How to Let Things Go: Free yourself up for what matters most

by Shunmyō Masuno, Allison Markin Powell (Translator)

Think of letting things go as setting them free.

Amid the relentless cycle of news, social media, emails and texts, it can be hard to know when, if ever, you can take a break. In this insightful book, renowned Zen Buddhist monk, Shunmyō Masuno, offers us a radical message: sometimes the best thing you can do is nothing at all.

You will learn 99 empowering tips and truths that will help you ease the pressure, including how to say no and accept that you cannot do what you cannot do, that social media is a tool and nothing more, that decisions should be made in the light of day – not rushed into – and that we should take more breaks the busier we become.

How to Let Things Go will teach you how to relinquish control and find a way to a calmer, more fulfilling life.

Genres: Self Help, Nonfiction, Psychology, Spirituality, Philosophy, Mental Health, Buddhism

209 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 17, 2021

About the author

See also：枡野 俊明(Japanese)、枡野俊明(Chinese)

Shunmyō Masuno is a Japanese monk and garden designer. He is chief priest of the Sōtō Zen temple Kenkō-ji, professor at Tama Art University, and president of a design firm that has completed numerous projects in Japan and overseas. He has been called "Japan's leading garden designer".

Reviews

[Hilary · Rating 2 out of 5]

“How to Let Things Go” by Shunmyo Masuno offered a few decent reminders about mindfulness and simplifying life, but much of the advice felt overly simplistic and cliché. The concepts, while rooted in Zen philosophy, lacked depth and often came across as surface-level affirmations rather than actionable insights. Readers already familiar with self-help or mindfulness literature might find the ideas repetitive. Though the book has a calming tone, it doesn’t provide enough fresh perspective to make it truly impactful.

[Stacy (Gotham City Librarian) · Rating 3 out of 5]

We had this one at the library and I have admittedly been very stressed out and anxious lately so I figured, why not? Each of the 99 tips is very short, exactly one page long to be exact. So this is the sort of book that could be read slowly over time as a kind of daily inspirational thing. I felt like a lot of it was basic, common sense advice. I also wouldn’t necessarily say that these tips are all about how to let things go so much as they’re tips for how to be a better person. Not a bad thing, but also not really what I was looking for.

[Patience ~ AnotherOddCreature シ · Rating 4 out of 5]

✨✨ I like a couple of things in this book! I’ma let it marinate for a while then get back to this review…

[Hannah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good primer for understanding some of the basics of Buddhism in practical ways. Quick, quick read. It's like 99 headlines for how to be a Buddhist and the opening paragraph for each one.

[Abdullah Khalefh · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really wanted to love this book—its concept and peaceful approach are beautiful. But while there are some thoughtful tips scattered throughout, most of the advice felt very repetitive or too basic, especially if you’ve already explored mindfulness or Zen principles before.

It reads more like a gentle daily calendar of reminders than something you deeply reflect on. That’s not necessarily bad—it might be perfect for someone new to the topic or looking for bite-sized calm. But for me, it just didn’t go deep enough to make a lasting impact.

It was a light and soothing read, but not quite what I hoped for in terms of depth or originality.

[Sue Oshin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is structured into five parts, offering a total of 99 valuable tips. For the purpose of this discussion, I will focus on the section that resonates with me the most and share its insights with readers.

Letting go can be a challenging but liberating process. It involves releasing emotional attachments to situations, people, or outcomes that no longer serve your well-being. This books give you 99 tips to relinquish control and free yourself up for what matters that might help:

In PART TWO, we will learn about ‘Dont Worry About Every Little Thing. Letting go of anxiety, impatience, and anger is a gradual process that involves self-awareness, intentional actions, and sometimes professional guidance.

Firstly, we must reframe our mindset
When negative thoughts arise, question them. Are they realistic or exaggerated? After that, focusing on what’s good in your life can shift your perspective by practising gratitude.

Try to adopt mindfulness practices like engage fully in simple activities, like eating or walking, to break the cycle of overthinking. Let go of control such as recognize what’s beyond your control and focus on what you can influence.

