#AcademicRunPlaylist - 6/28/25

Author

Ben Waber
June 28, 2025

A pond, rippling in the middle, surrounded by thick, green forest on a sunny, clear day. Near the far bank a swan is standing in the water with its neck bent as it preens its chest feathers.

I'm heading off to Japan tomorrow! Today while wrapping up a number of things at home I listened to a topical book for my #AcademicRunPlaylist!

Today I listened to "A Concise History of Japan" by Brett Walker. The chapters in this book on ancient Japan are fascinating - the archipelago was once attached via land bridge to Korea until extremely recently, and the analysis of Chinese reports that detail gender balanced leadership with copious tattoos (!) are enlightening. Post Nara period the history will be familiar to anyone familiar with Japanese history, although the sections on environmental changes in Japan are insightful. Highly recommend https://www.cambridge.org/core/books/concise-history-of-japan/472711C6B22E2517506C8A3E3AB31770