Shinsho (new writing or paperback originals) nonfiction books, written for a general audience by experts on topics of current interest, offer a window on what's on the minds of the Japanese. Judging from recent shinsho best-sellers, that's primarily the Fukushima nuclear plant disaster and the proper nature of Japanese society.

Of several Fukushima titles, "Genpatsu no uso" (Nuclear power lies) by Hiroaki Koide has been especially popular, selling more than 200,000 copies since its publication June 1. Although an assistant professor at the Kyoto University Research Reactor Institute, Koide has called for the abolition of nuclear power plants for four decades, since becoming aware of the risks after becoming a nuclear engineering student in 1968.

While agreeing that it is important to develop alternative forms of energy, he believes that above all else we should be reconsidering a lifestyle so dependent on the extravagant use of energy.