100,000+ Books, Games & Puzzles in-stock ๐Ÿ‡ณ๐Ÿ‡ฟ

Auckland Bookstore open today until 5pm! ๐ŸŽ‰

Autumn Light

Japan's Season of Fire and Farewells
3.97 goodreads logo

Ratings/reviews counts are updated frequently.

Check link for latest rating.
( 1,536 ratings, 249 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
Autumn Light by Pico Iyer is a contemplative exploration of life, love, and loss in Japan. The author reflects on the transient nature of existence, drawing on personal experiences and poignant observations. This travel memoir delves into the rhythms of everyday life, capturing the beauty and melancholy of the changing seasons.
Read More
Format: Paperback / softback
$2499
OVERNIGHT NZ-WIDE DELIVERY

Found a better price? Request a price match

Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

This book may appeal to you if you enjoy contemplative reflections on life, loss, and the bittersweet beauty of the changing seasons, all set against the evocative backdrop of Japan.

Book Hero thinking about your next read

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description
We cherish things, Japan has always known, precisely because they cannot last; it's their frailty that adds sweetness to their beauty. Returning 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. Set against the backdrop of autumn, Autumn Light 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. Through Iyerโ€™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. Autumn Light is not just a memoir of personal grief and rediscovery; it is a meditation on the universal human condition. Iyerโ€™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. In 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.

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

Autumn Light by Pico Iyer is praised for its elegantly smooth prose and detailed observation, weaving themes of autumn in Japan and this period in Iyer's life. It is described as a tender meditation on Japanese culture and life's impermanence, with wisdom and poignant reflections. The book is also noted for its vivid portrayal of Japanese society and the personal blend of philosophy and engagement.

Book Hero reading reviews

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781526611468

Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 02 April 2020

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Width: 129.0mm

Height: 198.0mm

Weight: 212g

Pages: 256

About the Author

Pico Iyer is the author of more than a dozen books, translated into twenty-three languages, and he regularly contributes to the New York Review of Books, Granta, the Financial Times and dozens of magazines around the world. His three recent talks for TED have received seven million views so far.

