Ikigai offers a solid, accessible introduction to purposeful living, especially for those new to the concept, though its philosophy overlaps heavily with Stoicism and offers little that felt new. The final chapters' shift into diet and exercise feel out of place, and overall the book stays too surface-level for readers wanting real depth.
Ikigai is a concept that encourages people to discover what truly matters to them and live a life filled with purpose and joy. I believe this is something a lot of people are missing in today's world. In our modern society, I think the issue isn't just the economic value of the work we do, but more about the lack of purpose in our work and the feeling that what we do has no real value. This book might help some people who are grappling with that.
Personally, I don’t have an Ikigai, and this book provided me with some very simple instructions (simpler than I would have liked, given the subject matter). I expected more depth. That said, it did give me a lot to think about. I don’t have any other books on Ikigai to compare this one with, but I am open to suggestions.
The writing style was simple and easy to read, with examples that tied well to the topics being discussed. I think the target audience for this book includes those who are new to the subject or philosophy, those who might be interested in Japanese culture and thinking, and people who don’t know where to start—this could be a decent point of entry for them.
In terms of the content, the first two-thirds of the book are solid, offering a philosophical perspective. However, the last two chapters shift towards dietary information and exercises. These elements didn’t seem to fit well with the philosophy-focused tone of the book. While it's possible for a book to include practical advice like diet, trying to show how to do exercises in a book doesn’t quite work. You can’t learn yoga or qigong meditation from just reading a book, in my opinion. The last couple of chapters were a bit of a letdown for me. However, they did introduce me to different exercise techniques, which could be helpful for city dwellers like us who may not have time to go to a regular gym. It provides alternative options.
As an avid student (or at least someone who tries to be) of Stoicism, I noticed many similarities between Ikigai and Stoic philosophy. I felt like I was already familiar with most of the information the book presented, so there weren't any new concepts for me. However, it did offer some insights. Was it mind-blowing? No. Did it teach me a lot of new things? Not really. As the book says, "If we already know everything a book has to tell us, we’ll get bored right away." Did I get bored reading this book? Not really, but I did finish it out of respect for the authors and for myself. It may sound a little harsh, but that's just how I feel.
Overall, the book was good, but nothing spectacular. If you're interested in this topic, it will give you the basics, but if you're looking for a book that offers more detail and instruction, this book won’t be enough for you. I’ll now be reading the second book by these authors on the subject, hoping it will provide more in-depth information.