tax included)
ISBN: 978-4-484-22158-8
Release Date: May 27, 2026
Publisher: CE Media House
The author, a veteran Asahi Shimbun journalist, views reading as a 'lesson in loving people.' Moving beyond conventional speed-reading logic, he explores how to make books part of one's flesh and blood to live a better life. The goal is to become a 'Hundred-Book Reader' who cultivates themselves through books accessible to anyone.
The core of the book is not about quantity but about the process of selecting one's own 'canon' of 100 books and internalizing them so deeply that eventually, even those books are no longer needed. The methodology is explained through 11 themes of opposing dichotomies, such as 'Speed-reading vs. Slow-reading,' 'Criticizing vs. Possessing,' and 'Extracting vs. Reciting.'
Furthermore, the book serves as a philosophical work, encouraging readers to discover a new self through the act of reading. In this expanded edition, Kojin Karatani contributes a commentary, praising the book's significance as a 'practice for gaining freedom.'
Author Kotaro Kondo is not only a journalist but also a farmer and hunter. His 35 years of experience writing with a single pen support the unique and powerful language found in this book.
[Bibliographic Information]
Title: Cultivate with a Hundred Books: Reading Techniques to Become Free [Expanded Edition]
Author: Kotaro Kondo
Format: Pocketbook (Bunkobon), 384 pages
Price: 990 yen (tax included)
ISBN: 978-4-484-22158-8
Release Date: May 27, 2026
Publisher: CE Media House
FAQ
本書『百冊で耕す』の主なコンセプトは何ですか？
自分にとっての「カノン（正典）」となる100冊を自力で選び、深く読み込むことで、自己を耕し（カルティベイト）自由になるための方法論を提示することです。
増補版にはどのような新要素が含まれていますか？
2023年刊行の単行本の内容に加え、思想家・柄谷行人氏による解説と、著者による「文庫版おわりに」が新たに収録されています。
著者、近藤康太郎氏の経歴を教えてください。
朝日新聞社の記者でありながら、作家、評論家、百姓、猟師としての顔も持ち、35年にわたり「筆一本」で活動し続けている人物です。
具体的にどのような読書テクニックが紹介されていますか？
「速読／遅読」「批判する／憑依される」「抜き書き／暗唱」など、11の対立するテーマ（二律背反）を用いて、多面的で重層的な読書の方法を解説しています。
書籍の購入情報（価格・ISBN等）を教えてください。
価格は990円（税込）、ISBNは978-4-484-22158-8、発売日は2026年5月27日です。電子書籍版はありません。