Also by Pico Iyer

View all
  • A Beginner's Guide to Japan
    Winner of the Edward Stanford Travel Memoir of the Year 2020 In A Beginner's Guide to Japan, 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...
    Paperback
    $2299
    In Stock
    Ships Monday
  • The Half Known Life
    'Nothing less than a guided tour of the human soul ... A masterpiece' Elizabeth Gilbert 'A work of spiritual evolution [and] inner journeys told through extraordinary exteriors' Washington Post One of our most perceptive travel writers embarks on an exploration of the world's holiest places and where we might find paradise on Earth. Itโ€™s so easy, I thought, to place...
    Paperback
    $3299
    In Stock
    Ships Monday
  • Learning from Silence
    Our first time publishing Pico Iyer, we are repositioning him as a New York Times bestselling, major spiritual thinkerโ€”with a book that speaks to the growing readership for MBS/wellness. From the bestselling author of The Art of Stillness, a revelatory exploration of the abiding clarity and calm to be found in quiet retreat. Over the past three decades, Pico Iyer...
    Hardback
    $3200
    Elsewhere:
    $4000
    In Stock
    Ships Monday
  • On Sale
    Lonely Planet By the Seat of My Pants
    Lonely Planet By the Seat of My Pants 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. The stories from the road focus on universal themes familiar to all travellers, capturing the essence of adventure and the unexpected twists that make...
    Paperback
    $2500
    Elsewhere:
    $2699
    Available
    Ships in 1 week
  • On Sale
    Lonely Planet Tales from Nowhere
    Unexpected 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. Includes stories by Anthony Sattin, Danny Wallace...
    Paperback
    $2500
    Elsewhere:
    $2699
    Available
    Ships in 1 week
  • Mask
    2020 IBPA Awards Winner! Mask presents a striking collection of rare masks steeped in ancient tradition, captured through the lens of one of the worldโ€™s most celebrated documentary photographers. Celebrated photographer Chris Rainier has documented indigenous and endangered cultures worldwide. What began as a focus on the masks of New Guineaโ€”where modernity threatened to erase ancient rituals and culturesโ€”became an...
    Hardback
    $13000
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • Learning from Silence
    A book that speaks to the growing readership for MBS / wellness dubbed by Katherine May as 'an exquisite call to silence' From the bestselling author of The Art of Stillness, a revelatory exploration of the abiding clarity and calm to be found in quiet retreat Over the past three decades, Pico Iyer has made more than a hundred journeys...
    Paperback
    $3000
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • The Gifts of Reading
    With contributions by: William Boyd, Candice Carty-Williams, Imtiaz Dharker, Roddy Doyle, Pico Iyer, Robert Macfarlane, Andy Miller, Jackie Morris, Jan Morris, Sisonke Msimang, Dina Nayeri, Chigozie Obioma, Michael Ondaatje, David Pilling, Max Porter, Philip Pullman, Alice Pung, Jancis Robinson, S.F.Said, Madeleine Thien, Salley Vickers, John Wood and Markus Zusak'This story, like so many stories, begins with a gift. The gift,...
    Paperback
    $2999
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • The Half Known Life
    'Nothing less than a guided tour of the human soul ... A masterpiece' Elizabeth Gilbert 'A work of spiritual evolution [and] inner journeys told through extraordinary exteriors' Washington Post One of our most perceptive travel writers embarks on an exploration of the world's holiest places and where we might find paradise on Earth. Itโ€™s so easy, I thought, to place...
    Hardback
    $4499
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • Lonely Planet An Innocent Abroad
    More than 20 well-known writers and celebrities share the travel experiences that shaped their personalities and changed their lives. Contributors include Dave Eggers, Richard Ford, Pico Iyer, John Berendt, Alexander McCall Smith, and Jane Smiley. About Lonely Planet: Started in 1973, Lonely Planet has become the worldโ€™s leading travel guide publisher with guidebooks to every destination on the planet, as...
    Hardback
    Sold Out
  • Time Among the Maya
    This is at once a riveting journey, written with wit and wisdom, but also a study of a civilisation. Time Among the Maya shows Ronald Wright to be far more than a mere storyteller or descriptive writer. He is an historical philosopher with a profound understanding of other cultures. - Jan Morris, Independent Wright is a superb travel writer, erudite,...
    Paperback
    Sold Out

