Ikigai: The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life

Great read! Key to happiness in life. Learn to find your Ikigai. Live in the present and not worry about future.

It's one of the best books I’ve read in a while. I lived in Japan for three years and saw first hand how people live—so carefree and simple. In the U.S. I feel that individuals struggle so much with juggling relationships, health, and work at the same time. In Japan, it’s a way of life rather than separate entities. This book talks about finding a purpose and never quitting no matter what. It’s exactly what I needed to hear as a brand new author.

Great original book to introduce the Japanese concept of ikigai. I found it helpful and applicable to my everyday life

I bought this book few months ago and planned to read it while visiting Japan, both experiences of exploring Japan while reading this amazing book were very inspiring and already gave me the joy, refreshment and positivity prospective ofvmy life.

Simple and so smart book. Read it in a one breath. So wise and helpful.

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.

This is a wonderful book to help think about maximizing your transition from work to retirement, or for anyone looking to more fully understand the importance of "purpose" in your life!

This book is written in a simple and accessible language, making it easy for anyone to understand. However, the wisdom it contains is profound, covering various aspects of life, including health, career, well-being, and love. I highly recommend it, as there is much to learn from its insights. In my opinion, you will gain even more value from this book if you have some life experience—perhaps if you are 25 or older.