I usually do not read books like this, but rather novels - but I read this book through my book club and I am more than happy about it as I had my eye on it for a while - and I really regret not reading it sooner! The book is full of eye-opening wisdom and tips that you can implement in your daily life to be happier - even if you already are! My desire to visit Japan has become even greater than it already was! The authors have created such a great book - I can definitely recommend it to anyone who is looking for their purpose and happiness.

This was one of my first self guide books and it was pretty good. It teached much about the culture of japan and what to do to fulfill your happiness. I earned a lot of tipps but sometimes there were parts where i really couldn’t identify myself with. In the end it was a smooth read and i learned a lot but i would wish as a european to have gathered more tipps how i can fulfill this „IKIGAI“. It seems easy as a japanese person but i do not have their recourses or lifestyle… It wasn’t bad but it didn’t give me what i expected 🤷🏽‍♀️ 3/5 stars ^^

another one of those how to feel better in these fast digital times books for the shelves. it is a good book, yes, but it only just adds some nice japanese cultural aspects to all those mindfullness and awarness guides as there are these days all over the bookstores. and yes, maybe it is the answer to all of that, and maybe you need to hear/read it once in a while to slow down and realize again "don´t worry, it´ll all get better." i recommend this book to everyone who wants to get into the mindfulness & awareness topic - but to everyone who is already into it, this book is just a nice addition to your shelf without any new groundbreaking theories - but it is beautiful to know, that no matter where on earth or in which timeline you are the answer is always: chill.

Ganz nett mal zwischendurch. Die ersten 2/3 fand ich interessant als es um die japanische Philosophie des Ikigai ging, welche Beispiele es dort gibt und wie man das auch im Westen umsetzen könnte. Das letzte Drittel beschrieb aber einige Yoga und Chi Gong Übungen, was mich dann nicht mehr so interessiert hat.

This book takes the interviews with the inhabitants too literal, has too much influence of the japanese culture and only rarely uses medical findings to back claims up in a meaningful way. The book is cluttered with talk of god and pros of yoga and other vague ideas of the japanese to accomplish the lifestyle they live in the town. Do you think buening incense every morning is the true reason they live a long life? I doubt it. It is a documentary at best.

Ken Mogi erklärt die Bedeutung des ikigai und dessen tief verwurzelten Zusammenhang der japanischen Kultur. Ein kurzes spannendes Buch über wie man sein ikigai findet anhand realistischer Beispiele. Das Buch erinnerte mich wieder daran Dankbarkeit in den kleinsten Kleinigkeiten des Alltags zu sehen und schätzen.