Mogi, K: Little Book of Ikigai The essential Japanese way to finding your purpose in life

“The little book of ikigai” by Ken Mogi, deals with the fascinating concept of ikigai, which originated in Japan and promises a fulfilled and happy life. The following review is based on a course at my university, in which we also learned about ikigai. It was a central topic of our course that supported us getting to know ourselves better and developing our own brand. The author cleverly divides the book into five pillars: 1. Starting small, 2. Releasing yourself, 3. Harmony and Sustainability, 4. The joy of little things, 5. Being in the here and now, which sound very encouraging. When I first saw the five pillars in the table of contents, they immediately caught my attention, and I wanted to know more about them. By referring to the five pillars throughout the book, there is a common link and a logical structure. The inspirational tone and the casual design of the book make it very approachable and encouraging. While I was reading “the little book of ikigai”, I enjoyed its slow pace, which allowed me to imagine and empathize with Japanese culture. In addition, visuals are being used which make the content more engaging. What is interesting is that ikigai has existed in Japan for centuries and is ingrained in their culture. The book not only explains the notion of ikigai but also takes the reader closer to understanding the Japanese culture and way of thinking. Ken Mogi refers to the stories of sushi masters, manga artists, sumo wrestlers and many others and their source of ikigai. Referring to these personal stories emphasizes that everyone can find his or her ikigai in their individual way. One thing that I think has been left out in the book is where the concept comes from. It is described very vaguely in the beginning but not explained in detail. The author rather focuses on the personal stories. In my opinion the book illustrates and visualizes the concept of ikigai very impressively. However, what falls short in the book is to help the reader find out how to find his or her own ikigai. The book promises to “give you the tools to make the most of everyday”, however the author does not specify tools or techniques that can be used to find ikigai. It would have been nice if the author included more practical examples of how to implement this practice in the reader´s life. To conclude, “The little book of ikigai” is an insightful and motivational read with a lot of interesting lessons in it. Moreover, it is a good introductory book about ikigai but I wished for some more depth at some points. A lot of times the same things were repeated. However, I really enjoyed reading it and can recommend it. In today´s “hustle culture” it is important to be reminded that success and money aren´t everything and that if we appreciate the here and now and the small moments, we can find our purpose and life a happy life.