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Ikigai: The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life Kindle Edition
“Workers looking for more fulfilling positions should start by identifying their ikigai.” ―Business Insider
“One of the unintended—yet positive—consequences of the [pandemic] is that it is forcing people to reevaluate their jobs, careers, and lives. Use this time wisely, find your personal ikigai, and live your best life.” ―Forbes
Find your ikigai (pronounced ee-key-guy) to live longer and bring more meaning and joy to all your days.
“Only staying active will make you want to live a hundred years.” —Japanese proverb
According to the Japanese, everyone has an ikigai—a reason for living. And according to the residents of the Japanese village with the world’s longest-living people, finding it is the key to a happier and longer life. Having a strong sense of ikigai—where what you love, what you’re good at, what you can get paid for, and what the world needs all overlap—means that each day is infused with meaning. It’s the reason we get up in the morning. It’s also the reason many Japanese never really retire (in fact there’s no word in Japanese that means retire in the sense it does in English): They remain active and work at what they enjoy, because they’ve found a real purpose in life—the happiness of always being busy.
In researching this book, the authors interviewed the residents of the Japanese village with the highest percentage of 100-year-olds—one of the world’s Blue Zones. Ikigai reveals the secrets to their longevity and happiness: how they eat, how they move, how they work, how they foster collaboration and community, and—their best-kept secret—how they find the ikigai that brings satisfaction to their lives. And it provides practical tools to help you discover your own ikigai. Because who doesn’t want to find happiness in every day?
- LanguageEnglish
- PublisherPenguin Life
- Publication dateAugust 29, 2017
- File size7956 KB
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Editorial Reviews
Review
“Want to live longer? Keep super busy. If hygge is the art of doing nothing, ikigai is the art of doing something—and doing it with supreme focus and joy. . . . Pack up those cozy blankets and candles you purchased in last year’s hygge-fueled Ikea spree. Fall’s biggest imported lifestyle trend is ikigai, and it might help you live to 100.” —New York Post
“Originating from a country with one of the world’s oldest populations, ikigai is becoming popular outside of Japan as a way to live longer and better. . . . [It] is helping people live longer on Okinawa as it gives them purpose.” —World Economic Forum
“The Japanese concept of ikigai (the happiness of being busy) [is] attainable and even an important key to living longer.” —Elle.com
“Discovering your ikigai, or passion, can be one of the greatest journeys you will embark on.” —Forbes
“Enjoy a cup or two of green tea as you digest this small, charming book.” —Minneapolis Star Tribune
“A must-follow lifestyle hack . . . Think feng shui with Venn diagrams—although this time there is no need to move the front door.” —The Guardian
“Ikigai is what allows you to look forward to the future even if you’re miserable right now. . . . It might just help you live a more fulfilling life.” —BBC
“A refreshingly simple recipe for happiness.” —Stylist
“An attractive and absorbing book.” —The Bookseller
“Persuasively shows that small changes can help readers find more joy and purpose in their lives [with] clear, succinct information . . . skillfully compiled . . . into an engaging, easily accessible format with lists, charts, and illustrations.” —Publishers Weekly
“Ikigai gently unlocks simple secrets we can all use to live long, meaningful, happy lives. Science-based studies weave beautifully into honest, straight-talking conversation you won’t be able to put down.” —Neil Pasricha, New York Times bestselling author of The Book of Awesome and The Happiness Equation
About the Author
Product details
- ASIN : B01NAG34EH
- Publisher : Penguin Life (August 29, 2017)
- Publication date : August 29, 2017
- Language : English
- File size : 7956 KB
- Text-to-Speech : Enabled
- Enhanced typesetting : Not Enabled
- X-Ray : Enabled
- Word Wise : Enabled
- Sticky notes : Not Enabled
- Print length : 204 pages
- Best Sellers Rank: #61,974 in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store)
- #8 in Consciousness & Thought (Kindle Store)
- #58 in Happiness
- #61 in Consciousness & Thought Philosophy
- Customer Reviews:
About the authors
Héctor García was born in Spain and worked at CERN in Switzerland before moving to Japan, his home for 16 years and counting. In Tokyo, when he is not writing his next book, he makes a living in the IT industry. His popular blog led to his international bestseller A Geek In Japan. He is the author of the bestselling Ikigai: The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life; translated to 57 languages, has the strange honor of being the most translated book ever originally written in Spanish language. To this day he has published seven books, his latest one is: The Book of Ichigo Ichie.
Heather Cleary’s translations include Betina González’s American Delirium, Roque Larraquy’s Comemadre (nominee, National Book Award 2018), and Sergio Chejfec’s The Dark (nominee, National Translation Award 2014) and The Planets (finalist, BTBA 2013). She has served as a judge for the National Book Award (Translated Literature), the BTBA, and the PEN Translation Award. A member of the Cedilla & Co. translation collective and a founding editor of the digital, bilingual Buenos Aires Review, she holds a PhD in Latin American and Iberian Cultures from Columbia University and teaches at Sarah Lawrence College.
