What Gets Lost When Books Are Translated? | Japan vs the West
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What Gets Lost When Books Are Translated? | Japan vs the West
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About this listen
🎥 Watch the video version on YouTube
https://youtu.be/fijqabHBNyU
🌈 Episode Overview
In this episode, Abby and Eiji continue their conversation on the differences between Western and Eastern approaches to spirituality—this time focusing on books and translation.
They explore why many spiritual and self-development ideas originate in English, how these works are adapted for Japanese audiences, and what can sometimes be lost in the process. From personal reading experiences to broader cultural differences, the discussion touches on clarity, depth, and the role of language in shaping how we understand complex ideas.
The conversation also reflects on specific works such as Tufti, Atomic Habits, Deep Work, and The Power of Now, and considers what makes certain ideas feel more powerful in one language than another.
At its core, this episode asks a deeper question:
How much of an idea truly survives when it moves between languages and cultures?