Have you ever wandered into a quiet corner of a library and stumbled upon a book that felt like a hidden treasure? It’s the kind of book that seems untouched, its pages waiting just for you. Maybe you noticed its worn cover or read its first lines out of curiosity, only to find yourself completely drawn in. Checking the back cover, you might even discover that only a handful of people—or just you—have ever borrowed it. That rare, unexpected connection can feel incredibly special, almost as if you’ve uncovered a secret meant just for you.
This kind of discovery brings to mind the Japanese phrase 一期一会 (ichi-go ichi-e), which means “once in a lifetime.” It’s a reminder that every moment is unique and unrepeatable. These rare reading experiences—those books you encounter by chance—are like once-in-a-lifetime meetings. They stay with you, not just because of their content, but because of how they came into your life.
In today’s world of endless recommendations and trending lists, such moments are harder to come by. Everything we read seems curated, optimized, and filtered through algorithms. While this convenience has its perks, it lacks the magic of true serendipity—the thrill of finding something unexpected and deeply personal.
Why Rare Books Feel Special
Rare books stand out not just because of what they contain but because of how we find them. Unlike bestsellers or highly-rated books that everyone talks about, these are the ones you stumble upon by accident. They don’t shout for attention; instead, they quietly wait to be discovered.
What makes these books unforgettable is the sense of exclusivity. Knowing that only a few others have read them—or perhaps no one else at all—makes the experience feel intimate. It’s almost like finding an old diary or a secret letter. You feel connected, as though you’re part of a small group that truly understands the book’s value.
In a way, discovering a rare book is like falling in love. You don’t plan for it, but when it happens, it feels meant to be. These books aren’t just stories or ideas—they’re experiences, tied to the time and place where you found them.
The Problem with Algorithms
Today, most of what we read is shaped by algorithms. From online stores to streaming platforms, recommendations are tailored to show us what we’re most likely to enjoy. While this can be helpful, it also means that what’s popular tends to dominate. The books and articles that surface are often the ones with the most clicks, likes, and shares.
This creates a kind of feedback loop: popular items get more attention, while rare and niche works get buried. As a result, we lose the chance to stumble upon something unexpected. Instead of wandering through library shelves, we’re guided through a digital bookstore where everything is pre-arranged for maximum appeal.
Algorithms are great for efficiency, but they lack the randomness that makes discovery so exciting. They’re designed to predict what we’ll like, but they can’t replicate the thrill of finding something we didn’t even know we were looking for.
The Joy of Loving the Niche
There’s a quiet joy in loving something niche. Whether it’s a rare book, a little-known blog post, or an obscure film, these experiences feel special because they’re not shared by everyone. They remind us that value isn’t always about popularity.
In fact, the best things in life often feel personal and unique. Think of your favorite childhood memories, your closest friendships, or the music you listened to when no one else seemed to know the band. These aren’t things you chose because they were trendy—they’re meaningful because they were yours.
Rare books offer a similar kind of connection. They feel like a secret between you and the author, or even between you and your younger self who first picked up the book. They don’t need to be famous or widely loved to matter.
Writing as a Rare Encounter
If finding a rare book feels like a personal discovery, writing can be seen as creating one. Writers, especially those who write from the heart, aren’t always trying to chase trends or gain popularity. Instead, they’re creating something they believe in, hoping it might resonate with someone, somewhere.
This kind of writing is deeply personal, like a love letter. It doesn’t aim to please everyone; it’s meant to connect with just one person, or perhaps only the writer themselves. And that’s what makes it so powerful.
In a world where everyone is chasing likes and shares, writing for a smaller, more meaningful audience feels radical. It’s a reminder that the purpose of writing isn’t just to gain attention—it’s to create something honest, something that might one day become someone else’s hidden treasure.
Bringing Back the Magic of Discovery
In today’s attention-driven world, it’s easy to lose sight of the joy of discovery. But there are ways to bring it back. Instead of always relying on curated lists or recommendations, we can seek out the less-traveled paths. Whether it’s browsing through a library, exploring independent bookstores, or diving into obscure corners of the internet, we can create space for the unexpected.
We can also shift how we think about value. Instead of focusing on what’s popular, we can celebrate what feels personal and meaningful. A book or article doesn’t need thousands of likes to matter—it just needs to matter to you.
By embracing the rare and the niche, we can rediscover the joy of unplanned encounters. These moments remind us of the richness of life, the beauty of the unexpected, and the magic of finding something that feels like it was meant just for us.
A Once-in-a-Lifetime Philosophy
The Japanese concept of 一期一会 teaches us to treasure every moment as unique and unrepeatable. It’s a mindset that applies not just to books but to all aspects of life. Whether it’s a chance meeting, a spontaneous conversation, or a quiet moment of reflection, every experience is precious because it will never happen in exactly the same way again.
When we approach reading—and writing—with this perspective, we create space for depth, connection, and authenticity. We stop chasing trends and start embracing what feels real. Rare books, like rare moments, remind us of what truly matters.
In a world driven by algorithms and popularity, let’s not forget the quiet joy of finding something rare. Let’s celebrate the hidden treasures, the once-in-a-lifetime encounters, and the magic of moments that feel uniquely ours. Because these are the moments—and the books—that stay with us forever.
Image by Tom
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