Discover more of the author’s books, see similar authors, read author blogs and more
Francesc Miralles is a lecturer and award-winning author of bestselling books in the areas of health and spirituality. Born in Barcelona, he studied journalism, English literature and German philology, and has worked as a translator, editor, art therapist and musician. His novel Love in Lowercase has been translated into 28 languages. Along with Hector Garcia, he is the author of the bestselling Ikigai: the Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life.
Customer reviews
Customer Reviews, including Product Star Ratings help customers to learn more about the product and decide whether it is the right product for them.
To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. It also analyzed reviews to verify trustworthiness.
Learn more how customers reviews work on AmazonCustomers say
Customers find the writing style quick, easy, and well presented. They also find the content insightful, helpful, and anti-aging. Opinions differ on the length, with some finding it short and gratifying, while others say it's too short.
AI-generated from the text of customer reviews
Customers find the book very insightful, informative, and helpful for adopting a purposeful and peaceful way of life. They also say the 10 steps are incredibly helpful and get their mind focused. Readers also appreciate the seamless blend of Japanese philosophy and modern research. They say the book is a wonderful introduction to ikigai and comprehensive.
"...This is a wonderful introduction to ikigai—finding your reason to get out of bed each day and enjoy your life...." Read more
"...of the epilogue give a recap of the 10 steps and honestly are incredibly helpful. All this said, find what you love to do and do more of it...." Read more
"...It’s such an informative book about your health, mind body and soul...." Read more
"...Really insightful lessons from those who live long and happy lives. Not a long read, but a good one...." Read more
Customers find the writing style quick, easy, and well presented. They say it helps them to see things clearly and slow down. They also say the book illustrates time-proven techniques for happiness through the lens of the oldest living. Customers describe the book as a general guide for further inquiry and find it fluid.
"...This is a short easy read with some inspirational advice you can put into practice right away...." Read more
"...I give this book 4 stars since it is a very easy read and doesn't delve too deep into how you should find your ikigai, but it does demonstrate in..." Read more
"...Not a long read, but a good one...." Read more
"...It is a great and easily read introduction to the topics of longevity and the benefits of living in the moment...." Read more
Customers find the mood of the book comforting, soothing, and encouraging. They also say the book reveals how this harmonious outlook keeps them youthful and motivated. Readers also mention that the book removes stress, cultivates friendships, and provides time in solitude so that their body and mind can absorb the contents.
"...It is decidedly upbeat throughout.And that is saying a lot of good things about any book." Read more
"...written any reviews for any book but this book is so special, it helps me to calm and find a purpose of my life." Read more
"...It reveals how this harmonious outlook keeps them youthful and motivated...." Read more
"I love this book! I plan on giving several as gifts this year. I feel calm and healthy just reading it!" Read more
Customers are mixed about the length of the book. Some mention that it's short, researched information about living and happiness, and provides instant gratification. Others say that it’s beautifully designed but extremely shallow and superficial.
"There are better books on this topic. This one is shallow and the topic needed depth...." Read more
"...Short sweet and to the point though." Read more
"...The analysis of Japanese philosophy and culture is very short and superficial, which is perhaps the most disappointing aspect of the book given the..." Read more
"I don't understand why there are so many negative reviews. Ikigai is a short, light read that is very insightful...." Read more
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Top reviews
Top reviews from the United States
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Reviewed in the United States on July 15, 2024
Reviewed in the United States on July 29, 2024
I give this book 4 stars since it is a very easy read and doesn't delve too deep into how you should find your ikigai, but it does demonstrate in good detail how to live a long and happy 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.
Top reviews from other countries
En cuanto a la estética de este, es muy llamativa y hermosa. Adquirí la edición de pasta dura, de color blanco, y que está envuelta con un papel en la cual se muestra un sakura blanco en la parte frontal, y en la parte trasera se encuentra el esquema Ikigai. Recomiendo ser muy cuidadoso con este, porque es algo frágil y puede maltratarse.
Este libro tiene un gran enfoque en la cultura Japonesa, sobre todo en el pueblo de Ogimi, Okinawa. Los autores de este libro visitaron aquel lugar, donde se dice se encuentra la mayor cantidad de personas longevas, que poseen gran vitalidad, y las estudiaron para conocer el secreto de una vida larga y feliz. Los residentes de este pueblo, así como el resto de Japoneses, tienen un fuerte sentido de ikigai. Este es un concepto Japonés que se traduce como "propósito de vida". Nos propone que todos tenemos un ikigai dentro de sí, algunos ya lo han encontrado, mientras que otros aún no, pero todos lo tenemos. Cuando lo encontramos y lo practicamos diariamente, nuestra vida toma un significado gratificante y nos sentimos realizados internamente.
