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The Haiku Handbook: How to Write, Share, and Teach Haiku Paperback – March 15, 1992

4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 74 ratings

The Haiku Handbook is the first book to give the reader everything needed to begin writing or teaching haiku. It presents haiku poets writing in English, Spanish, French, German, and five other languages on an equal footing with Japanese poets. Not only are the four great Japanese masters of the haiku represented (Basho, Buson, Issa, and Shiki) but also several major Western authors not commonly known to have written haiku.

The book presents a concise history of the Japanese haiku, including the dynamic changes throughout the twentieth century as the haiku has been adapted to suburban and industrial settings. Full chapters are offered on form, the seasons in haiku, and haiku craft, plus background on the Japanese poetic tradition, and the effect of translation on our understanding of haiku.

Other unique features are the lesson plans for both elementary and secondary school use; and lists of haiku publishers and magazines (in several languages). The Handbook concludes with a full reference section of haiku-related terms, bibliography, and a comprehensive season-word list to aid in understanding and appreciating Japanese haiku.
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About the Author

WILLIAM J. HIGGINGSON studied Japanese at Yale University where he discovered the haiku, and served, with the U.S. Air Force in Japan. He is a charter member of the Haiku Society of America, founded in 1968, and edited and published Haiku Magazine (1971-76). He has three published collections of longer poems and one of haiku, and has work appearing in magazines and anthologies worldwide. He has also taught in the National Endowment for the Arts "Poets-in-the Schools" program, leading writing workshops in hundreds of schools, and he regularly speaks at conferences in the U.S., Canada, and Japan. Higginson's international anthology of haiku for children, Wind in the Long Grass, is a classroom favorite. His two-volume sequel to The Haiku Handbook, The Haiku Seasons and Haiku World, gives a comprehensive view of the history, present state, and international possibilities of seasonal consciousness in poetry.

PENNY HARTER, Higginson's wife and collaborator on the Handbook, is a poet and teacher with 14 collections of poems to her credit. She has received three grants from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts for her poetry, and an award from the Poetry Society of America. She has served as a visiting poet for the Council and the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation in classes from kindergarten through high school. Her work is published internationally; among her recent books are
Shadow Play: Night Haiku, a collection for children, and her latest book, Turtle Blessing. The couple lives in Santa Fe, New Mexico, where Harter teaches at Santa Fe Preparatory School.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

[Following is the first section in Chapter 1, "Why Haiku?"]

Haiku Happen

We often see or sense something that gives us a bit of a lift, or a moment's pure sadness. Perhaps it is the funnies flapping in the breeze before a newsstand on a sunny spring day. Or some scent on the wind catches us as we step from the bus, or bend to lift the groceries from the car. Something tickles our ankle and, looking down to see what it is, we see more:

a baby crab
climbs up my leg--
such clear water

Or we are lying awake, alone with our thoughts, and as we turn to look at the clock

at midnight
a distant door
pulled shut

and we find ourselves more alone, because of the being on the other side of that door, than when we had no thoughts for others anywhere in the world.

The first of these two short poems was written about three hundred years ago by the Japanese poet Matsuo Basho. The second is by a twentieth-century Japanese poet, Ozaki Hosai. Both poems are haiku.

Moments that can give rise to haiku are not foreign to the Americas. Mark Cramer has translated the following poem, originally written in Spanish by the Mexican poet Jose Juan Tablada a few years before Hosai wrote "at midnight":

Tender willow
almost gold, almost amber,
almost light...

And just recently New Jerseyan Penny Harter found

the old doll
her mama box broken
to half a cry

Haiku happen all the time, wherever there are people who are "in touch" with the world of their senses, and with their own feeling response to it.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Kodansha USA; Reissue edition (March 15, 1992)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 331 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 4770014309
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-4770014306
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 10.4 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 7.1 x 1.1 x 4.4 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 74 ratings

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4.5 out of 5 stars
74 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book easy to read and engaging. They appreciate the history and examples of both old and modern haiku. The book provides useful information for writers and teachers, helping them improve their writing skills. Readers find it informative and helpful in understanding the subject at a deeper level. Overall, it's a great resource for anyone interested in learning more about haiku.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

15 customers mention "Readability"15 positive0 negative

Customers find the book easy to read and engaging. They find it comprehensive and satisfying, though some find it too detailed for their needs.

