The Meaning of Your Life by Arthur C. Brooks

The Meaning of Your Life

Finding Purpose in an Age of Emptiness

Arthur C. Brooks

Penguin Publishing Group · Print & ebook · March 31, 2026

From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of From Strength to Strength, the definitive account of how the modern world makes meaning so hard to find—and a plan to discover your life’s deepest purpose.

Buy on Amazon

We earn from qualifying purchases.

Who it’s for
Brooks draws on science, philosophy, and faith traditions to explore life’s purpose.
Genres
The Pursuit of Happiness, Positive Psychology, Existential Approaches
Published
Penguin Publishing Group, March 31, 2026

Nearest books

Matched by what the books are about, then ordered by what their readers also loved.

  1. Start Making SenseSteven J. Heine72% matchShares Existential Approaches
  2. The Second MountainDavid Brooks71% match
  3. Man's Search for MeaningViktor E. Frankl, William J. Winslade69% matchShares Existential Approaches
  4. FlourishDaniel Coyle66% matchShares The Pursuit of Happiness
  5. What to Make of a LifeJim Collins65% match

Start with three books, and this one can be the first.

Members get a new edition every morning: a route out from their books to essays, research and talks, with the reason for each.

Start with this book

About this book

From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of From Strength to Strength, the definitive account of how the modern world makes meaning so hard to find—and a plan to discover your life’s deepest purpose. If you struggle to discern life’s meaning, you’re not alone. Millions today describe a growing sense of emptiness, a lack of purpose and significance.

Continue reading

And there’s a reason: Rapid cultural, economic, and technological changes have rewired our brains, reducing their ability to perceive depth and purpose. In The Meaning of Your Life, social scientist and happiness expert Arthur C. Brooks shows you how to push back against these changes and find the meaning you need to live a happy, fulfilling life. Relying on cutting-edge science, he offers practical, evidence-based strategies for breaking free of the powerful trends and personal habits that dull your focus on the why of your life. Drawing on the great philosophers and the world’s faith traditions, he shows how everyone can—and must—approach life’s most important and mysterious questions and provides a blueprint that will help even the most skeptical person find a life of spiritual transcendence, passionate love, and true calling. “What is the meaning of my life?” is not an unanswerable question, but rather the start of a pilgrimage into unexplored corners of your consciousness. The Meaning of Your Life is your handbook for this journey.

Purpose and Meaning

Brooks draws on science, philosophy, and faith traditions to explore life’s purpose.

Come here for

  • Science-based strategies for finding purpose
  • Perspectives from philosophers and the world’s faith traditions

Expect

  • A focus on life’s deepest questions
  • A blueprint for spiritual transcendence

Where it sits

The Pursuit of Happiness33%
Positive Psychology29%
Existential Approaches28%

Percentages are BookFrontier’s reading of the book.

Publisher categories

  • Adult Development & Aging
  • Positive Psychology
  • The Pursuit of Happiness
Authors
Arthur C. Brooks
Publisher
Penguin Publishing Group
Published
March 31, 2026
Format
Print & ebook
Reading lane
Adult Development & Aging