Nonfiction book reviews part 23 - customising clothes and meditating

 Welcome to part 23 in a series of non-fiction book reviews, originally based on the idea that the books I request tell you everything you need to know about me. I have, after so many chapters of this series, realised that all these posts say about me is that have eclectic taste and endless curiosity.  I can't believe I'm up to part 23, this was just a place to put these reviews, but now I can see how broad my non-fiction reading is, and how many interesting, good (and sometimes not-so-good) books and topics I've had a chance to explore. Today we have two books about clothing and one about meditating.

Custom Sneakers: Everything You Need to Personalize Your Kicks by Trasfi Kenza

The long-awaited guide to upcycling your sneakers into unique kicks by French artist and TikTok star Kenza Trasfi (@knz.tv)! Packed with fresh designs for 5 iconic sneakers, easy step-by-step instructions, photos by Alexi Pav, a technique F.A.Q., and bonus inspo you to feed your imagination. Dare to be yourself!

This nicely presented book gives a brief history of sneaker culture and background to customising sneakers, before diving in to the how to. It places the art in a cultural context. the instructions are clear, the pictures are pretty and the example are inspiring. 

I'm not sure why I requested this book in the first place, since I'm not a fan of brand name sneakers (not as a fashion thing, but in the running world). Despite this i found this book educative, pretty and a tiny bit inspiring, even though I won't be painting my own sneakers anytime soon.

The Handsewn Wardrobe: A Complete Guide to Making Your Own Clothes from Patternmaking to the Finishing Stitches by Louisa Owen Sonstroem

Discover the slow, quiet joy of sewing clothes by hand in this one-of-kind guide. 

Featuring step-by-step, illustrated instructions, this hand-sewing course-in-a-book shows you how to create nine wardrobe staples, including a t-shirt, button-up, and jeans, using simple hand-sewing and hand-stitching techniques. Author Louisa Owen Sonstroem shares her sustainable, empowering, and portable craft with gentle encouragement and guidance. 

When I requested this book, I don't think I realised that this is about handsewing (as opposed to machine sewing, rather than as opposed to buying clothes). I don't know why the idea of handsewing makes me resistant - I knit, spin, embroider. Something about handsewing seems so slow and exacting. The book itself addresses this. It talks about why we would engage in this activity, and then very thoroughly explains how to do so, including pattern drafting, sewing and everything in between. It's kind, supportive and sets the reader up for success. I don't think I am ready to try to sew my own clothes by hand - but if I get the urge, this is the book I will use.

True Meditation: Discover the Freedom of Pure Awareness by Adyashanti 

What would happen if you were to allow everything to be exactly as it is? If you gave up the need for control, and instead embraced the whole of your experience in each moment that arose? In the 14 years that he studied Zen, Adyashanti found that most seasoned meditators had used the practice as "an end instead of a means to an end." What he ultimately realized was that only when you let go of all techniques―even the concept of yourself as a meditator―will you open to the art of True Meditation, dwelling in the natural state. 

I initially sat down to read this like a text book, but soon realised most of the short chapters are actually perfect meditation prompts. While I didn't see Adya's methods as very radical I found them very useful, both for reminding me of things I already know, and taking my meditation and awareness journey into a deeper level. It's also a very inclusive and heartfelt way to meditate.

I'm not sure about the edition of this book. It appears to be the original edition, from 2006 and references a CD. Obviously the PDF I received didn't have a CD, but I can't imagine that a paper book would either, or than many people still have a way to play CDs. Minor point. I would love a paper copy of this book to browse through and sit with the ideas presented.