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Summary: "The Book of Tea" by Okakura Kakuzo links the role of tea (Teaism) to the aesthetic and cultural aspects of Japanese life and life in general. Addressed to a western audience, it was originally written in this English edition and is one of the great English Tea classics. Okakura had been taught at a young age to speak English and was proficient at communicating his thoughts to the Western mind. In his book, he discusses such topics as Zen and Taoism, but also the wonderful secular aspects of tea and life. The book emphasizes how Teaism taught the Japanese many things; most importantly, simplicity. He ends the book with a chapter on Tea Masters, and the Japanese Tea Ceremony.