Ikigai by Héctor García , Francesc Miralles

Book specifications

Language: English
Format: Audible
Length: 3 hours 23 minutes
Genre: non-fiction, self-help, case-study
Price: 1 credit with Audible membership
How I got to know of this book: Audible recommendations

What this book is about

This is about the longevity secrets particular to the people living in Japan, Okinawa island to be particular. It talks about a Japanese concept called 'Ikigai' meaning your will to wake up in the morning, in other words your purpose in life.

Why I picked this book

I have marginally read an article or two about the mysterious and meticulous ways of Japanese lifestyle. Moreover, after I read Kafka on the shore my interest in Japanese culture and their way of thinking sparked up again, and I decided to pick some good book in the category. The title of this one really compelled me to click onto that buy button.

Feelings during the reading

The narration is in a calming tone which gave a sense of relaxation whenever I listened to this book. This eventually lead to listening for longer times and finishing it earlier than expected. The discussions on different parts of Japan and how calm and composed people are there with their vegetable gardens gave me an urge to visit the country. It is almost planned now that I am visiting Japan on my next long vacation plan.

The other interesting thing I felt through the journey of this book, was the enjoyment in the day to day things. I felt surprisingly comfortable and joyous in doing daily chores and doing them well and doing them slowly. It was really magical because I am totally a go-go-go type of person. It is hard for me to sit calmly or find relaxation in those blank stares.

Feelings after the reading

Apart from an urge to visit Japan I am now in the mode of constant exploration of what gives me happiness, like true effortless joy. Not the sense of accomplishment, not the victory but the joy of the process. I kept recalling the scene of the Japanese woman carefully picking the bristles for the makeup brush, smiling and totally engrossed in the activity and unaware of the surroundings.

Quote from the book I will carry

Life is not a problem to be solved.

Apart from quote, I will carry the idea of having the enjoyment in atleast one thing which can be done daily, something like vegetable garden for Okinawa-ians. We all have that activity we love, but we do it only occasionally. This book taught me to do it daily, because that might be my ikigai and I might be wasting my life and energy by bestowing it on other things.