Expectations were set in specifically naming, defining, and focusing on Japanese culture. Most of the book sounds like a regurgitation of general blue zone info and lifestyle wisdom not ikigai specifics. If you have zero experience with Japanese culture beyond a Godzilla movie or Monster Week or what history class mentions in High-school about World War ll and mostly westernized culture with zero experience of other lifestyle choices beyond American might find this book a treasure trove of ideas. If you’re shopping for a deep dive into Japanese culture on purpose based on this cool now trending word ikigai will be disappointed. It appears the authors Googled random not specific facts not related to Japan much less ikigai. Tossing in a few renown quotes or stories from whomever or where ever. Filling out their summary of a visit to Japan. After stopping by a few neighborhoods or chatting with a handful of people. Believing more authenticity would exude. Granted the book does touch on notable points a Google search could offer. What makes me chuckle is for a book about purpose or ikigai the focus is lost. These articles share a better overview of ikigai 👇🏼 https://positivepsychology.com/ikigai/ https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ikigai https://www.masterclass.com/articles/... The recent Netflix documentary “Live to 100: Secrets of the Blue Zones” has more specific info on Japanese culture than the book. Including western culture influence here is reducing lifespans and quality of life compared to those living traditional ikigai are aging well. Often appears that the chapter heading is the primary Japanese concept. But much of each section has Willy Nilly any old examples. Remember making an outline of topics for a book report in school, or a blog. Then, filling in with added examples? This book does similar. Though the examples are mostly not involving Japanese meaning. Does not translate well to the title. Or its literal definition. I don’t get the impression the authors have lived or experienced extensive Japanese culture. They mentioned stopping by to speak with people. This doesn’t translate to experiencing the culture. Reads more like a research paper from a college student. Pulling foreign examples to fill enough pages to sell for a profit. One disadvantage to my read is previous experience. I’ve read extensively about Japanese culture concerning lifestyle. Decades ago was introduced through interviews of Japanese people in Okinawa. Fascinated with their longevity. Perspective. Nutrition. From here added more pieces to expand adaptable concepts. Including a love of a few symbols, lotus, dragon fly, and more recently Koi when my son gifted me with a special charm meaning love, prosperity, and friendship. Upon watching the Netflix special learned the five primary Blue Zones globally each have a word for purpose toward longevity. Japan’s being Ikigai. Each culture shares commonalities that are adaptable to living a wholesome happy life. The book does touch on this. Though lost its exploration of purpose absent cultural specifics, in my view. My son and Daughter in Law recently returned from Japan. Spent years researching and immersing themselves. They do a better job sharing Japanese specifics than the authors. By doing extra research realize what my problem is with the book. I wanted to like. Feeling discouraged by my review. Nailed my need for deeper comprehension of Ikigai is a focus of purpose. The book misses the mark and felt distracting. With chunks not Japanese related. Hector Garcia and Francesca Miralles’s Ikigai: The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life is not a focus but a generalization of a blue zone lifestyle with a sprinkle of Japanese culture and it almost feels like name dropping if a crumb of context shows up in order to keep things ‘authentic’. Of all the books I’ve read, and it’s quite a bit, this is the least authentic. EVER. Having a purpose does include lifestyle choices. But ikigai itself is not a generalization. As this book asserts through its winding off topic examples. It’s specifically targeting with a title meaning ‘life purpose’. Recommend you save money. Don’t buy. If you do not believe my perspective and the many five star reviews have convinced you to go for it ask the library for an audio, ebook, or print borrow. The Libby app is an easy way to use your library card and reserve a turn. For reference and discovering specifics try the articles enclosed. The reason I added Wiki and Positive Psch articles is to demonstrate value can be found in westernized searches deeper than this glorified research paper with a search engine and a community contribution via Wiki. The master class link does the best with translation of meaning specifics. Mentions this book. Then does the job the authors did not. Gives me a better relationship to the Japanese meaning through their pursuit of purpose and how to create this for myself. There’s many articles that give a better version of the subject with focus than the authors. Being a person who does what I can to find meaning from a read to share via review. Admit this is my least favorite review written ever. Hoping Beth Kempton’s Wabi Sabi: Japanese wisdom for a perfectly imperfect life is better. A why for my read: Example, learning my son’s love interest during courtship, now Daughter in Law is a scientist and loves coffee, so my son bought her a coffee molecule charm necklace as his first gift to her. She’s serious about her ikigai or passion for the bean 😂 I learned about quality coffee, the process, attended cupping events, and found some of the best in the world to gift her. When learning my family enjoys Japanese culture and how important this is to them I began to learn more, too. It helps to understand and opens interesting discussions. Fun activities. Unfortunately this book didn’t benefit my goals for myself understanding ikigai or learning something new to share in relationship with my family. Was a disappointment. This said, anyone with little or no experience looking to find ideas for improved lifestyle and health will benefit. But if you wanna know more specifics about how Japanese live their purpose for health, and apply this … read the articles. Do a little research. Save your money. If you must, borrow for free from the library, as mentioned. How it started, ⭐️⭐️⭐️. By books end downgrade. Not enough juice to satiate the purpose of the read. The authors could have published the ending in a blog post to make their point. The epilogue has a few examples of ikigai and summary of the book. The list they share does not summarize ikigai but topics most people have heard throughout their life like smile or reconnect with nature. Ugh 😑 squeezed out one star because I elected to get to the end. Rather then DNF on book two for the year and reading goal. Hoping to discover a few crumbs rather than yawn. Skipped examples at times already heard elsewhere and had zero to do with ikigai. Sped up the reader to 2x faster than normal speed to shorten the yawn. If you’re shopping for a regurgitation of repeated lifestyle choice suggestions you’ve probably heard or read somewhere this expanded blog of examples might be for you. If you’re shopping for examples of Blue Zone lifestyle info visit the new Netflix special. It features five film segments on the locations with the most centurions. Including Okinawa. Keep in mind not all Japan has these margins as western culture seeps in. Breaks down the commonalities of the five top BZ’s on a pie chart that’s more relatable than this book. In regard to remembering what is learned and can be employed. Concluding with four primary goals featuring three unified pursuits representing all the communities that each assisting in a healthy long life. 1- Connect Influence within Okinawa culture representing longevity and traditional Japanese lifestyle is summarized in six points: 1- Medicinal Foods For better depth of meaning see this segment on the special. If you’re shopping for a deep dive of ikigai this resource falls flat. Chapter segment attributes to this specific topic are so far and few it is easy to get lost. Forget the purpose of the book. Losing one’s ikigai for the read in the first place 😂 If you ignore everything in the review hope you find reasons to like the book. May it spring board a better vibe for living the best happiest life possible. Including discovering your ikigai. With more research. Hoping the article links provided support this endeavor ⭐️
One of my greatest joys is learning more about things special people I care about enjoy.
2- Move Naturally
3- Outlook
4- Eat Wisely
2- Caloric density meaning consume best nutrients
3- Hara Hachi Bu or 80% full
4- Balance
5- Moai meaning social support
6- Ikigai combines two words,
‘Iki’ meaning alive or life and ‘gai’ meaning benefit or worth. This equals purpose.
