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The Meaning of Your Life

Finding Purpose in an Age of Emptiness

Author Arthur C. Brooks

Paperback

$22.00 US

Penguin Adult HC/TR | Portfolio

5-1/2"W x 8-1/4"H (14.0 x 21.0 cm) | 9 oz (259 g) | 24 per carton

On sale Mar 31, 2026 | 304 Pages | 9798217183586

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From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of From Strength to Strength, an account of how the modern world sets us up to fail at finding meaning—and a plan for finding what you seek.

Meaning in life is getting harder to find—and there’s a reason for that. In The Meaning of Your Life, social scientist and happiness expert Arthur Brooks explains how rapid societal and technological changes have rewired our brains, making them ill-equipped to handle questions of existential reckoning. The resulting emptiness is not imaginary, and it is life-destroying for some, especially for young people.

Fortunately, there's hope. With compassion, clarity, and practicality, Brooks tells you exactly what you need to do to move toward meaning. You'll take a test to determine where you are on your meaning journey, learn evidence-based tactics for rewiring your brain for complex and abstract concepts, and discover a vocabulary for your desires. Most importantly, Brooks will show you where to search for the transcendence, vocation, and significance that are your birthright as a human being.

“What is the meaning of my life?” is not an unanswerable question, but the road to an answer—or answers—is a long one. The Meaning of Your Life is your guide for the journey.

“My friend Arthur C. Brooks clearly articulates how to live a meaningful, compassionate, and purposeful life.” —HIS HOLINESS THE DALAI LAMA

“As I follow the principles that Arthur Brooks presents, I am becoming happier. I’m actually having fun, too—a word that previously didn’t exist in my vocabulary.” —OPRAH WINFREY, global media leader and coauthor of Build the Life You Want

“Arthur Brooks is America’s most soulful social scientist. From the day I met him in 2007, it was clear that his life’s work was to increase human flourishing. Over the years he has transformed from data geek to passionate preacher, teaching us all how to live, work, and age well in our rapidly changing society.” —JONATHAN HAIDT, Thomas Cooley Professor of Ethical Leadership at New York University Stern School of Business and author of The Anxious Generation and The Righteous Mind

“Arthur has shaped the way I see, the way I pray, and the way I interact with students on a daily basis.” —FATHER MIKE SCHMITZ, University of Minnesota Duluth campus chaplain and host of the podcast The Bible in a Year

“Every conversation I have with Arthur leaves me with a clearer perspective on what it means to live a meaningful life.” —SIMON SINEK, author of Start with Why and The Infinite Game and host of the podcast A Bit of Optimism

“Arthur Brooks guides us to figure out how to live by focusing on the why. These pages can show anyone that meaning isn’t lost, just waiting to be found.” —SHERYL SANDBERG, founder of Lean In

“If you really want a change in your life and are seeking deeper meaning, congratulations. You have found the perfect book.” —HODA KOTB, former Today host and CEO of Joy 101

Arthur C. Brooks, PhD, is a social scientist and one of the world’s leading authorities on human happiness. He is a Harvard professor, columnist with The Free Press, host of the podcast Office Hours, CBS News contributor, and internationally acclaimed public speaker. His previous books have been translated into dozens of languages and include the bestsellers Build the Life You Want (co-authored with Oprah Winfrey), From Strength to Strength, and Love Your Enemies. He lives with his family in Virginia. View titles by Arthur C. Brooks

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Available for sale exclusive:

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• Minor Outl.Ins.

• North Mariana

• Philippines

• Puerto Rico

• Samoa,American

• US Virgin Is.

Available for sale non-exclusive:

• Afghanistan

• Aland Islands

• Albania

• Algeria

• Andorra

• Angola

• Anguilla

• Antarctica

• Argentina

• Armenia

• Aruba

• Austria

• Azerbaijan

• Bahrain

• Belarus

• Belgium

• Benin

• Bolivia

• Bonaire, Saba

• Bosnia Herzeg.

• Bouvet Island

• Brazil

• Bulgaria

• Burkina Faso

• Burundi

• Cambodia

• Cape Verde

• Centr.Afr.Rep.