Los Japoneses suelen encontrar su ikigai, desarrollarlo y practicarlo el resto de sus vidas. Lo hacen con dedicación y entusiasmo destacables.
Volviendo a las personas de Ogimi, éstas tienen hábitos que hacen claro el porqué de su longevidad llena de energía y salud. Se suele hacer comparaciones de sus hábitos con los de personas de Occidente, lo cual nos hace notar que muchos hábitos que tenemos son perjudiciales sin saberlo.
La alimentación (tema que me habría gustado se viera más a fondo), la actividad física y la logoterapia son tan solo algunos temas que se mencionan en este libro, y que son de suma importancia para llevar una buena vida.
Sin duda una lectura amena, disfrutable y educativa.
Reviewed in Mexico on June 24, 2024
En cuanto a la estética de este, es muy llamativa y hermosa. Adquirí la edición de pasta dura, de color blanco, y que está envuelta con un papel en la cual se muestra un sakura blanco en la parte frontal, y en la parte trasera se encuentra el esquema Ikigai. Recomiendo ser muy cuidadoso con este, porque es algo frágil y puede maltratarse.
Este libro tiene un gran enfoque en la cultura Japonesa, sobre todo en el pueblo de Ogimi, Okinawa. Los autores de este libro visitaron aquel lugar, donde se dice se encuentra la mayor cantidad de personas longevas, que poseen gran vitalidad, y las estudiaron para conocer el secreto de una vida larga y feliz. Los residentes de este pueblo, así como el resto de Japoneses, tienen un fuerte sentido de ikigai. Este es un concepto Japonés que se traduce como "propósito de vida". Nos propone que todos tenemos un ikigai dentro de sí, algunos ya lo han encontrado, mientras que otros aún no, pero todos lo tenemos. Cuando lo encontramos y lo practicamos diariamente, nuestra vida toma un significado gratificante y nos sentimos realizados internamente.
Los Japoneses suelen encontrar su ikigai, desarrollarlo y practicarlo el resto de sus vidas. Lo hacen con dedicación y entusiasmo destacables.
Volviendo a las personas de Ogimi, éstas tienen hábitos que hacen claro el porqué de su longevidad llena de energía y salud. Se suele hacer comparaciones de sus hábitos con los de personas de Occidente, lo cual nos hace notar que muchos hábitos que tenemos son perjudiciales sin saberlo.
La alimentación (tema que me habría gustado se viera más a fondo), la actividad física y la logoterapia son tan solo algunos temas que se mencionan en este libro, y que son de suma importancia para llevar una buena vida.
Sin duda una lectura amena, disfrutable y educativa.
Features & Performance:
This book delves into the Japanese philosophy of ikigai, offering a blend of wisdom from the world’s longest-living people in Okinawa and practical advice for everyday living. It’s divided into several sections that cover different aspects of life, such as finding joy in daily activities, living in the moment, and cultivating strong relationships.
Pros:
Insightful and Inspirational: The book is filled with profound insights that are both inspirational and practical. It encourages deep reflection on what truly matters in life.
Engaging Writing Style: The authors have a warm, patient, and kind way of explaining complex concepts, making them easy to understand and implement.
Beautiful Illustrations: The book is beautifully illustrated, enhancing the reading experience and providing visual insights into Japanese culture.
Practical Tips: Each chapter is packed with actionable advice that can be applied to improve your daily routine and overall well-being.
Cons:
None for Me: I honestly didn’t find any negatives. Every aspect of the book resonated with me and provided value.
Ease of Use:
The writing is clear and accessible, making it easy to follow along and apply the concepts to your own life. The practical tips and real-life examples help bridge the gap between theory and practice.
Durability:
As a hardcover book, it’s well-made and durable. It’s the kind of book that you’ll want to keep on your shelf and refer back to often.
Value for Money:
Absolutely worth it. The insights and guidance offered in this book are invaluable for anyone looking to live a more fulfilled and purposeful life.
Final Thoughts:
"Ikigai" is more than just a book; it’s a guide to transforming your life. It has helped me see the importance of living with intention and finding joy in the small things. It’s a must-read for anyone interested in personal growth and self-discovery.
Tips for Future Buyers:
If you’re seeking a way to bring more meaning and joy into your life, this book is for you. Take your time with it, reflect on each chapter, and try to incorporate the tips into your daily routine. It’s a journey worth taking.
Overall Satisfaction Level: Highly satisfied! This book has truly enriched my life and helped me find my own ikigai. I can’t recommend it enough.