Rental Person Who Does Nothing: A Memoir

Morimoto grew tired of the boss who told him he contributed nothing, so he decided to embrace that status and started his “Do-nothing Rental” service via Twitter. Filling a unique niche, he promises to do nothing other than be there for his clients. With this innovative concept, he asks whether someone who does nothing still has value in society. The answer, of course, is yes. Morimoto’s services include accompanying people so they won’t be alone and serving as a motivational force for those needing impetus to clean their house, engage in work, or deal with problems. One endearing story centers on a client who asks him to simply “bump into my dog on a walk and make a fuss over him.” Narrator Kevin Shen captures Morimoto’s do-nothing vibe perfectly. The author’s writing style is somewhat detached, and Shen carries that over to the audio. It isn’t that his narration is dispassionate, but it models Morimoto’s nonjudgmental, low-pressure vibe. Though the print version contains some photos, Shen’s spot-on narration more than compensates for the lack.