How Do You Live? (translated by Bruno Navasky) is a coming-of-age novel by Genzaburo Yoshino about a boy growing up in prewar Tokyo and the lessons he learns from his uncle. Published in Japan in 1937, the book was originally intended as a sort of ethics textbook for younger readers; however, while writing, Yoshino added a fictional storyline about a 15-year-old student named Copper (short for Copernicus) in hopes of making the text more accessible. The result is a wholly unique book—part young adult novel, part long-form essay—that still resonates today with readers of all ages. In the introduction, we meet Copper at the start of his second year of junior high school. His father passed away two years ago, and in their downsizing, he and his mother moved to the suburbs. Luckily, Copper’s favorite uncle lives in the same neighborhood, and now the two spend much of their time together, walking, talking, and discussing life. At school, Copper navigates friendship and bullying; at home, he thinks deeply about purpose and duty; and through it all, he leans on his uncle for advice and wisdom. The book follows two complementary tracks: in one, we watch a year of Copper’s adolescence unfold, and in the other, Copper’s uncle writes him letters about history, science, philosophy, culture, and the like. Poignant and unconventional, How Do You Live? is an enduring classic about friendship, bravery, and self-discovery.

I hadn’t heard of How Do You Live? before spotting it on the bookstore shelf, but the back cover mentioned a connection to a Studio Ghibli film (!) and featured an excerpt from the foreword by Neil Gaiman (!!), so I figured the book had to be good. Little did I know how special this book would be. Copper is one of those unforgettable characters that stays in your heart long after you’ve finished the book; his contemplative nature and precocious ideas reminded me of Anne Frank, and he views the world around him with this beautiful, earnest curiosity. And, even though the book was written in the 1930s, Copper’s experiences still ring true today—the excitement he feels inviting new friends over to his house, the remorse he suffers when he fails to follow through on his promises… such universal feelings! As one might guess from the title, the book is unapologetically philosophical, and the uncle’s letters don’t hide the fact that they’re meant to be instructive, but I personally enjoyed the “lessons” on everything from Newton to Napoleon, from empathy to regret. These are all things I’m happy to keep learning about as an adult, especially when relayed in such an entertaining, insightful way. How Do You Live? is a gem.

Fun fact for any Studio Ghibli fans: How Do You Live? was Hayao Miyazaki’s favorite childhood book, and he credits the book as inspiration for his most recent film, The Boy and the Heron

I’d recommend this book to…

• Anyone drawn to coming-of-age stories filled with curiosity and heart… it’s similar in tone to The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank
• Anyone who loves philosophy made accessible… it’s similar in theme to How Proust Can Change Your Life by Alain de Botton
• Anyone looking for something clear and truthful… it’s similar in style to Novelist as a Vocation by Haruki Murakami