Hey, what’s up?

I’m back with another book review, something I haven’t done in a long while after getting completely swallowed by the world of Avatar the Last Airbender comics. No regrets there.

This time, I’m sharing my two cents on Ikigai by Héctor García and Francesc Miralles. In the simplest terms, the book explores ideas and habits that are believed to help people live longer. The authors reference a fair bit of research, but I won’t dive too deeply into that here. Instead, I’ll focus on the parts I found interesting and the parts that didn’t quite sit right with me.

A fun fact the book highlights early on is the concept of Blue Zones, which are specific regions in the world where people tend to live the longest. The five most well known ones are Okinawa in Japan, Sardinia in Italy, Loma Linda in California, the Nicoya Peninsula in Costa Rica, and Ikaria in Greece. These places are home to a remarkable number of centenarians, often living in close knit, harmonious communities. Honestly, that part alone was fascinating.

One idea the authors strongly advocate for is single tasking over multitasking. Their argument is that multitasking isn’t real productivity. It is just the brain rapidly switching between tasks. They even list out the pros and cons, though the list heavily favours single tasking. While I agreed with some of their points, I couldn’t fully get on board. As a healthcare worker, I’ve seen firsthand how multitasking can be essential, not just for ourselves, but for the safety and wellbeing of others too.

There are many more ideas discussed throughout the book, but I’ll be honest, I’m not a philosopher, and I don’t have the energy to debate every concept. Especially since I’m writing this on a plane, right after finishing the book.

Another striking fact mentioned was about a woman in France who lived to 122 years old. An incredible feat, no doubt. But it made me pause and ask myself, do I actually want to live that long? Personally, not really. I value quality over quantity. To me, this world has always felt like a pit stop rather than a final destination. As a Muslim, I believe my true end goal lies in the hereafter. While there’s plenty to gain and appreciate in this life, knowing that death is inevitable keeps me from being overly attached to worldly pursuits. Balance, I think, is key.

In the final chapters, the authors share their experiences visiting Okinawa and interviewing local residents. They offer practical advice on longevity, from diet to exercise to lifestyle habits, but there’s simply too much to unpack in one blog post.

Overall, I’d rate Ikigai a 6 out of 10. It wasn’t really my cup of tea. The idea of ikigai, having a reason to wake up every morning, is meaningful, but I personally don’t feel the need to force myself to find a singular reason to live. Life itself was given to me, and I’m grateful for it every single day. That, for me, is enough.

And that’s my personal take on the book. Thanks for reading. I hope you enjoyed this post. See you in the next one