Recommendations from Asa Ito and Mao Fujita Arrive! Yuuki Nanba's 'What is a Book' Re-examines Your 'Reading' [Releasing June 17 (Wed)]

Is reading really that great?

Yuuki Nanba, a young philosopher and aesthetician who made a striking solo debut with 'Philosophy of Narrativization Critique' (Kodansha Shinsho) and has since written popular works such as 'Why Can't People Meet Deadlines' (Horinouchi Publishing) and 'On Critical Everyday Aesthetics' (Shobunsha), is now tackling 'the philosophy of reading.'

'Is reading a book really such a great thing?' – Nanba's contemplation began with a question posed by several bookstore staff members.

Many people talk about the benefits of reading, but in fact, everyone glosses over 'what it means to read a book.' They skip the fundamental question of what it really means to read a book and what we are actually doing when we read.

Moreover, whether reading a book is a good thing or not can only be baseless unless we first understand what it means to read. Therefore, when we want to say that reading is good (or bad), it is necessary to return to the fundamentals and ask, 'But what does it really mean to read a book?'

This book will explore what it means to read a book. (From the 'Introduction')

Using the concept proposed by Nanba that 'reading is a performance,' the book traverses numerous academic fields, from novels, humanities books, and manga to how-to books, musical scores, and recipes, contemplating all kinds of books that exist in the world.

This is an unprecedented attempt to re-examine the meaning of reading in an age where reading a book is unconditionally considered a good thing.

Once you read this book, your perception of 'reading' is sure to change completely.

Yuuki Nanba 'What is a Book' (Shincho Shinsho)

Click here for details on 'What is a Book'

Click here for a preview of 'What is a Book'

■ Recommendations from Aesthetician Asa Ito and Pianist Mao Fujita Arrive!

The recommendation comments for this work come from two people: Asa Ito, an aesthetician and professor at the Tokyo Institute of Science, and Mao Fujita, an internationally active pianist.

I want to follow the author's radical and innocent thoughts wherever they go.

A reading philosophy that captures the essence directly and surprises you with its refreshingly oblique perspective.

– Asa Ito (Aesthetician)

Just as a pianist interprets a musical score, yet the resulting sound is unique to each performer, this book made me realize that when we read, we are each performing our own 'reading performance.'

I feel an artistic inspiration in this work, which gives a new perspective on the act of 'reading' that everyone has experienced and brings new joy to reading.

– Mao Fujita (Pianist)

■ Author's Comment

After the release of my debut work, I visited several bookstores and asked, 'What kind of book would you like to read next? I'll write anything!' Several bookstore staff members told me, 'A book that makes us think about whether reading is really that great!' At that moment, I decided I would write it someday.

I love books. However, I don't think 'love' means 'total affirmation.' Because I love books, I wanted to create a way of thinking about 'what a book is' from a comfortable distance – neither too close nor too far. I imagine a future where discussions about books become even more diverse, sparked by this book.

The birthplace of this book is the bookstore. I am excited to see how this book returns to its birthplace and how it will be read by its readers.

■ Table of Contents

Introduction: What We Think About When We Read

Chapter 1: What is the Difference Between Poor Reading and Good Reading? – Reading as Performance

Chapter 2: Does Reading Stories Help You Understand Others? – The Performance of 'In-Between'

Chapter 3: Why is it Fun to Not Understand Difficult Humanities Books? – The State of Not Understanding

Chapter 4: Why Do How-To Books Make You Feel Energetic? – The Premonition of Transformation

Chapter 5: Why is it Okay Not to Read a Magazine Cover to Cover? – The Time Zone of Browsing

Chapter 6: Is Manga a Book? – Attraction and Criticism

Chapter 7: What Are We Reading in Musical Scores and Recipes? – Freedom and Possibility

Chapter 8: Why Do We Introduce Books We've Read on Social Media? – Adornment and Furniture

Chapter 9: Is Tsundoku and Visiting Bookstores a Form of Reading? – Garden and Democracy

Afterword

Book Guide: 18 Books for Enjoying Reading Even More

■ Book Description

What does it mean to read a book? What are we experiencing when we read? Using the concept that 'reading is a performance,' this book explores the philosophy and aesthetics of reading by traversing numerous academic fields, from novels, humanities books, and manga to how-to books, musical scores, and recipes, contemplating various books that exist in the world. It is an attempt to re-examine the meaning of reading in an age where reading a book is unconditionally considered a good thing.

■ Author Profile: Yuuki Nanba

Born in Hyogo Prefecture in 1994. Aesthetician. Completed the master's program at the Graduate School of Humanities, Kobe University. Specializes in analytic aesthetics and the philosophy of popular culture. Author of 'Philosophy of Narrativization Critique,' 'Why Can't People Meet Deadlines,' 'On Critical Everyday Aesthetics,' among others.

■ Book Data

[Title] What is a Book
[Author] Yuuki Nanba
[Release Date] June 17, 2026
[Format] Shinsho (pocket-sized paperback)
[Price] 1,043 yen (tax included)
[ISBN] 978-4-10-611128-0
[URL] https://www.shinchosha.co.jp/book/611128/