"...Each of the book's five sections contains a wealth of ideas and information that both challenges and inspires:..." Read more

"...One useful feature of the book is an extensive list of traditional season-words (a traditional haiku always has a season-word)...." Read more

"...This book is a lot of fun to read, and is not stuffy and boring as text books are. It will serve all writers well." Read more

"Very comprehensive, but too detailed for the simple overview of Haiku that I was looking for. Maybe more geared for a literature major or expert." Read more

13 customers mention "History of haiku"13 positive0 negative

Customers find the book provides a good introduction to haiku. They mention it's an encyclopedia about the art and craft of writing haiku, with examples of early and modern examples. The book explains the hows and whys of writing haiku and has a section on teaching it. Readers also mention there are some pretty haiku in the book.

"...Part One: Haiku Old and New [A great introduction to the experience of haiku and to Japanese Masters...." Read more

"The Haiku Handbook presented an extensive history and development of the Haiku...." Read more

"...My wish to know more was fulfilled: this book provides a wonderful history of haiku both old and new, discusses the art of haiku, the craft of haiku..." Read more

"...This book goes into the traditions of haiku at great length and enables a serious student to understand what a haiku actually is, and how to tell a..." Read more

10 customers mention "Writing ability"10 positive0 negative

Customers find the book helpful for writers and teachers of haiku. It provides useful information and examples, including prose forms, how to write and teach it. Readers appreciate the author's discussion of the difference between Japanese and English language usage.

"...I especially enjoy how the author discusses the difference in Japanese and English languages.]..." Read more

"...and new, discusses the art of haiku, the craft of haiku, has a section on teaching haiku, and a section on what lies beyond haiku...." Read more

"...I have found this useful in my writing that is not associated with haiku or poetry...." Read more

"...a must read for anyone interested in writing haiku. it is a classic!" Read more

8 customers mention "Information quality"8 positive0 negative

Customers find the book informative and useful. They say it helps them understand haiku at a deeper level and is a great resource for anyone interested in learning more about it. The book provides a wealth of ideas and information that challenges and inspires readers.

"...Each of the book's five sections contains a wealth of ideas and information that both challenges and inspires:..." Read more

"...I think that it is a great resource for anyone who like to know more about these types of poems." Read more

"...book goes into the traditions of haiku at great length and enables a serious student to understand what a haiku actually is, and how to tell a good..." Read more

"...You may buy others, but this goes into Japanese poetry with good information and examples, including prose forms. Get this, and thank yourself later." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on June 14, 2008
    I have a tendency to be too wordy in my writing, so to learn more focus and control, I have been studying (and writing) haiku. The Haiku Handbook has been an engaging resource for me in those efforts. Each of the book's five sections contains a wealth of ideas and information that both challenges and inspires:

    Part One: Haiku Old and New [A great introduction to the experience of haiku and to Japanese Masters. The "Why Haiku" is helpful in clarifying one's purpose for writing such brief poetry.]

    Part Two: The Art of Haiku [Natural themes, the form and craft of haiku; this is the section that I like best, and I repeatedly refer back to these pages. I especially enjoy how the author discusses the difference in Japanese and English languages.]

    Part Three: Teaching Haiku [How to teach haiku writing to children, lesson plan included]

    Part Four: Before and Beyond Haiku [Haiku and its uses]

    Reference Section [With Season-Word List & Glossary]

    Overall, this is a worthy product for anyone who wishes to delve into haiku more deeply than the introduction that most Westerners receive.
    9 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on August 2, 2021
    The Haiku Handbook presented an extensive history and development of the Haiku. For example, the central act of the haiku is letting an object or event touch us, and then sharing it with another. The Haiku is also known as a word picture and the present form of the artistic form in America seems to be a modern development. I think that it is a great resource for anyone who like to know more about these types of poems.
    One person found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on August 22, 2012
    You can see my full review posted on the alternate listing for this book. I bought this version because it was $0.01 used (with $3.99 shipping), whereas the other version was $16 new (Prime), $9 used (plus $3.99 shipping). Compared side by side (the anniversary edition I checked out from the library), they are exactly the same, only this book is slightly smaller (7 x 4.5) to (8.3 x 5.5). But even the page numbers are the same. Please refer to the reviews for the following version:
    The Haiku Handbook -25th Anniversary Edition: How to Write, Teach, and Appreciate Haiku
    3 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on January 1, 2012
    I bought this book because I wanted to know about haiku. My wish to know more was fulfilled: this book provides a wonderful history of haiku both old and new, discusses the art of haiku, the craft of haiku, has a section on teaching haiku, and a section on what lies beyond haiku. I get inspired reading any single page of this book!
    4 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on May 31, 2015
    'The Haiku Handbook' is essential reading for those wishing to comprehend the haiku. If only every grade school teacher that decides to do a haiku writing lesson would read this book first. Too many come out of such lessons thinking that writing a haiku is just a matter of counting up syllables.

