How to Ikigai: Lessons for Finding Happiness and Living Your Life's Purpose

by Tim Tamashiro

Transform Your Life With Ikigai"The practice of Ikigai leads to a longer and more joy-filled life'" ―Elise Marie Collins, author of Super Ager

#1 Bestseller in Customs & Traditions

Discover the secret to lasting happiness and longevity in this transformative self-help book based on the ancient Japanese, time-tested wisdom of Ikigai.

Find joy in life's journey with Ikigai. This ancient wisdom from Okinawa, Japan, can illuminate your path to self-improvement. Okinawa, Japan is a tiny island south of the Japanese mainland where people live their life’s purpose every day. How to Ikigai explores the lifestyle choices that have led to an island full of fulfilled, long-living people.

Embrace longevity through the Ikigai philosophy. Learn to age gracefully, armed with the secrets of one of the longest-living communities on earth. By integrating Ikigai into your life, you foster an attitude of gratitude, infuse your days with happiness, and inspire purposeful living.

How to Ikigai explains a simple four-directions map for living a meaningful life. Do what you love, do what you’re good at, do what the world needs, and do what you can be rewarded for.

In this groundbreaking self-help book, you'll

An engaging exploration of the Ikigai philosophy, offering profound insights into finding your life purposePractical steps for implementing Ikigai in your everyday life, paving the way for happiness and self-improvementPowerful narratives showcasing Ikigai in action, like the inspiring story of David Michiels

If you liked books such as Awakening Your Ikigai, My Little Ikigai Journal, or  The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life, you’ll love How to Ikigai. Also, be sure to listen to Kate Hudson and Oliver Hudson’s podcast exploring Ikigai with Tim Tamashiro.

Genres: Self Help, Nonfiction, Audiobook, Psychology, Philosophy, Lifestyle

220 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 31, 2019

Reviews

[Ella King · Rating 3 out of 5]

Basically: do what you like and what you're good at

[Annie · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book is filled with inspirational stories about people doing what they love and creating value through their actions. They found fulfillment through living their life's purpose (not seeking money and waiting for retirement to do the things they enjoy).

[Neide Gomes · Rating 3 out of 5]

3/5 stars!

“The key to Ikigai is to do what you are meant to do. You have gifts that are begging to be put to good use. Understanding Ikigai is a way to put your gifts to work, so you can enjoy their benefits.”

I have to admit, I’m not super impressed with this book. I picked this up randomly, and I didn’t have any expectations about it, so I wasn’t that disappointed about not getting a lot from this book.
I just think the book is a little repetitive and too generic. The author shares a lot of stories about other people finding their Ikigai… and that’s basically it. The topic is not developed with depth, so we keep reading the same thing over and over again.
But I do appreciate the tone of the book, which is hopeful and very positive! I think the goal the author intended was mostly to motivate you to find your own purpose and get inspired by other people’s stories. I just don’t think it’s a very informative book to read if you’re new to the concept.
Now, would I recommend this book? I personally think there are better books about the subject out there, so I wouldn’t tell you that this is a must-read if you want to learn more about Ikigai. I would probably recommend the book by Hector Garcia if you’re looking for a more informative book; I really liked that one.

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[Chelsea · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had the real pleasure of meeting the author of this book on a cruise recenetly.
We first met on a tour in Shanghai, then the Great Wall of China, I thought he was another guest onboard and I can really say it was a delight to get to know him.
I got to watch him perform and I had the chance to have lunch with him. I'm not sure he realised how much he was exactly what I needed to hear as I go through my quarter life crisis and struggle with knowing what I want to do.
But this book felt like an extension of talking to him and that has been a delight every time. So thank you! I go in search of my ikigai

[Tamara Copple · Rating 2 out of 5]

Listened on Audible. I stated to a career coach, “I have my dream job! It feels like I found my ikigai,” and she responded that “true Japanese know what ikigai is really about and hate it when Americans misinterpret it.” So I decided to see if I could learn any more about. Got that part out of the way in the first couple of chapters. It’s a feel good, fluffy book and in that way is certainly satisfying, until you realize you’re consuming the literary equivalent of cotton candy. By the third time he said, “studies show…….” To support a point without supporting references I just accepted that it was not going to tell me anything I don’t already know. It does not lessen the nobility of the concept, nor should it stop anyone from trying to follow his guides, but there are deeper, more meaningful texts out there.

