Written in 1945-46. I wasn’t even born yet. This was in the wake of the world coming to its senses that we bombed and burned much of our planet in hatred. The earth was literally in tatters. Everyone knew someone who was hurt, maimed, or killed during the conflicts that shook our planet.
And then out of it comes this book. Recognizing the massive damage that was realized in Japan, and observing a society that was just beginning to come out of the ashes, Ruth Benedict was there. I read this book about 20 years ago, and even then the 1946 version seemed like a million miles away. Yet still relevant as Benedict articulates some of the key elements of how Japanese culture and thinking are unique, and very different than those of the West. Relevant through the ages, and a terrific read.