Ikigai: The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life

Aging’s escape velocity refers to a hypothetical point at which scientific and technological advancements in healthcare and longevity research progress faster than the rate of human aging. In Ikigai, García and Miralles use this term to describe a scenario where medical innovations could potentially extend human lifespan indefinitely. The authors present it as a thought-provoking idea that frames their discussion on the potential for significantly extending human lifespans through scientific advancements.

A Blue Zone is a geographic region where people live significantly longer than average, often with a high concentration of centenarians. The book identifies five such zones: Okinawa (Japan), Sardinia (Italy), Loma Linda (California), Nicoya Peninsula (Costa Rica), and Ikaria (Greece). These areas are studied for their lifestyle factors, dietary habits, and social structures that contribute to increased longevity. The authors use Blue Zones as examples to illustrate how certain practices, including maintaining a sense of purpose or ikigai, can promote health and extend lifespan.

In the context of Ikigai, flow refers to a state of complete immersion in an activity, characterized by intense focus, loss of self-consciousness, and a distorted sense of time. It is a concept developed by psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi and is described as a state of optimal experience, during which an individual is fully engaged in what they are doing.