Ikigai for Teens: Finding Your Reason for Being

Product Description

A bestselling motivational book based on the Japanese concept of finding happiness in everyday life, now for young readers!

The Japanese people say everybody has an “Ikigai,” or a reason to live. Some people have found their Ikigai and are aware of it. Other people have it inside, but have not found it yet. This concept, Ikigai, is one of the secrets for a long, active, and happy life.
Héctor García and Francesc Miralles visited Ogimi, a town on the north of Okinawa in Japan that has the highest longevity in the world. They spent weeks living with the residents of Ogimi and interviewing dozens of the villagers. These people all had lived to be more than a hundred years old, and they were all in great physical (and spiritual) shape. After their trip, Héctor and Francesc wrote a book examining the centennials’ keys to an optimistic and vital existence. What do the oldest people in the world eat, what do they work on, how do they connect with others, and-the best-kept secret-how do they find their Ikigai? Ikigai is what gives them satisfaction and happiness, and brings real meaning to their lives.
The result was Ikigai: The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life, an international bestseller which has been translated into over 49 languages.
With the book, García and Miralles made it their mission to help its readers find their own Ikigai and discover many keys of Japanese philosophy to a healthy body, mind, and spirit.
They have now adapted their bestselling book for young readers. Young adults can find their Ikigai too!

From School Library Journal

Gr 7 Up-This young readers edition aims to assist teens in discovering their purpose in life. García, who was born in Valenica, Spain, has spent 15 years living and working in Japan, where he learned about the concept of ikigai. This term is defined as “the reason you get out of bed in the morning.” The text offers a plethora of ideas about discovering one’s ikigai, which is described as the intersection of what you love, what you are good at, what you can be paid for, and what the world needs. Straightforward instruction about the ikigai principles is featured as well as parable-like stories and real-world examples of famous people in sports, music, and politics. Many of the ideas (being willing to fail, taking time to disconnect from the digital world, and being observant and grateful) serve as good advice for most teens. Although the foundation of the concepts may be familiar, this title provides an encouraging, optimistic way for young adults to start thinking about their futures and where they might be able to use their passions and skills. VERDICT An additional purchase for larger young adult collections or where teens are working on career goals.-Sarah Reid, Four Cty. Lib. Syst., NYα(c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Review

Praise for 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,’ [this book] demonstrates that aging could be an opportunity to keep working, keep smiling, keep active, and keep being social even as centenarians.” -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.c