Other than that, trying to practice compassion.
Firstly, for yourself- Be kind to yourself when you slip up. For others too- Try to understand others' actions without taking them personally.

•Acknowledge Your Feelings.
Accept how you feel without judgment. Suppressing emotions often prolongs the process of letting go. Journaling or talking to someone you trust can help you process your emotions.

•Set Boundaries
If you’re letting go of a toxic relationship or habit, establish clear boundaries to protect your progress. Setting boundaries is an essential part of maintaining your emotional well-being and protecting your mental space.

•Know Your Limits
Reflect on what feels comfortable and what doesn’t in your relationships, work, and personal life. Identify situations where you feel overextended, resentful, or drained.

•Learn to Say No
Saying “no” is not selfish; it’s self-care. Practice saying it respectfully but firmly without guilt. For example: "I’m sorry, I can’t help with that right now."

•Recognize Toxic Patterns
If someone continuously disrespects your boundaries, reevaluate their role in your life. You may need to distance yourself for your own well-being.

[Cherlynn | cherreading · Rating 4 out of 5]

Do your best and leave the rest!!!

Sooo many good takeaways here. I loved that the book embodies the minimalism it talks about; each tip is allocated just two pages: a quote and then an explanation. Made this an easily digestible yet impactful read.

♡ Instead of comparing yourself to others, compare your current self to your best self

♡ Know when to leave; the ideal time is when you are at your height because 'up' times do not last forever

♡ Not all information is useful or needed, learn to block them out

♡ Hoarding stuff and not utilising them is as good as being wasteful aka what you were trying to avoid by not throwing them out in the first place

♡ What you make out of your choice is more important than the choices themselves

👩🏻 cherreading mood: My book club pick and I had fun sharing the takeaways.

[sophie ❀ · Rating 2 out of 5]

may a life where i need some of this advice never find me❤️

some especially questionable opinions given include, but are not limited to:
- if your husband doesn’t clean up after himself, despite you asking him repeatedly to, it’s your fault for expecting him to change
- that sexual harassment is the result of being “too involved” in your workplace
- that you should be lucky for people to know 30-40% of you
- that if someone is going through a tough time, it’s better to not reach out and instead leave them alone

honorable mention: the numerous mentions of “arch nemeses” and “adversaries”? who are yall hanging out with???

[Dana Cristiana · Rating 4 out of 5]

How to let things go is the third book I'm reading from Shunmyo Masuno. Each of 99 pieces of advice is not longer than a page, so at times it feels like some of the ideas are not really deep.

But apart from that, I found some things in here that I resonated with or even spoke out to me. It's like I got to understood the answer for my questions in a different light.

I recommend this one for those of you who love peaceful nonfiction, easy to read book. 🙌🏻

[chantel nouseforaname · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yo every time Zen Buddhists talk to us about how to live they make that shit sounds so clean and simple. To a degree it is. It really can be that simple, it’s our innate ability to be messy as fuck that gets in the way of being Zenned out chill creatures!! We can still aspire tho, and I’m sure that if we even follow 5 of the tips in this book which omg 99 all 99 while reading them I felt like: yah, duh?? And then thought to myself: well bitch, if duh… why you living like a scoundrel? Why you crying over shit you can’t control at times? — anyway, if you read and take 5 of these tips with you.. you’re gonna improve your life.

I can see myself returning to this book again and again. It’s a high yield item. Shunmyo Masuno was talking his shit with this book and everyone should listen and learn! Highly recommended.

[☮Karen · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm afraid this failed to hold my interest and therefore I gleaned very little helpful information from it. The suggestions seemed very simplistic and lacking in any depth.

This book might be better to keep on one's night stand to read a chapter or two a night, rather than to read it straight through as I did.

[Sofia · Rating 2 out of 5]

Some but not all resonated with me. Maybe better to pick up every once in a while in a moment of need rather than read in one sitting.

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some great tips and perspectives on how to lighten your mental state. The format of the book was easy to digest. I didn’t agree with everything but felt overall this book was a nice reminder of how to let things go as we enter a new year.

