At some point in our lives, we've all questioned our purpose. The reason we get up in the morning, the reason we look after ourselves, and the reason we remain excited and optimistic for the future. García and Miralles look to the Japanese concept of ikigai - a person's reason for being - and its impact on wellbeing, longevity, and health.
The Blurb:
The people of Japan believe that everyone has an ikigai - a reason to jump out of bed each morning.
Inspiring and comforting, this book will give you the life-changing tools to uncover your personal ikigai. It will show you how to leave urgency behind, find your purpose, nurture friendships, and throw yourself into your passions.
Bring meaning and joy to every day with ikigai.
Our Favourite Quote:
"Life is pure imperfection... and the passage of time shows us that everything is fleeting, but if you have a clear sense of your ikigai, each moment will hold so many possibilities that it will seem almost like an eternity."
Our Thoughts:
We give this book 4/5. It's easy to read, yet full of wisdom. Although many of the conclusions seem to be drawn from common sense, as you read on it becomes apparent that we all need a gentle nudge to be reminded of the goodness we hold within ourselves.
Whilst there are chapters that have been criticised for their obvious nature (think; diet and exercise), applying the concept of ikigai to these areas of life, and understanding the relationship between purpose, physical health, and longevity, provides a less common approach to a commonly stated fact.
The exploration of Japanese philosophy by European or American writers is becoming somewhat of a saturated - and occasionally inauthentic - market, but Miralles and García's book, whilst short and sweet, is extremely well researched, and looks to a multitude of other philosophies and learnings to back up their research. What readers quickly learn is that ikigai is a global concept, with many names and many iterations across continents, but the impact on mental and physical wellbeing remains a positive constant.
Not only is this book an enlightening, uplifting read, but you will feel inspired to make small, easy changes to your approach to life. It comes in a beautiful hardback, so even if you dislike every single word, at least it looks great on the shelf (and makes for a gorgeous gift).
We can't wait to hear your thoughts.