{"title":"Pico Iyer","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePico Iyer\u003c\/strong\u003e invites readers on profound journeys through far-flung landscapes and inner worlds alike. His works blend travel and reflection, capturing the spirit of place with a keen eye and a contemplative heart. Expect essays and narratives that explore both the beauty and complexity of the world’s cultures.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eWith a focus on \u003cem\u003eTravel \u0026amp; Adventure\u003c\/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003eReligion \u0026amp; Spirituality\u003c\/em\u003e, and \u003cem\u003eArts \u0026amp; Culture\u003c\/em\u003e, Iyer’s writing delves into themes of silence, belonging, and the quest for meaning. His books offer thoughtful meditations alongside vivid storytelling, perfect for those seeking insight as much as inspiration.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"a-beginners-guide-to-japan","title":"A Beginner's Guide to Japan","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eWinner of the Edward Stanford Travel Memoir of the Year 2020\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIn \u003ci\u003eA Beginner's Guide to Japan\u003c\/i\u003e, distinguished author Pico Iyer offers a captivating exploration of Japanese culture, delving into the subtle nuances and captivating contradictions that define this enigmatic country. Drawing from over three decades of intimate experience, Iyer takes readers on a journey from bustling urban centres to serene rural landscapes, uncovering the profound observations and playful insights that make Japan so beguiling.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIyer guides us through a myriad of cultural landscapes, from the boisterous atmosphere of baseball games to the intimate spaces of quirky love-hotels. He wanders through the frenetic energy of shopping malls as well as the tranquillity of Zen temple gardens. Along the way, Iyer poses enlightening questions: How does a sushi bar explain a Japanese poem? Why do Japanese couples meticulously plan matching outfits for their honeymoons? And why do many aspects of Japanese life appear to be the opposite of Western expectations?\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eWith his keen eye for detail and deep cultural understanding, Iyer brings to life the idiosyncrasies and traditions of his adopted home. His narrative strikes a perfect balance between the playful and the profound, offering a perspective on Japan that is as enlightening as it is entertaining. Through his prose, readers gain a deeper appreciation for the beauty and mystery of Japan, making \u003ci\u003eA Beginner's Guide to Japan\u003c\/i\u003e an indispensable companion for anyone intrigued by the Land of the Rising Sun.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e'Rarely in any writing on Japan is provocation so elegantly and surgically performed'\u003ci\u003e Financial Times\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Allen \u0026 Unwin","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":45706045751532,"sku":"9781526611512","price":19.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/9781526611512.jpg?v=1725881875"},{"product_id":"autumn-light","title":"Autumn Light","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003ci\u003eWe cherish things, Japan has always known, precisely because they cannot last; it's their frailty that adds sweetness to their beauty.\u003c\/i\u003e\n\nReturning to his home in Japan after his father-in-law's sudden death, Pico Iyer soon immerses himself in the rhythm of daily life, engaging in simple yet profound routines. He frequents the local post office during the day and plays lively games of ping-pong in the evenings. These comforting rituals provide a semblance of stability as he navigates a landscape steeped in traditions that honour the passage of life.\n\nSet against the backdrop of autumn, \u003cem\u003eAutumn Light\u003c\/em\u003e captures the poignant beauty of a season that invites reflection and introspection. As the maple leaves transform into a blaze of colours and the oppressive heat of summer fades, Iyer's narrative unfurls a Japan that is both timeless and transient. This is a Japan that reveres the fleeting nature of existence, where every moment is imbued with a sense of impermanence.\n\nThrough Iyer’s exquisite prose, readers are invited to explore themes of mortality, loss, and the bittersweet nature of holding on to what we love, even as it slips away. His intimate observations offer a mosaic of personal experiences and cultural insights, portraying a nation that finds solace and meaning in its seasonal cycles.\n\n\u003cem\u003eAutumn Light\u003c\/em\u003e is not just a memoir of personal grief and rediscovery; it is a meditation on the universal human condition. Iyer’s reflections prompt us to consider how we cope with the inevitability of change and loss, and how we might find beauty and grace in the transient moments of life.\n\nIn this deeply moving and contemplative work, Pico Iyer paints a portrait of autumn in Japan that is at once delicate and profound, urging us to appreciate the fragile beauty of our own lives.\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Allen \u0026 Unwin","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":45706111123692,"sku":"9781526611468","price":24.99,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/9781526611468.jpg?v=1725883175"},{"product_id":"the-half-known-life","title":"The Half Known Life","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e'Nothing less than a guided tour of the human soul ... 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By the end, he has upended any of our expectations and dared to suggest that we can find paradise right in the heart of our angry and confused world.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Allen \u0026 Unwin","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":45707130700012,"sku":"9781526655028","price":32.99,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/9781526655028.jpg?v=1725896148"},{"product_id":"learning-from-silence-by-pico-iyer-9781529944112","title":"Learning from Silence","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOur first time publishing Pico Iyer, we are repositioning him as a \u003cem\u003eNew York Times\u003c\/em\u003e bestselling, major spiritual thinker—with a book that speaks to the growing readership for MBS\/wellness.