    This book goes into the traditions of haiku at great length and enables a serious student to understand what a haiku actually is, and how to tell a good one from a second-rate one.

    For poets who'd like to try writing haiku, this book gives an overwhelming amount of information. I'd recommend going slow and reading and rereading useful sections rather than dashing through it and trying to apply everything you've learned all at once.

    One useful feature of the book is an extensive list of traditional season-words (a traditional haiku always has a season-word). Looking over the list may help you find a season word that can act as a poetry prompt for your next haiku.
    5 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on May 11, 2006
    There are very few books on how to write in any idiom. This book explains the hows and whys of haiku. What it takes to get started and to continue to write. I have found this useful in my writing that is not associated with haiku or poetry. This book is a lot of fun to read, and is not stuffy and boring as text books are. It will serve all writers well.
    10 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on February 5, 2017
    Very comprehensive, but too detailed for the simple overview of Haiku that I was looking for. Maybe more geared for a literature major or expert.
  • Reviewed in the United States on May 14, 2011
    this haiku handbook is probably THE book to buy/read if you are interested in writing haiku and appreciating the poetry. the authors are quoted in books and magazines across the country. the book is a history of japenese haiku but has the changes in haiku for the 21st century. a must read for anyone interested in writing haiku. it is a classic!

Top reviews from other countries

  • Alan Summers
    5.0 out of 5 stars The classic book if you want to know how haiku ticks
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 5, 2017
    The true classic of all books about haiku. An astonishing book of great detail from the classic roots all the way up to the late 20th Century. A real must of a book. Brilliant!

    Alan Summers
    President, United Haiku and Tanka Society
    Japan Times award-winning writer for haiku and renku
    co-founder, Call of the Page

    p.s. When I first heard about haiku, and wondered what it was all about, I was so lucky to walk into a small branch library (Ipswich, Queensland) and find two copies! I read my borrowed copy through a plane flight and a week's holiday, and again and again borrowed the book until I bought my own copy. I have never looked back.
  • Joe
    5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent!
    Reviewed in Germany on December 20, 2016
    If you are interested in Haiku -reading, -writing or -teaching, this book is really a "must have". It is excellent!
  • Mr Raymond Norton
    5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 4, 2018
    an excellent book, full of information
  • Pam Herbert
    5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 30, 2016
    just fine.
  • CatsAndBooks
    3.0 out of 5 stars Informative and inspiring, but doesn't give instructions
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 26, 2017
    This is a good book, with a lot of content, a valuable resource for students, teachers and writers of haiku. But it's more about 'How to Understand Haiku' than about 'How to Write Haiku' or 'How to Teach Haiku'.

    From a book on how to write haiku I would have expected actual writing instructions, taking the student through the process step by step. I would want lessons for complete novices guiding their first attempts, and more in-depth tuition for those who have progressed beyond the basics. The book doesn't offer that.

    From a book on how to teach haiku I would have expected something like a lesson plan or a course plan, with teaching materials and assignment suggestions for different levels and teaching tips. The book doesn't contain that either.

    Sure, the book is useful for writers and teachers, but as a source of information and background, not as a study course or teaching material.

    If you already write haiku, and want gain a deeper understanding, then this is a good book. It certainly goes way beyond the 5-7-5 pattern, and looks at the elements that make a genuine haiku (e.g. the season clue, the moment of pause, the spiritual inspiration).

    I would recommend this book for people who already know how to write haiku, and want to give their poetry more authenticity and depth.