"Ikigai" || Book Review

 

I saw this book at a bookstore and loved the cover. It stayed on my mind for a while and when the book got in my hands and I read the synopsis, I decided to read it. This book is a "collection" of advice on how to live a better, longer life mostly based on Japanese culture and Asian practices.

The book does offer some insight and a different point of view on life than what we in the West have been used to. The ideas are mostly mildly interesting but nothing new or grand either. Some of the advice is pretty basic and shared amongst many people worldwide: sleep well, eat well, exercise moderately... Nothing new there... The parts that do have something to offer are the ones talking about less practical, more abstract concepts, like how to approach problems in life, how a sense of community contributes to a better life,

Something that bothered me about the book is that the writer keeps contradicting himself. He will make a statement at the beginning and try to prove it and a few pages later he will make another statement that directly opposes the first one. I can't tell if he realizes he did it and just happens to carry a few contradicting opinions, or if he hadn't realized. 

He also tends to repeat the same ideas - as if to fill pages - but doesn't really put an effort into a more detailed, more in-depth, and more nuanced discussion.

Overall, there are some good bits in the book but it was mostly boring. It offers quick overviews of various concepts but doesn't delve deep into any one topic. It felt like the intent was right but the execution was lost midway. The book may be a good choice for someone new to the self-help genre, but it wouldn't be of much value to someone who has read other similar books before.

I rated this book 2/5* as it was nothing great, but not terrible either. 

I hope you found my review useful and that you have enjoyed the post. I'd love to read your opinions of the book if you've read it and also any recommendations you may have!