Monday, March 25, 2024

Rental Person Who Does Nothing

Title: Rental Person Who Does Nothing
Author: Shoji Morimoto
Published: July 6, 2023 by Picador
Format: Kindle, 160 pages
Genre: Memoir

First Sentence: Forward: I’m starting a service called Do-nothing Rental. It is available for any situation in which all you want is a person to be there.

Blurb: Shoji Morimoto was constantly being told by his boss, "It makes no difference whether you’re here or not," and that his presence contributed nothing to the company. Morimoto began to wonder whether a person who "does nothing" could still have actual value and a place in the world. Perhaps he could turn "doing nothing" into a service? With one tweet, Rental Person was born.

Rental Person is dependable, nonjudgmental and committed to remaining a stranger, and the curious encounters he shares are revelatory about both Japanese society and human psychology.

My Opinion: I’ll admit the title is what drew me to this book. Then I read the description and my curiosity took over.

This short book is a thought-provoking memoir that explores the value of human connection and the meaning of doing nothing. Morimoto shares his unique experiences as a rental person who does nothing that would involve work in any form, be it physical or research, for his clients, but in turn provides them with comfort, companionship, and insight.

An uplifting and thought-provoking read that I may find myself returning to from time to time.

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