BOOK REVIEW : IKIGAI – THE JAPANESE SECRET TO A LONG AND HAPPY LIFE

GENRE: Nonfiction

AUTHORS: Hector Garcia & Francesc Miralles

PUBLISHER: Penguin books

RATING: 3.5/5 stars

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Image credit: http://www.penguinrandomhouse.com

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SYNOPSIS (GOODREADS):

According to the Japanese, everyone has an ikigai – a reason for living. And according to the residents of the Japanese island of Okinawa – the world’s longest-living people – finding it is the key to a happier and longer life.

Inspiring and soothing, this book will bring you closer to these centenarians’ secrets: how they leave urgency behind; keep doing what they love for as long as possible; nurture friendships; live in the moment; participate in their communities and throw themselves into their passions. And it provides practical tools to help you discover your own personal ikigai. Because who doesn’t want to find the joy in every day?

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REVIEW:

Before I start with the review, I just wanted to quickly mention that this is the first time I am attempting to read and review a nonfiction book. So if you find any inconsistencies or issues with this review, please bear with me 😊

Ikigai is one of the most popular nonfiction books to have ever been written. Even those who don’t usually read non fiction books would have heard of this book at some point in their lives. I have always been fascinated by this book, but since I have never really read nonfiction, I never picked it up. A few months ago, I bought this book at a roadside shop and I put off reading it until a few days ago. I finally decided that I wanted to read something along the lines of self-help and motivation.

Ikigai is a Japanese concept. In the English language, it can be roughly translated to mean “the happiness of always being busy.” The authors went to Okinawa, a place in Japan that has the highest number of long living people. The authors then proceeded to interview some of the residents in an attempt to understand the different methods and practices that have led to the longevity of these people’s lives.

The book takes a wider approach in explaining Ikigai by examining the various aspects and extensions of the same. It delves into subjects like Logotherapy, Finding one’s flow, Wabi Sabi, etc. The book is divided into different segments that talk about each of these topics. A separate segment is allocated for the interviews conducted in Okinawa which is filled with many interesting anecdotes from the lives of the residents; it also provides more insights into the cultures of the Japanese people living in this region.

Ikigai being a book about discovering one’s purpose, also talks about the importance of mindset and mental health from a more spiritually inclined perspective. The book also has many references to previous studies and books related to the fields of psychology, medicine and philosophy, making the reading experience an enriching one.

The one issue that I faced (this is my own opinion and it might not apply to everyone) was the structure in which the book is written. As I mentioned earlier, the book is divided into different sectors and chapters, each discussing a significant concept. As someone who reads only fiction books, the lack of continuity between one segment and the other was a little difficult for me. I found that there was no concrete link between one concept and the other; the concepts are all just laid out and they vaguely contribute to the readers’ understanding of the bigger picture.

The writing in the book is extremely simple and has an easy flow that makes it very understandable. The book is also quite small (185 pages or so) making it a perfect fit for quick reads. This book is perfect for beginners who are interested in starting nonfiction.

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That’s it for today. Have you ever read Ikigai? Let me know your thoughts down below in the comments! 😊