More from Travel & Adventure

View all
  • The Salt Path
    The bestselling true story of the couple who lost everything and embarked on a journey not of escape but salvation, soon to be a major motion picture starring Golden Globe winning Gillian Anderson and Jason Isaacs. Just days after Raynor learns that Moth, her husband of 32 years, is terminally ill, the couple lose their home and their livelihood. With...
    Paperback
    $2700
    Elsewhere:
    $3000
    In Stock
    Ships Monday
  • Lonely Planet Japan
    #1 Bestselling guidebook to Japan "Classic. Comprehensive. Crucial." - Library Journal Lonely Planet's local travel experts reveal all you need to know to plan the trip of a lifetime to Japan. Discover popular and off the beaten track experiences from visiting Yoshino for Japan's most famous cherry-blossom-viewing festival to sipping sake at a 300-year-old brewery in Niigata, and exploring the...
    Paperback
    $4100
    Elsewhere:
    $4499
    In Stock
    Ships Monday
  • Maintenance: Of Everything
    The first in-depth exploration of maintenance and a powerful argument for its civilisational importance from the author of How Buildings Learn and creator of the Whole Earth Catalog. Maintenance is what keeps everything going. It's what keeps life going. Yet it's also easy to shirk or defer until the thing breaks, the system falters, and everything stops. The apparent paradox...
    Hardback
    $7999
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • Abroad in Japan
    The hilarious number one bestselling memoir from YouTube sensation Chris Broad, a Brit trying to assimilate into life in Japan as he unravels the wonders and eccentricities of one of the world's most mysterious cultures. When Englishman Chris Broad landed in a rural village in northern Japan, he wondered if he'd made a huge mistake. With no knowledge of the...
    Paperback
    $2500
    Elsewhere:
    $3000
    In Stock
    Ships Monday
  • The Cat's Tales
    Once upon a time, the enchanting creature that is the cat infiltrated our lives โ€“ and our folklore. Cats have a long association with the supernatural โ€“ from being worshipped as gods in ancient Egypt to vilified as witchesโ€™ familiars in Europe โ€“ and they appear in countless fairy tales throughout history. Every part of the world has its own...
    Hardback
    $3099
    Elsewhere:
    $3799
    In Stock
    Ships Monday
  • The Penguin Lessons
    Now a major film, this is the true story of an unlikely friendship between a flightless bird and a teacher out of his depth. When schoolteacher Tom Michell pulls a penguin from an oil slick off the coast of Uruguay, he has no idea what to do. Back at his apartment, Tom cleans him, but upon returning to the beach,...
    Paperback
    $2400
    Elsewhere:
    $3000
    (1)
    In Stock
    Ships Monday
  • Rambling Man
    THE NUMBER ONE BESTSELLING HILARIOUS NEW BOOK FROM THE NATION'S FAVOURITE COMEDIAN, BILLY CONNOLLY "Being a Rambling Man was what I always wanted to be, to live the way I damn well pleased. I've met the weirdest and most wonderful people who walk the Earth, seen the most bizarre and the most fantastic sights - and I've rarely come across...
    Paperback
    $2299
    Elsewhere:
    $2799
    In Stock
    Ships Monday
  • On Sale
    22% off
    Lonely Planet Pocket Lisbon
    Lonely Planet's Pocket Lisbon is your guide to the city's best experiences and local life - neighbourhood by neighbourhood. Experience the city's most scenic tram routes, find the best pastรฉis de nata and discover the winding backstreets of Alfama; all with your trusted travel companion. Uncover the best of Lisbon and make the most of your trip! Inside Lonely Planet's...
    Paperback
    $1800
    Elsewhere:
    $2499
    In Stock
    Ships Monday
  • Cozy Bookshops: Colouring Book
    Cozy Bookshopsโ€”your ultimate escape into a world of bookish bliss and mindful relaxation in 46 adorable scenes, from the coziest book nooks. Wander labyrinthine bookshelves, sink into soft armchairs by roaring fireplaces, and lose yourself in snug, atmospheric corners. Escape, relax, and unwind with this colouring book for all skill levels and bring your own personality. The possibilities are endless!...
    Paperback
    $2000
    Elsewhere:
    $2299
    In Stock
    Ships Monday
  • On Sale
    22% off
    Lonely Planet Pocket Porto
    Lonely Planet's Pocket Porto is your guide to the city's best experiences and local life, neighbourhood by neighbourhood. Experience the historic Se cathedral, marvel at the stunning Palacio da Bolsa, and visit peacocks in Jardim do Palacio de Cristal, all with your trusted travel companion. Uncover the best of Porto and make the most of your trip! Inside Lonely Planet's...
    Paperback
    $1800
    Elsewhere:
    $2499
    In Stock
    Ships Monday
  • Auto Biography
    From one of the world's most popular motor journalists, a highly entertaining, clued-up and panoramic guide to cars. A highly entertaining, clued-up and panoramic guide to cars by Mat Watson, the world's most followed car journalist on social media. Mat Watson knows everything there is to know about cars. In his 25-year career as a motor journalist, he has driven...
    Hardback
    $4600
    Elsewhere:
    $6000
    In Stock
    Ships Monday
  • Brilliant Maps
    With a foreword by Tim Harford Which nations have North Korean embassies? Which region has the highest number of death metal bands per capita? How many countries have bigger economies than California? Who drives on the 'wrong' side of the road? And where can you find lions in the wild? Revelatory, thought-provoking and fun, Brilliant Maps is a unique atlas...
    Paperback
    $3799
    In Stock
    Ships Monday

Why buy from us?

Book Hero is not a chain store or big box retailer. We're an independent 100% NZ-owned business on a mission to help more Kiwis rediscover a love of books and reading!

Service & Delivery

Service & Delivery

Our warehouse in Auckland holds over 80,000 books, toys, board games and puzzles in-stock so you're not waiting for your order to arrive from overseas.

Auckland Bookstore

Auckland Bookstore

We're primarily an online store, but for your convenience you can pick up your order for free from our bookstore, which is right next door to our warehouse in Hobsonville.

Our Gifting Service

Our Gifting Service

Books make wonderful thoughtful gifts and we're here to help with gift-wrapping and cards. We can even send your gift directly to your loved one.