Ikigai: The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life

“Ikigai urges individuals to simplify their lives by pursuing what sparks joy for them. . . . Much in the same way that The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up emphasizes ‘choosing what we want to keep, and not what we want to get rid of,’ [Ikigai] demonstrates that aging could be an opportunity to keep working, keep smiling, keep active, and keep being social.” —KonMari Newsletter

“Want to live longer? Keep super busy. If hygge is the art of doing nothing, ikigai is the art of doing something—and doing it with supreme focus and joy. . . . Pack up those cozy blankets and candles you purchased in last year’s hygge-fueled Ikea spree. Fall’s biggest imported lifestyle trend is ikigai, and it might help you live to 100.” —New York Post

“Busy-ness is a concept I’m familiar with and fascinated by, especially living in New York City. . . . The Japanese concept of ikigai (the happiness of being busy) [is] attainable and even an important key to living longer.” —Mia Feitel, Elle.com

“Discovering your ikigai, or passion, can be one of the greatest journeys you will embark on.” —Forbes

“Definitely worth the time it will take you to enjoy a cup or two of green tea as you digest this small, charming book.” —Minneapolis Star Tribune

“A must-follow lifestyle hack, ikigai makes hygge look like a trip to Ikea. . . . Think feng shui with Venn diagrams—although this time there is no need to move the front door.” —The Guardian

“You’ve tried hygge and lagom—but it turns out ikigai is the key to happiness.” —The Independent (London)

“Forget hygge. It’s all about ikigai.” —The Times (London)

“Ikigai is what allows you to look forward to the future even if you’re miserable right now. . . . It might just help you live a more fulfilling life.” —BBC

“Originating from a country with one of the world’s oldest populations, ikigai is becoming popular outside of Japan as a way to live longer and better. . . . [It] is helping people live longer on Okinawa as it gives them purpose.” —World Economic Forum

“Ikigai. Ick-ee-guy. It’s a word you’ll be hearing quite often come autumn. . . . It’s Japanese, and it means something like ‘purpose in life,’ or ‘thing that you live for,’ or ‘thing that gets you out of bed in the morning.’ . . . An extended lifespan, according to the long-life expert Dan Buettner, is what awaits havers-of-ikigai.” —The Sunday Telegraph

“A refreshingly simple recipe for happiness.” —Stylist

“The most eye-catching autumn lifestyle trend is the Japanese concept of ikigai, which translates as ‘reason to live.’ . . . An attractive and absorbing book.” —The Bookseller

“A Japanese concept that offers a new perspective on finding happiness.” —The Debrief

“Persuasively shows that small changes can help readers find more joy and purpose in their lives [with] clear, succinct information . . . skillfully compiled . . . into an engaging, easily accessible format with lists, charts, and illustrations.” —Publishers Weekly

“Ikigai gently unlocks simple secrets we can all use to live long, meaningful, happy lives. Science-based studies weave beautifully into honest, straight-talking conversation you won’t be able to put down. Warm, patient, and kind, this book pulls you gently along your own journey rather than pushing you from behind.” —Neil Pasricha, New York Times bestselling author of The Book of Awesome and The Happiness Equation
About the Author
Héctor García and Francesc Miralles are the coauthors of The Book of Ichigo Ichie: The Art of Making the Most of Every Moment, the Japanese Way. Héctor is a citizen of Japan, where he has lived for over a decade, and is the author of A Geek in Japan, a #1 bestseller in Japan. Francesc is the author of a number of bestselling self-help and inspirational books and of the novel Love in Lowercase, which has been translated into twenty languages