• Chad

• Chile

• China

• Colombia

• Comoro Is.

• Congo

• Cook Islands

• Costa Rica

• Croatia

• Cuba

• Curacao

• Czech Republic

• Dem. Rep. Congo

• Denmark

• Djibouti

• Dominican Rep.

• Ecuador

• Egypt

• El Salvador

• Equatorial Gui.

• Eritrea

• Estonia

• Ethiopia

• Faroe Islands

• Finland

• France

• Fren.Polynesia

• French Guinea

• Gabon

• Georgia

• Germany

• Greece

• Greenland

• Guadeloupe

• Guatemala

• Guinea Republic

• Guinea-Bissau

• Haiti

• Heard/McDon.Isl

• Honduras

• Hong Kong

• Hungary

• Iceland

• Indonesia

• Iran

• Israel

• Italy

• Ivory Coast

• Japan

• Kazakhstan

• Kyrgyzstan

• Laos

• Latvia

• Lebanon

• Liberia

• Libya

• Liechtenstein

• Lithuania

• Luxembourg

• Macau

• Macedonia

• Madagascar

• Malaysia

• Maldives

• Mali

• Marshall island

• Martinique

• Mauritania

• Mayotte

• Mexico

• Micronesia

• Moldavia

• Monaco

• Mongolia

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• Nepal

• Netherlands

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• Nicaragua

• Niger

• Niue

• Norfolk Island

• North Korea

• Norway

• Oman

• Palau

• Palestinian Ter

• Panama

• Paraguay

• Peru

• Poland

• Portugal

• Qatar

• Reunion Island

• Romania

• Russian Fed.

• Rwanda

• Saint Martin

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• Saudi Arabia

• Senegal

• Serbia

• Singapore

• Sint Maarten

• Slovakia

• Slovenia

• South Korea

• South Sudan

• Spain

• St Barthelemy

• St.Pier,Miquel.

• Sth Terr. Franc

• Suriname

• Svalbard

• Sweden

• Switzerland

• Syria

• Tadschikistan

• Taiwan

• Thailand

• Timor-Leste

• Togo

• Tokelau Islands

• Tunisia

• Turkey

• Turkmenistan

• Ukraine

• Unit.Arab Emir.

• Uruguay

• Uzbekistan

• Vatican City

• Venezuela

• Vietnam

• Wallis,Futuna

• West Saharan

• Yemen

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• Brit.Virgin Is.

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• Canada

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• Guyana

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• Kiribati

• Kuwait

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• Malawi

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• Mauritius

• Montserrat

• Mozambique

• Namibia

• Nauru

• New Zealand

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• PapuaNewGuinea

• Pitcairn Islnds

• S. Sandwich Ins

• Seychelles

• Sierra Leone

• Solomon Islands

• Somalia

• South Africa

• Sri Lanka

• St. Helena

• St. Lucia

• St. Vincent

• St.Chr.,Nevis

• Sudan

• Swaziland

• Tanzania

• Tonga

• Trinidad,Tobago

• Turks&Caicos Is

• Tuvalu

• USA

• Uganda

• United Kingdom

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Additional formats

Added to Wish List Removed from Wish List

The Meaning of Your Life

Author: Arthur C. Brooks

9780593545423

$30.00 US

Hardcover

Mar 31, 2026
Added to Wish List Removed from Wish List

The Meaning of Your Life

Author: Arthur C. Brooks

9798217294565

$32.00 US

Large Print

Mar 31, 2026

Added to Wish List Removed from Wish List

The Meaning of Your Life

Author: Arthur C. Brooks

9780593545423

$30.00 US

Hardcover

Mar 31, 2026
Added to Wish List Removed from Wish List

The Meaning of Your Life

Author: Arthur C. Brooks

9798217294565

$32.00 US

Large Print

Mar 31, 2026

Other Books by this Author

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Build the Life You Want

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Export Edition
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From Strength to Strength

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The Meaning of Your Life

Finding Purpose in an Age of Emptiness

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