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eFrom the bestselling author of \u003cem\u003eThe Art of Stillness\u003c\/em\u003e, a revelatory exploration of the abiding clarity and calm to be found in quiet retreat.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eOver the past three decades, Pico Iyer has made more than a hundred journeys to a small hermitage high above the sea in Big Sur, California. 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Most profoundly, he shows how solitude can be a training in community and companionship.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIn so doing, he offers a unique outsider's view of monastic life—and of a group of selfless souls who have dedicated their days to ensuring there's a space for quiet and recollection that's open to us all.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eRadiant, intimate and gripping, \u003cem\u003eLearning from Silence\u003c\/em\u003e offers ageless counsel about the power of silence and what it can teach us about how to live, how to love and, ultimately, how to die.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Penguin Random House NZ","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46018758508780,"sku":"9781529944112","price":28.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/9781529944112.jpg?v=1734349057"},{"product_id":"lonely-planet-an-innocent-abroad-by-lonely-planet-9781743604472","title":"Lonely Planet An Innocent Abroad","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMore than 20 well-known writers and celebrities share the travel experiences that shaped their personalities and changed their lives. 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It’s on mobile phones. It’s on the Internet. It's everywhere, and it's telling entire generations of people how to travel the world. - Fairfax Media (Australia)\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Unknown","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46398102536428,"sku":"9781743604472","price":27.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/21946403482808.jpg?v=1745571879"},{"product_id":"lonely-planet-by-the-seat-of-my-pants-by-lonely-planet-9781786571915","title":"Lonely Planet By the Seat of My Pants","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eLonely Planet By the Seat of My Pants\u003c\/em\u003e is a collection of humorous tales of travel and misadventure. This hilarious anthology includes travel stories penned by a mix of comedians, travel writers, and previously unpublished authors.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe stories from the road focus on universal themes familiar to all travellers, capturing the essence of adventure and the unexpected twists that make journeys memorable.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Unknown","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46398423892204,"sku":"9781786571915","price":25.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/2248193482824.jpg?v=1745583200"},{"product_id":"lonely-planet-tales-from-nowhere-by-lonely-planet-9781786576217","title":"Lonely Planet Tales from Nowhere","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eUnexpected stories from unexpected places. These 30 real-life tales all celebrate and illuminate one simple truth: if we embark on each adventure with an open heart and an open mind, travel will take us places we never planned to go, and enrich and enlighten us in ways we never otherwise would have known.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIncludes stories by Anthony Sattin, Danny Wallace and Pico Uyer. 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Riveting both as a journey and a study of a civilisation, Wright captures his experience with wit and profound wisdom.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Unknown","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47072388350188,"sku":"9781780601588","price":39.99,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/26802293482821.jpg?v=1765100849"},{"product_id":"mask-by-chris-rainier-9781683836452","title":"Mask","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e2020 IBPA Awards Winner!\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eMask\u003c\/em\u003e presents a striking collection of rare masks steeped in ancient tradition, captured through the lens of one of the world’s most celebrated documentary photographers.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eCelebrated photographer Chris Rainier has documented indigenous and endangered cultures worldwide. What began as a focus on the masks of New Guinea—where modernity threatened to erase ancient rituals and cultures—became an expansive journey to find and photograph traditional masks that has taken Rainier across six continents over the past thirty years.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe result is this mesmerizing photographic collection of masks—some of them ancient, some newer, many hidden at the edges of the known world and rarely revealed to outsiders. Traditional masks are so often seen behind the glass of museum cabinets, divorced from their spiritual significance. But the masks in this collection are still being danced today, in countless cultures all over the world. Rainier conveys them pulsing with the rhythms of life, full of power and spiritual relevance.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThrough his stunning photography—at once mysterious and unguarded—Rainier takes us on a pilgrimage to experience masks and mask rituals: from those found at initiation rituals in Burkina Faso to Bön Buddhist masks long hidden in a Nepalese monastery in the high Himalayas, the raven and bear regalia of North American First Nation potlatches, and the terrifying, child-chasing Krampus masks of the Austrian Alps.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eAccompanying these striking images are a foreword by renowned essayist Pico Iyer, ethnographic notes from anthropologist Robert L. 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