Kissa by Kissa is a book that combines travelogue, photography, and cultural studies as Craig Mod walks the ancient Nakasendō highway from Tokyo to Kyoto. The book focuses on the vanishing kissaten cafes and the cultural significance of pizza toast in post-war Japan. It is a beautifully crafted volume with photographs and essays that reflect on the human and cultural geography encountered during his journey.
Things Become Other Things blends memoir and travel writing, recounting a 300-mile walk on Japan's Kumano Kodō routes. The journey reflects on the author's childhood, experiences as an adoptee, and his relocation to Japan, while exploring history, literature, and spirituality in rural Japan. The book is a poignant exploration of personal growth and cultural insight.
In 'Pilgrim at Tinker Creek', Annie Dillard recounts her experiences and reflections on nature over the course of a year. The book is divided into four sections, each corresponding to a season, and details her observations of the natural world, from stalking muskrats and watching monarch butterfly migrations to examining pond water under a microscope. Dillard's narrative is a profound meditation on the beauty, brutality, and interconnectedness of nature, inviting readers to see the world with fresh eyes and appreciate its wonders. The book is known for its vivid imagery, poetic prose, and philosophical reflections on life, death, and the divine[1][3][5].
The novel tells the story of Smoky Barnable, a young man who travels from the City (New York) to Edgewood to marry Daily Alice Drinkwater. Edgewood, a house designed and built by John Drinkwater, serves as a gateway between the human world and the realm of Faerie. The story spans multiple generations of the Drinkwater family, delving into their unique connections with fairies, magical abilities, and the complex, interconnected nature of their world. The narrative is rich in allegory and symbolism, exploring themes of family, love, and the blurring of reality and fantasy[1][4][5].
Published in 2003, 'Pattern Recognition' follows Cayce Pollard, a marketing consultant with a sensitivity to corporate symbols, as she navigates a world of global marketing, internet subcultures, and the aftermath of the September 11, 2001 attacks. The novel explores themes of pattern recognition, the human desire for meaning, and the impact of technology on society. Cayce's quest to uncover the origin of enigmatic video clips takes her through London, Tokyo, and Moscow, delving into the complexities of contemporary culture and the blurring lines between art and commercialization.
The novella follows the life of Robert Grainier, an orphan sent to Idaho in 1893. Grainier works as a laborer, building bridges and felling trees for the expanding railways. He finds happiness with his wife and daughter but faces tragedy when a wildfire changes his life forever. The story is a reflection on isolation, the closing of the American West, and the simple yet harsh life of a pioneer. It juxtaposes the sounds of trains with the natural world, creating a dream-like and elegiac portrait of Grainier's life[1][3][4].
Craig Mod is a writer, photographer, and walker living in Tokyo and Kamakura, Japan. He is the author of Things Become Other Things and Kissa by Kissa. He also writes the newsletters Roden and Ridgeline and has contributed to The New York Times, The Atlantic, Wired, and more.
Sponsors:
David Protein Bars 28g of protein, 150 calories, and 0g of sugar: https://davidprotein.com/tim (Buy 4 cartons, get the 5th free.)
AG1 all-in-one nutritional supplement: https://DrinkAG1.com/Tim (1-year supply of Vitamin D (and 5 free AG1 travel packs) with your first subscription purchase.)
Eight Sleep’s Pod 4 Ultra sleeping solution for dynamic cooling and heating: https://eightsleep.com/tim (save $350 on the Pod 4 Ultra)
Timestamps:
[00:00:00] Start.
[00:06:49] What would make this a worthwhile conversation?
[00:09:14] How Craig and I first met.
[00:11:06] Growing up in a post-industrial Connecticut town.
[00:13:10] The kindness of a tech-savvy stranger.
[00:14:02] IRC, ANSI art scene, and making connections in the Internet’s early days.
[00:15:48] From adoption to exploring hometown escape options.
[00:18:28] Driving cross-country to a Silicon Valley internship.
[00:20:05] Pursuing the desire to live abroad.
[00:22:14] Attending Waseda University in Japan at age 19.
[00:23:34] Seduced by the Ivy League: A momentary return to the States for a UPenn education.
[00:24:52] Craig’s advice for adults who want to pick up the Japanese language.
[00:29:04] Bizarre homestay experiences.
[00:41:04] How Craig wound up back in Japan to work in publishing.
[00:42:55] Developing design sensibilities at UPenn with Sharka Hyland and Joshua Mosley.
[00:47:30] Craig’s color blindness and its influence on his design aesthetic.
[00:49:54] Without a time machine, Craig lives vicariously through his daughter’s opportunities.
[00:51:36] Struggling with spirits of sauce and the supernatural .
[00:56:02] A Tibetan dream reader and lost love.
[00:59:53] Craig’s journey to self-worth: Running, charging more for work, and building confidence.
[01:01:51] The transformative experience of climbing to Annapurna Base Camp in Nepal.
[01:04:40] Writing a camera review that went viral and paid rent for two years.
[01:10:33] The article that changed Craig’s life.
[01:16:39] The enduring power of physical books in the digital age.
[01:21:06] How being adopted prepared Craig for life as an outsider no matter where he hangs his hat.
[01:25:25] Craig’s time at Flipboard.
[01:29:24] Writing in hotel rooms on weekends.
[01:30:14] Meeting Kevin Kelly and landing a MacDowell writing residency.
[01:32:51] Bridges burned and discoveries made at MacDowell.
[01:40:16] Justifying a round two.
[01:41:17] Craig’s advice for aspiring creatives.
[01:45:12] Books Craig has reread multiple times.
[01:49:43] The story behind Craig’s new book, Things Become Other Things.
[02:01:47] Craig’s Special Projects membership program.
[02:04:08] In praise of unexpected corners.
[02:06:25] Lessons learned from the Sally Mann documentary.
[02:07:34] Parting thoughts and a preview of round two (coming later this week).
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
The Tim Ferriss Show 
