This is an extraordinary book about an extraordinary man with an extraordinary idea!

It tells the story of Morimoto's life where he is hired by people to do nothing, to get alongside them in whatever way they wish.

Though it is a memoir of Morimoto's life, he hasn't written or edited it as that would go against his mission of doing nothing.

Shoji Morimoto used to work in a company where his boss told him he contributed so little, he might as well not be there. It led Morimoto to wonder whether a person who does nothing has value. And then whether he could make this his occupation.

Using Twitter (of course), he announced that he was 'available for any situation in which all you want is a person to be there. Maybe there’s a restaurant you want to go to, but you feel awkward going on your own. Maybe a game you want to play, but you’re one person short. Or perhaps you’d like someone to keep a space in the park for your cherry blossom viewing party...' 

His story seems rather specific to the Japanese community in which he lives, and also urban, city living but as Morimoto shares his experience, he and we, the reader, reflect on how we regard relationships, jobs, family, companionship, solitude and society. It really is intriguing, but a very unusual book.