March 1, 2021
Gr 7 Up-This young readers edition aims to assist teens in discovering their purpose in life. Garc�a, who was born in Valenica, Spain, has spent 15 years living and working in Japan, where he learned about the concept of ikigai. This term is defined as "the reason you get out of bed in the morning." The text offers a plethora of ideas about discovering one's ikigai, which is described as the intersection of what you love, what you are good at, what you can be paid for, and what the world needs. Straightforward instruction about the ikigai principles is featured as well as parable-like stories and real-world examples of famous people in sports, music, and politics. Many of the ideas (being willing to fail, taking time to disconnect from the digital world, and being observant and grateful) serve as good advice for most teens. Although the foundation of the concepts may be familiar, this title provides an encouraging, optimistic way for young adults to start thinking about their futures and where they might be able to use their passions and skills. VERDICT An additional purchase for larger young adult collections or where teens are working on career goals.-Sarah Reid, Four Cty. Lib. Syst., NY
Copyright 2021 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
February 15, 2021
A rallying cry for teens seeking greater fulfillment. Garc�a and Miralles, Spanish co-authors of The Ikigai Journey (2020) and similar adult titles rooted in Japanese culture, here extend their reach to teenagers. They begin by explaining that the Japanese term ikigai refers to larger goals that give one's life purpose and meaning. Here it is applied to advise young people in many areas of their lives, including school, friendship, romantic relationships, and potential careers. Quotes from and brief descriptions of varied individuals from Jules Verne and Tony Hawk to Malala Yousafzai support lists of tips and ideas for putting ikigai into practice. Writing prompts are interspersed with vignettes describing a journey of self-discovery that includes collecting medallions from wise individuals that, when combined, point the way to discovering your ikigai. There is plenty of good advice, much of it familiar but no less reassuring to young people who may feel pressure to have everything figured out. For example, the authors remind readers that they can learn from failure and recount the 10,000-hour rule popularized by Malcolm Gladwell. Those hoping for insights into ikigai from a Japanese perspective will be disappointed, as the book contains relatively little content about Japan--both authors, however, have personal experience of the country. References and further reading would have been helpful for those hoping to learn more about subjects raised in the book. Accessible, helpful advice for young people seeking their purpose. (Nonfiction. 12-18)
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February 12, 2021
Grades 9-12 This motivational book, adapted for young people from an adult title, provides strategies to achieve ikigai, a Japanese concept for "what gives your life meaning." Readers are warned that the pursuit of this idea might not work out as expected, and they should learn to accept rejection, find supportive people, and take advantage of opportunities that come along. To find their life's path, readers are instructed to write what they don't want to do with their life in order to reveal what they do like. Occasionally, celebrities offer quotes and anecdotes: Tony Hawk discusses making money, while Michael Jordan describes how his failures led to his success. The authors' counsel is sound and reassuring, but a quest threaded throughout the book that directs the reader to find four medallions is confusing and the pacing inconsistent, with some sections more dense and repetitious than others. The unevenness and lack of illustrations may discourage all but the most determined readers.
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