Japan's capital city of Kyoto was devastated by earthquake, storm, and fire in the late 12th century. Retreating from "this unkind world," the poet and Buddhist priest Kamo-no-Chomei left the capital for the forested mountains, where he eventually constructed his famous "ten-foot-square" hut. From this solitary vantage point Chomei produced "Hojoki," an extraordinary literary work that describes all he has seen of human misery and his new life of simple chores, walks, and acts of kindness. Yet at the end he questions his own sanity and the integrity of his purpose. Has he perhaps grown too attached to his detachment?

'I have relinquished all that ties me to the world, but the one thing that still haunts me is the beauty of the sky' These simple, inspiring writings by three medieval Buddhist monks offer peace and wisdom amid the world's uncertainties, and are an invitation to relinquish earthly desires and instead taste life in the moment. One of twenty new books in the bestselling Penguin Great Ideas series. This new selection showcases a diverse list of thinkers who have helped shape our world today, from anarchists to stoics, feminists to prophets, satirists to Zen Buddhists.

These two works on life's fleeting pleasures are by Buddhist monks from medieval Japan, but each shows a different world-view. In the short memoir Hojoki, Chomei recounts his decision to withdraw from worldly affairs and live as a hermit in a tiny hut in the mountains, contemplating the impermanence of human existence. Kenko, however, displays a fascination with more earthy matters in his collection of anecdotes, advice and observations. From ribald stories of drunken monks to aching nostalgia for the fading traditions of the Japanese court, Essays in Idleness is a constantly surprising work that ranges across the spectrum of human experience. Meredith McKinney's excellent new translation also includes notes and an introduction exploring the spiritual and historical background of the works. Chomei was born into a family of Shinto priests in around 1155, at at time when the stable world of the court was rapidly breaking up. He became an important though minor poet of his day, and at the age of fifty, withdrew from the world to become a tonsured monk. He died in around 1216. Kenko was born around 1283 in Kyoto. He probably became a monk in his late twenties, and was also noted as a calligrapher. Today he is remembered for his wise and witty aphorisms, 'Essays in Idleness'. Meredith McKinney, who has also translated Sei Shonagon's The Pillow Book for Penguin Classics, is a translator of both contemporary and classical Japanese literature. She lived in Japan for twenty years and is currently a visitng fellow at the Australian National University in Canberra. '[Essays in Idleness is] a most delightful book, and one that has served as a model of Japanese style and taste since the 17th century. These cameo-like vignettes reflect the importance of the little, fleeting futile things, and each essay is Kenko himself' Asian Student

CHERYL PRAETUM is a young attorney who lands the case of a lifetime when DANIEL BLOOM retains her services to file a standard consumer bankruptcy case. Cheryl discovers Daniel signed a loan document borrowing $3,000 from a large private university to attend their school. Upon further investigation Cheryl realizes the university never gave Daniel the $3,000 he borrowed. Cheryl divulges this fact to Daniel and he decides to file suit against the school in bankruptcy court to discharge the so called student loan. The university is extremely threatened by the suit because if Daniel wins he would open the door to a retroactive and present day class action and the school would lose millions of dollars. But deals made behind closed doors between the large political organization and the judge prevents Daniel from obtaining fair treatment in court. Cheryl and Daniel are ridiculed by the bankruptcy judge and lose thereby causing Daniel to file an appeal to the federal district court, where things don't fare any better. The district court judge assigned to Daniel's case used to sit on the bankruptcy court and is good friends with the lower judge. The district judge tries his hardest to stop Cheryl from pursuing Daniel's suit against the MIDWEST SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING, but when his underhanded tactics of bullying don't work he sanctions Cheryl and Daniel to pay a fine of $82,000 to Midwest's attorney. Cheryl and Daniel contemplate filing a further appeal to the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals. Cheryl is devastated by the loss and realizes Daniel can only get the amount of justice he can afford, which amounts to nothing. At this time a friend from the past, TRAVIS MANNING, re-emerges into Cheryl's life asking for help with his deceased mother's estate. Travis introduces Cheryl to a new and legal designer drug called bath salts. Soon Cheryl becomes dependent upon the bath salts and Travis' emotional support to deal with the aftermath of the district court's decision. Soon Cheryl begins to see strange images and apparitions of demons and spirits around her while in Travis' presence. A clandestine group of people go to Travis' house when Cheryl is uninvited. Cheryl feels a negative, ominous and evil presence surrounding her. She attributes this presence to either or both the bath salts and Travis so she attempts to stop communication with Travis. In return for trying to break free a group of people start following Cheryl around. They take pictures of her in public. Her cell phone starts turning on by itself and won't turn off. Cheryl feels a spirit watching her every move. There is an uncontrollable compulsion that pushes her back to Travis and upon her return an extremely frightening supernatural event occurs. The police force Cheryl to be admitted to a mental hospital where she is later released. Cheryl continues to experience a high level of harassment and surveillance by a gang of unknown people that stalk her relentlessly. The police refuse to assist Cheryl against this group of people. She suspects law enforcement are also part of this group. She reaches out to an old law school friend TIM CAREY for help. Tim comes to visit Cheryl and upon his arrival the gang stalking and surveillance stop. So does her contact with Travis. But Tim has to go back home to the east coast to take care of his ailing parents. While he is gone the stalking resumes and Cheryl comes close to suffering a nervous breakdown. She begins to live life on the run, not getting enough to eat or sleep. Her practice takes a downward turn because her income generating ability is compromised by having no confidential means to talk or meet with clients. Cheryl and Daniel decide to pursue a further appeal with the Court of Appeals. Cheryl also finds out she is pregnant but doesn't know who the father of her unborn child is.