[CatReader · Rating 3 out of 5]

Shunmyō Masuno is a Japanese Buddhist monk, professor at Tama Art University, and leader of a design firm specializing in gardening design. He has published several nonfiction books on the topic of Zen Buddhism, with 2021's How to Let Things Go being the latest addition. This book is quite short (the audiobook version was only 3 hours long) and consists of 99 tips that each have around a paragraph of explanation about them; most felt like cliches and were covered too superficially to be particularly insightful. Overall, this is the type of book that probably shouldn't have an audiobook edition or be digested in one sitting; those with Ebook or physical copies who can read and reflect on a few tips at a time will probably have a more meaningful experience than I did listening to this quickly.

My statistics:
Book 31 for 2025
Book 1957 cumulatively

[Apollos Michio · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thoughts on How to Let Things Go by Shunmyō Masuno:

1. Reading this book is like sitting down with a Zen Buddhist monk and receiving advice on how to live life well. It can feel a tad moralising, albeit well-intentioned.

2. The usefulness of the 99 tips dispensed depends on the reader’s receptiveness, memory (😂), and subsequent willingness to inculcate the said tips!

3. Because the tips are written in a very succinct manner, don’t expect in-depth advice. They are mostly cursory and gentle reminders.

4. Not sure if it’s this book or it’s just me, but I think I’ve come to an age where I feel self-help books like these are not as helpful as they were to me before—which I hope is good thing! After all, the title of this book is How to Let Things Go! 😂

[Ann Herrold · Rating 3 out of 5]

This doesn't really tell you "how to" so much as "why you shouldn't feel the way you do," which in my experience is never useful and only shames a person.

[Barbara Rahll · Rating 1 out of 5]

Dnf. Couldn't connect with it so I took the main advice.

[Carla · Rating 3 out of 5]

While a few tips really resonated and gave food for thought, most of the tips were just common sense. Also many of the tips were geared towards work and professional life which I hadn’t expected.

[shaneypie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I’m famously a self-help book hater, and yet again, I have read one in hopes to be changed. Unfortunately, we still in the clurb.
Firstly I will say, I did actually enjoy this authors points on allowing yourself to not be as transparent as most people think they have to be. He notes that a good basis for how open you should be to people is around 50%, and honestly I can see areas of my life that would benefit from these notions. However, I do also believe that people should be allowed to feel as comfortable as they want to, around who they want to. And if 50% of their truth isn’t enough, they should never be shamed for sharing more. I did also love the authors point about indecisiveness, and how we waste so much time worrying about choosing the wrong path, when no matter what we chose, our end results will always be the same, and what’s destined to happen will happen no matter what. In that area the authors beliefs do match my own. The issue I feel I have with self help books though, is that you cannot try and force people to believe the same way as you. Our beliefs shouldn’t be profited off of, and if they were true beliefs, you’d gain enough comfort just from knowing your truth. I’m so tired of people feeling like they need to be a god pointing the way for other people who live lives that are nothing like theirs. So I fear that no matter how many opinions I agree with in these kinds books, I just will never fully respect anyone with an ego big enough to write a book, manipulating other people into following them.

[Aarti Iyer · Rating 4 out of 5]

How to let things go by Shunmyo Masuno #Book4of2026

⭐ 3.75/5

A quiet, gentle read rooted in Zen wisdom.
This book reminds us that letting go isn’t about giving up, but about choosing peace over unnecessary mental weight.

The ideas are simple and practical, encouraging small shifts in how we react, think, and hold on. While the repetition can feel a bit much at times, it also reinforces the core message: slow down, loosen your grip, and create space.

This isn’t a book to rush through. It’s best read slowly, in pauses rather than sittings.

Calm, grounding, and reflective - especially for anyone feeling mentally cluttered.

[Svea Pause · Rating 4 out of 5]

99 beautifully short chapters. Perfect length to use as a toilet-literature, to the amusement of my housemates. They pointed out how very fitting the title is. The book generally is starring inspiring wisdom but finishing the book I could start it again. As the wisdom doesn't go into much depth with only one page per tip, I'm not sure how much stuck with me.

