Japanese author Ken Honda, whose books have sold over eight million copies internationally since 2001, has released a new novel that challenges conventional definitions of prosperity. 'True Wealth – 9 Lessons From a Grandfather on Happiness and Abundance,' published in May 2024 by Hay House, presents a narrative framework for examining life's most meaningful pursuits beyond material accumulation.
The novel follows protagonist Kei, who at age twenty inherits nine letters containing eighty years of wisdom from his wealthy grandfather. These letters become the catalyst for an international journey that takes Kei from Tokyo to Hokkaido, Bangkok, Bhutan, and beyond as he seeks to understand his grandfather's legacy. Each letter reveals a lesson about achieving a joyous and successful life, expanding Kei's worldview as he progresses through the correspondence.
Honda structures the novel around essential life principles that include the value of failure in propelling forward movement, how relationships transform lives, the power of determination to chart one's course, and daily opportunities to choose actions that create change. The work also explores intuition as a gift, the balance between money and true abundance, allowing life to be guided by synchronicity, finding joy in work, and distinguishing between destiny and fate.
'True wealth begins with gratitude,' Honda explains. 'When we cultivate a deep sense of gratitude for the blessings and abundance already present in our lives, we shift our focus from what we lack to what we have. Gratitude opens the door to more blessings, as it is through acknowledging and appreciating the abundance around us that we attract even more abundance into our lives.'
The book has garnered praise from notable figures in personal development literature. Jack Canfield, co-author of the Chicken Soup for the Soul series, describes it as 'the blueprint or road map to happiness and abundance that we all wish we were taught when we were little.' Michael B. Beckwith, founder of Agape International Spiritual Center, calls it 'the contemporary spiritual novel of our age' that 'will change your life.'
Honda's previous English-language work, 'Happy Money: The Japanese Art of Making Peace With Your Money,' published in June 2019 by Simon & Schuster, became an international bestseller. His new novel represents a continuation of his exploration of wealth consciousness, now through fictional narrative rather than direct self-help instruction. Readers can find more information about the author and his work at https://KenHonda.com.
This publication arrives during increasing cultural examination of what constitutes genuine prosperity beyond economic metrics. By framing life lessons within an intergenerational story of discovery, Honda provides readers with an accessible entry point to reconsider their relationship with abundance, success, and fulfillment. The novel's structure as a series of wisdom transmissions through letters creates a contemplative reading experience that encourages personal reflection alongside narrative engagement.
