Description

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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!

About the Author

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Francesc Miralles was born in Barcelona in 1968. He studied German Language and Literature and he works as a journalist specializing in psychology and spirituality. Besides working for media outlets such as El País and Radio Nacional de España, he has written numerous fiction and non-fiction books with a large international impact. He has also written many books for young readers. His latest success, Ikigai, has been translated into 49 languages.For more information about Francesc Miralles, access francescmiralles.com.
Héctor García was born in Valencia in 1981. He moved to Tokyo in 2004, and has been living there ever since. His wife's family is from Okinawa, Japan, and Héctor speaks the dialect of Ogimi. His website kirainet.com, with over a million monthly views, is a world reference in Japanese popular culture. He is the author of the book A Geek in Japan, which has sold more than 100,000 copies and has been translated to more than ten languages.

Praise For…

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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.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