[Ameya · Rating 3 out of 5]

i read this book while sitting in a bookstore for like an hour just now. its rly just a book of platitudes with very little guidance on how to actually achieve the mindset it’s recommending. there’s also a lot of corporate mentions which are just kinda weird like thing to do to be successful at work type vibe.

however! two pages i liked which were similar 1) regret is just another word for delusion and 2) all of your choices were the right ones

i think these were good reminders that you can’t look back on decisions you made and wonder if u made the Best decision possible or think you should’ve done it another way because it would result in a different outcome. it’s delusional to think that just because you did something else, you would’ve gotten a different outcome or the outcome you wish u had. whatever decision u made in the past is the one that’s going to eventually lead u to where u need to be. i think i needed that very simple reminder today.

[Brittany · Rating 2 out of 5]

Overall it was the book version of listening to a strange friend give mostly unhelpful advice for an hour or two. I knew there was a strong chance of it not having concrete action items but I at least hoped for a bit more thought provoking points made. Instead it was just a lot of little soundbites that didn't always seem to fully reach a point and occasionally went counter to my own beliefs (I understand the importance of being "detached in your relationships" in some senses, but his suggestions were a little extreme if you want to have any kind of close relationships beyond yourself in my opinion - I'd consider some of my relationships to be the "what matters" that I'm trying to free myself up for).

I was especially taken aback by the moment where I felt like maybe things were going to get into some practical advice ("Dispose of things you don't use"). He started by giving detail about how to sort things you don't use into three piles. I felt like we were really getting somewhere and maybe I should be taking notes. He then gave direction for what to do with the first pile, then direction about what to do with the second pile, then the chapter ended. Next chapter - back to what to do with the first pile. End of section, now on to being measured in your reactions. Umm, dude, what am I meant to be doing with this third pile?

Anyway, it's a page turner in the fact that half the pages are just giant font and the other half aren't always full either, but if I could go back in time I'd skip it.

[Raya Sun · Rating 5 out of 5]

Small nuggets of useful life advice.

[Alicia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Solid. It was like a good reminder/meditation for me. Even if tips are part of your personal core values, it was nice to take time to read and reflect on each one. I loved the layout of the book.

[Luna's Little Library · Rating 2 out of 5]

As an audiobook, I don't think this works. The narrator is lovely and has a calming voice but it's a list of Don't don't don't....

[Squirrel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lovely, very Zen viewpoint from a monk. The format is soothing and pleasing, a large-type page with the main point and a spare page of 'discussion' facing it.

As one might anticipate, the perspective is not universally appropriate for everyone living within the modern world. Advice that amounts to "let fate guide you" and "don't nag, just live with the irritations" aren't likely to feel helpful to people who are troubled.

This also carries a strongly Japanese cultural tone. Do most people consider whether a 'project at work' will 'further my reputation'? Probably not so much, most of us plebes simply do the work assigned, and perhaps a bit more.

"Widen the sphere of good cheer" is a lovely sentiment, but the examples are cringe-inducing. Specifically 'complimenting someone's clothing' is a minefield! The book warns 'no apple-polishing' (brown-nosing?), but 'that's a nice tie' is never going to come across as a compliment! The recipient is more likely to think, "what's wrong with my other ties?" or "That's the nicest thing he could think of to say to me? 'Nice tie'!?"

These types of phrases may also cause the reader to wonder how solid the translation is.
"Do not pursue those who leave" also seems questionable. Is the advice to be passive, to not have strong feelings? Does 'do not pursue' mean 'ignore them completely, cut them off as if they're dead' or 'don't force it'?

Throughout, the 'advice' seems easy to take as good or absurd, mostly due to these too-brief and incomplete 'explanation' paragraphs. "Don't linger before moving on to what awaits you next" - does that mean, don't celebrate successes?

A fun book to discuss with other readers, but the translation imo raises more questions than it might resolve. "Remember that the ideal time to leave is when you're at your height." Does that mean, don't help others up as your limelight wanes, just go? And how does one know when they've reached their 'height'? Is there some referee that announces, "That's it. That's the best you're going to manage. Move along."?

