Welcome back to Lit in a Nutshell! On this episode, we're exploring a book that offers profound insights into living a long, happy, and fulfilling life, drawing inspiration from the people of Japan. The book is 'Ikigai: The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life,' written by Héctor García and Francesc Miralles.The origins of this book trace back to a rainy evening in Tokyo when the two authors first met. Their conversation led them to the concept of ikigai, a Japanese word that translates roughly to "the happiness of always being busy". It's described as being similar to Viktor Frankl's Logotherapy, which helps people find their purpose in life, but ikigai goes a step further.García and Miralles were particularly intrigued by the extraordinary longevity of people on the island of Okinawa, where there are significantly more centenarians than the global average. They decided to journey to Okinawa to study the secrets of these long-living individuals firsthand. They conducted numerous interviews, finding that beyond diet, climate, and simple living, a key factor was the ikigai that shapes their lives.The book delves into various aspects of discovering and living your ikigai. You'll learn about the importance of finding your life's purpose, understanding why many Japanese people never truly retire in the Western sense, how to achieve a state of flow in your work and free time – that feeling of being so immersed in an activity that nothing else matters. The authors also share antiaging secrets, discuss the value of gentle exercise and diet, and explore resilience – the ability to bounce back from setbacks and even become antifragile.At its heart, finding your ikigai is presented as a patient search for your unique reason for being, that passion that drives you to share the best of yourself until the very end. According to the Japanese, everyone has an ikigai within them, even if they are still searching.If you're looking for a compass to navigate life's journey and find greater satisfaction and meaning, this book offers powerful insights. Join us as we explore 'Ikigai: The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life' on Lit in a Nutshell."

Ver todos los episodios