[Xiao Dong · Rating 5 out of 5]

Relaxing, Enjoyable, but Still Very Practical

I like the open ended nature of this book because the reader gets a choice about how they want to interpret the information used and the writing descriptors are more creative and dynamic than some of the most prominent writers out there. He has a unique ability to inject personality and pathos into his book.

[Praveen · Rating 3 out of 5]

"How to Ikigai: Lessons for Finding Happiness and Living Your Life's Purpose" by Tim Tamashiro is a book that caters to my preference for the "feel-good" aspect of reading. It delivers on this front, providing a sense of upliftment and positivity throughout.

However, while the book succeeds in offering a feel-good reading experience, I found its conceptual depth to be somewhat lacking. Despite its focus on the Japanese concept of ikigai and its promise of lessons for finding happiness and purpose in life, I felt that the exploration of these ideas remained relatively shallow.

The concepts presented in the book may touch on important themes of personal fulfillment and purpose, but they lack the depth and nuance that I had hoped for. The lessons offered felt somewhat superficial, leaving me wanting more in terms of substantive insights and practical guidance.

Despite this, "How to Ikigai" still serves its purpose as a source of inspiration and motivation for those seeking to enhance their overall sense of happiness and fulfillment. The writing style is engaging, and the book's emphasis on positivity and optimism is sure to resonate with many readers.

In conclusion, while "How to Ikigai" may fall short in terms of conceptual depth, its ability to evoke a "feel-good" sensation and provide a dose of positivity makes it a worthwhile read for those in search of inspiration and encouragement.

[Mika Auramo · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kanadalainen Tim Tamashiro tutustuttaa japanilaisen elämänhallintamenetelmän eli ikigain pariin. Tämä viihteen monitoimimies (radiojuontaja ja jazz-muusikko) jakaa rapakontakaisen itseapuoppaiden tyylin mukaisesti anekdootteja omasta elämästä ja muutamien muidenkin, jotta elämäntaparemonttia pähkäilevät pääsisivät vauhtiin.

Kindle-kirja on jaoteltu mielikuvituksettomasti lukuihin kuten Chapter Four, Chapter Seven ja sitä rataa ja lisäksi kahteen osioon, joille on sentään keksitty nimet. Niissä sivutaan elämän tarkoitusta ja ikigain ”tiedettä”. Sille kaivetaan perusteita Harvardin yliopistosta, kun apuun löydetään Carol Dweck ja kasvun asenne. Unohtaa ei pidä myöskään läsnä olevaa tietoisuutta eli mindfulnessia, ja esimerkkejä löytyy musiikin maailmasta, kun muuan Miles Davis aloitteli uraansa. Ikigain ansiosta hänestäkin tuli sittemmin legenda. Myös Sigmund Freud kelpaa esimerkiksi miehestä, joka kuunteli sisäistä ääntään ja otti loparit sairaalapsykiatrin hommistaan.

Karaten tavoin Oginawalta Japanista myös länsimaihin kulkeutunut ajattelumalli tai toimintatapa voidaan tiivistää Tamashironkin sanoin muutamaan prinsiippiin ja oman elämän ottamisesta haltuun: Tee mitä rakastat. Tee sitä, missä olet hyvä. Tee mitä (maailmassa) tarvitaan. Tee, mistä sinut palkitaan. Viimeisin tarkoittanee tasapainoa sisäisen ja ulkoisen palkitsemisen kanssa.

Kirjoittaja suosittelee lisäksi ikigapia, joka tarkoittanee suomeksi vuorottelu- tai sapattivapaa, jolloin haetaan ihan rauhassa suuntaa omalle elämälle, kun halutaan keskittyä juuri itselleen merkityksellisimpiin asioihin. Kaiken kaikkiaan ikigain on tarkoitus antaa elämälle suunta ja tarkoitus, jotta tietää, miksi kömpii aamulla sängystä ylös – syvällisempää merkitystä niin itselle kuin läheisillekin, miksei laajemmallekin porukalle. Jokaisella on tämänkin kirjoittajan mukaan jonkinlainen superominaisuus, joka odottaa löytämistä ja sitten sen kultivoimista.