'Nobody wants to be ordinary." Wait, what? Isn't social training ALL about 'fitting in'? Plenty of people do want to be 'ordinary', 'average', a simple happy home, appropriate work, middle-of-the-road life. Again, the reader wonders, is this an accurate translation, in tone as well as text, of a 'bestselling author'?

[Vanessa ❀ · Rating 3 out of 5]

A life in which you are able to let go is a Zen life…🤍🧘🏻‍♀️

‘How to Let Things Go’ offers some valuable pointers on the power of mindfulness and the key to fulfilling a calm and more focused mind.

The bulk of the 99 tips — rooted in Zen philosophy — comes off as surface-level affirmations on what to do instead of HOW to do. Nevertheless, there are gems to take away.

• “Do not pursue those who leave nor turn away those who come to you.”

• “Etch kindness received into stone, let goodwill given flow like water.”

• Whenever you feel angry, pause and not give in to your temper. Quiet your mind by reciting the following:

Gratitude, Gratitude, Gratitude.
Slow down, Slow down, Slow down.
Hold it, Hold it, Hold it.
It’s alright, It’s alright, It’s alright.

• “Be of one essence.”
When we experience intense emotion— sorrow/trying times or happy/inspiring times— we become one with those emotions. We experience life fully. When you don’t take the time to be of one essence, your emotions can remain unresolved and are left to linger with you.

• When jealously arises, say to yourself, “Wow. I can be so small-minded.” A bighearted person is able to acknowledge that something wonderful is genuinely wonderful whether it’s happening to them or someone else. We should strive to be open-minded and generous.

• “All things come from nothingness.” - We are born with nothing but our selves, and we die with nothing but our selves.

~Two powerful & impactful life lessons I pulled~

1. The purpose of life is to serve others.
2. Let go of your worries, fears and attachments. Focus only on the task at hand. Be fully present in the moment and the rest will follow.

[Tairachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

I badly needed to read this, so much so I read it twice 🥲 Shunmyo Masuno, Japanese monk, garden designer, head priest of a 450-year-old temple and university professor is back with a new book, How To Let Things Go. Rooted in Zen Buddhism, the book provides 99 stoic affirmations for daily life. Here are some of my favourites:

* Those who have the power to let things go are not at the mercy of their personal relationships. 
* Changing others is impossible. The only person you have control over is yourself. It may be that the only time you get what you want is when it has to do with yourself.
* Lately there seems to be a noticeable increase in people desperately wanting others to know everything about them. One sign of this is a need to post every detail of their lives on social media. Another version is people with social media friends the majority of whom they never met who relentlessly post and respond to one another about everything they're doing. I don't mean to discourage such earnest feelings but no one will ever understand everything about you. You will never completely know your friends either. Realistically you can consider yourself lucky if you have a few friends with whom we share about half of what there is to know about one another you should be grateful for even a 30 or 40% connection. Close relationships with a vast number of people and the desire for one in and of itself is a delusion. 
* I can't help but think that ever since we've entered this age of the smartphone we've become averse to loneliness. Perhaps we have grown accustomed to constant contact with others chatting with them as if they were by our sides but it seems as though we can no longer bear to spend time on our own. Since ancient times, Japanese people have regarded a quiet life alone surrounded by abundance of nature as the height of luxury. We ought to strive for the awareness and introspection that alone time provides and there is a luxury that fosters a better way of life.
* Human connection cannot be manipulated. It's more like a natural twist of fate. So in that spirit, "Do not pursue those who leave, do not turn away those who come to you".

[Matt · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5/5
An idyllic, idealistic, simplistic, somewhat actionable list of dos and donts for our shit storm we find ourselves in. Not all of it realistic though. Mostly nice, however. What a time to suck air on this rock. Did I mention I'm chewing twice daily stress gummies now, too? Yeah. I am. Ashwaganda root. That's where we are. No drugs or alcohol for tHiS gUy iN tHe OrwElLiAn ApoCalyPsE! #April2025