Ikigai: The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life

Great book, with a lot of cool information

The media could not be loaded. Imagine a life where your passion, profession, vocation, and mission all converge, leading you to discover your "ikigai" - your reason for being. In essence, it's your life's purpose, and finding it can be transformative.Identifying your "ikigai" involves exploring crucial factors that overlap, allowing you to unlock the secrets to a fulfilling existence. To embark on this journey, start by asking yourself these simple yet profound questions:What activities do you genuinely love to do?What are your innate strengths and talents?What can you do that others are willing to compensate you for?How can you contribute to the needs of the world around you?Though seemingly straightforward, answering these questions requires deep introspection. It may take time to uncover the layers and truly understand what ignites your passion and aligns with your core values.Diving into the essence of "ikigai," this book offers remarkable insights into a culture that embraces joy and purpose as integral elements of their existence. It reveals how this harmonious outlook keeps them youthful and motivated. By delving into these principles, you can learn how to adopt this serene and meaningful way of life.Reading this book can be a transformative experience, guiding you toward understanding your purpose, living with intention, and leading a long and fulfilling life - supported by research and commentary by the authors. Embrace the wisdom of "ikigai," and embark on a path that intertwines passion, fulfillment, and purpose.

Overall it is good but some chapters appear to be misplaced like the different exercises. Instead of focusing on what they do in Japan, it mentioned all the exercises in the East. Who cares about what others in the East are doing.

I love inspirational, motivational life novels. This one is impactful.

Simple suggestions for how we should live our lives for the ultimate happiness and lastingness. Great real life stories from Okinawa.

The rather exotic sounding name of this book, ikigai, as the authors explain, is relatively straightforward. “This Japanese concept, which translates roughly as “the happiness of always being busy,” is, “like logotherapy, but it goes a step beyond.” Logotherapy, they explain, “…helps people find their purpose in life.”It is a good book. My overall rating of the book has little to do with the quality of the writing or the underlying concept. The former is quite good and the latter is valid. My rating is strictly personal and relates more to who might be considering adding it to their reading list. Not a “don’t,” for sure. More like, “understand it for what it is.”For those who are ardent fans of all things philosophical and psychological, as I am, this is a good book that plows relatively little new ground. Finding purpose in life, keeping busy, eating well, and finding connection to the world around you is important. It’s ground, however, that has been covered by many authors over the years.If you haven’t sampled of these past triumphs you will enjoy this book very much. It is a great and easily read introduction to the topics of longevity and the benefits of living in the moment. And it chronicles many of the philosophies and prior contributions to the topic, from Buddhism to Stoicism, with a stop at the Serenity Prayer. Eastern, and particularly Japanese, contributions are given extra attention. Wabi-sabi and ichi-go ischi-e, for example, are explained in some detail, but remain an overview. Relatively newer concepts like antifragility are also explained. It even covers the Six Healing Sounds introduced by Sun Simiao in the sixth century. (This one was new to me.)A lot of the book turns on Ogimi, in the Okinawa Prefecture in Japan, which holds the distinction of being the oldest village on the planet. (In that many of the residents have lived very long lives.) It’s a delightful visit. Having lived in China for nine years and having visited Japan many times over the course of more than three decades, I have a deep fondness for places like Ogimi. I’m not sure, however, that they aren’t byproducts of the totality of Japanese culture. Could they take seed in places like California or Virginia, for example?Part of my ikigai is to be a nice person and not think disparagingly of anyone. And I am not here. This book was an interesting read for me, and may be a revelational read for you. I make no judgment on that. I just give you my experience as a reader.This book would, in my opinion, make an excellent gift for anyone in your life that might need a little boost or is otherwise hard to buy for. There is absolutely nothing here that could meet with controversy or resistance. It is decidedly upbeat throughout.And that is saying a lot of good things about any book.

I'm not a big book guy and I usually don't read or even finish most books, but with this book it was a great read and really enjoyed every chapter.Highly recommend

I did not know the japanese concept of Ikigai and this book has changed my life. I am much more healthier and I am not waiting for retirement any more!Highly recommended.