Ikigai: The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life Book Review

Written by Héctor García and Francesc Miralles, this self-help book was published in 2017 by Penguin Publishing Group. Waterstones and Penguin publishing have described the book to be “a reason to jump out of bed every morning”, they have further stated that the book is the wellness theory and the Japanese secret for a longer and more fulfilled life.

The book is very inspiring and comforting, as it equips the reader with life changing tools to uncover your personal ikigai. The term is used to refer to the concept of life and value, or worth. It is the reason for ‘being’, and it is what brings joy and inspires you to get out of bed every day. Your ikigai is your life purpose of your bliss.

Ikigai is the union of four fundamental components of life, which are passion, vocation, profession, and mission. This book talks about each of these in great detail and helps you to change your life into a happier one using these components.

Many people have recommended this book, especially as a self-help guide, because it shows you how to leave urgency behind, find your purpose, nurture friendships, and throw yourself into your passions. Some also find this book to be a method of self-development, as reading this once unlocks many feelings towards life, reading it twice or more continues to unlock even more secrets to finding joy in the everyday things.

Personally, the non-fiction book taught me what the secret to longevity is. Living for a longer time is under our control to a significant extent since our life choices and habits can make the most difference. The secret goes beyond just eating well, exercising every day, and managing stress levels, which I thought were one of the most important things to be able to ensure a longer and more fulfilled life.

Ikigai: The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life walks us through the longest living community in the world, which is Okinawa in Japan, and talks about their lifestyles, mindsets, attitudes, diets, and routines. The author discusses the impact of all these topics affecting our lives in the long term.

If you want to find out more about your ikigai and the secret to a long and happy life, or if you purely want to read about the Okinawa community, then find this book on Amazon or Waterstones and get ready for a nice and peaceful ride about life!