Jokainen tämän kirjan ja ikigain oppeihin perehtyvän kannattaa panna kokeilut käytäntöön ja aloittaa vaikka olemalla ystävällinen niin läheisiä kuin ventovieraitakin kohtaan. Tällöin voikin alkaa kertoilemaan (ehkä aluksi vain) harvoille ja valituille, mitä erityistä on juuri tässä yksilössä. Oman ikigai-matkaan lähteminen saattaa johtaa yhteiseen rupeamaan tai jopa elämänmittaiseen yhteiseen polkuun ja syvällisempään ystävyyteen niin kuin kirjan kirjoittajallakin frendinsä kanssa, kun hän risteilee yläkouluaikojen ja nykyajan välillä ja menneisyydestä ja oikeastaan heti ensi kohtaamisesta nykyhetkeen saakka tässä opuksessaan.

[Marie Gerits · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️! Inspirational and motivating to take a deeper look at your life and the ways your life is fulfilling (or not). The book is very clear and provides a lot of real life examples (a little bit too much imo). I found it sometimes lacking in depth. It was more like a personal experience with Ikigai rather than an in-depth study of it, which made it sometimes a bit slow-paced or irrelevant to the reader. Still a good read for people who want to discover more of an insight in the way your life provides emotional satisfaction.

[Franco · Rating 3 out of 5]

“share the common trait that is essential for Ikigai. They are differents.
The differents are the ones who march to their own drummer. A different has their own set of beliefs that act as the guard rails and keep them on their unique paths throughout their lives. By establishing their own rules to use throughout their lives, they build an immunity to outside influences. They stand out for their beliefs and actions. They know what works and what doesn’t work in their worlds. They are their own persons. They do what they want.”

How to Ikigai
Tim Tamashiro

[Alexey · Rating 4 out of 5]

oh. I didn't read it fully—there were too many repetitions. The message of the book is clear and valuable. In a practical sense, not everyone can live according to Ikegai principles, even if it is possible to find out what I like, and it can be much with what I am good at, and even less probably can be much less matched with what the World needs, and what the world is ready to pay for. But the book inspired me to find out if it is possible, what it can be?

[Esther Dan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Makes Your Heart Sing

This is an incredible sequel to the first Ikigai book. Every time I read it, it makes my spirit soar & my heart sing. With very practical steps in making our lives more meaningful, the author breaks down the basic simplicity of purpose & how to live daily with repetition & find meaning in it. Highly recommend!

[Hailey Felt · Rating 2 out of 5]

I’ve read a decent amount of self reflection and self realization books recently and this one just didn’t do it for me… I think the concepts were basic in the sense of “find your passion, what calls to you, what brings you joy” etc. etc.
If you’re looking to read books on finding purpose I think there are better ones out there.

[Santeri Leeve · Rating 5 out of 5]

Easy and a worthwhile read

This book really helped me to understand a concept I’ve been interested in but found hard to grasp. A subtle introduction to Eastern philosophy for those interested

[Nicola Pennell · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book has definitely got me wondering what my life purpose is. It was lovely to hear some of the inspiring stories, which enforced I need to do the same thing in terms of fulfilling my purpose, when I figure it out.

[Tim · Rating 2 out of 5]

Interrupted, too superficial

[Michael Campbell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mi-a placut fiecare pagina din aceasta carte.

Are o filosofie straveche dar autorul o aplica foarte bine in ziua de Astazi.

Super!

[Julia Fesenko · Rating 1 out of 5]

Too much fluff, too many repetitions. I even tried watching his Ted Talk but didn’t get through the first 10 minutes.

[Dmytro · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very superficial

The book is extremely superficial and could easily fit into a short article if you remove the empty chatter and numerous stories.

[katelyn regier · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5

[Paulina Przyborowska · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful listen. Nice little stories with reminders to keep a positive mindset. *audiobook

[Brittany Cendejas · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mostly anecdotal

[Jethro · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was okay. Idk felt lack luster for a self help book. Wish it had more cultural, or scientific backing in its material/claims. Personally, meh

[Jackie · Rating 3 out of 5]

The author sounds very smart and kind, and the book is very positive... however, I feel like it overlooked some of the challenges some have to overcome to obtain this.

EBN 2025 - A cover that's the same color as the outside of your home.

[Laurence Quenneville · Rating 5 out of 5]

9/10