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    The Power of Meaning: Crafting a Life That Matters
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    The Power of Meaning: Crafting a Life That Matters
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    The Power of Meaning: Crafting a Life That Matters
    Audiobook7 hours

    The Power of Meaning: Crafting a Life That Matters

    Written by Emily Esfahani Smith

    Narrated by Mozhan Marno

    4/5

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    Currently unavailable

    Currently unavailable

    About this audiobook

    In a culture obsessed with happiness, this wise, stirring audiobook points the way toward a richer, more satisfying life.

    Too many of us believe that the search for meaning is an esoteric pursuit-that you have to travel to a distant monastery or page through dusty volumes to discover life's secrets. The truth is, there are untapped sources of meaning all around us-right here, right now.

    To explore how we can craft lives of meaning, Emily Esfahani Smith synthesizes a kaleidoscopic array of sources-from psychologists, sociologists, philosophers, and neuroscientists to figures in literature and history such as George Eliot, Viktor Frankl, Aristotle, and the Buddha. Drawing on this research, Smith shows us how cultivating connections to others, identifying and working toward a purpose, telling stories about our place in the world, and seeking out mystery can immeasurably deepen our lives.

    To bring what she calls the four pillars of meaning to life, Smith visits a tight-knit fishing village in the Chesapeake Bay, stargazes in West Texas, attends a dinner where young people gather to share their experiences of profound loss, and more. She also introduces us to compelling seekers of meaning-from the drug kingpin who finds his purpose in helping people get fit to the artist who draws on her Hindu upbringing to create arresting photographs. And she explores how we might begin to build a culture that leaves space for introspection and awe, cultivates a sense of community, and imbues our lives with meaning.

    Inspiring and story-driven, The Power of Meaning will strike a profound chord in anyone seeking a life that matters.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherPenguin Random House Audio
    Release dateJan 10, 2017
    ISBN9780735286498
    Unavailable
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    Reviews for The Power of Meaning

    4/5

    170 ratings75 reviews

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    • 4/5
      The Power of Meaning makes the reader stop and question what is the meaning of your life. What gives it purpose, why are you here. I'm a cancer survivor and this book brought back memories for me of when I was going through treatment and asking myself why me. What is the meaning for me to go through this scary time. I found my purpose was to tell my story about surviving cancer to whoever wanted to listen so that maybe I can help ease any doubts and worries they might have when they are faced with cancer treatment. I have talked with several friends and friends of friends to share my knowledge. This was a wonderful book that reminded me of what the meaning of my life is about. Now I hope to make a difference in someone's life through my writing and sharing my love of books with my neighbors through my Little Free Library. This is a reminder that the meaning of your life doesn't have to be grand, it can be something small that makes you happy and makes you want to live.

      I received this copy through the Penguin Random House First to Read program.
    • 4/5
      This book not only gives you a new perspective on happiness -- it is also quite inspiring. The author lays out 6 "pillars of meaning" And goes on to show how focusing on meaning makes for a more fulfilling life than acquiring more stuff. His writing style is clear and concise with plenty of stories to keep you reading.
    • 5/5
      What an amazing read. I was really impressed how this book took on the question of meaning and purpose in life and then managed to come through with answers. Well written and engaging, I believe it could shine a light on the dark search for meaning that we all encounter.The author doesn't focus on only one answer but the many ways in which humans find meaning and purpose in our time on earth. Highly recommend to give you new insight or even reinforce beliefs you already have.My favorite Early Reviewer book I've ever been lucky enough to receive!
    • 4/5
      I suppose this is a self-help book, but I think it's better than that. It has the simple structure for self-help, the four pillars of meaningfulness. It has the inspiring stories, and I especially appreciate that the author ranges broadly for stories from different traditions and disciplines. She taps philosophers and religious traditions, atheists and monks. She contrasts the personal journeys of, for example, Tolstoy and Camus, so there's more intellectual depth than the more typical "1-2-3 to a new you!" style of writing.The Power of Meaning presents, ultimately, a simple framework, which is a strength. Figuring out what that means for an individual is an intensely personal task, which I think this book does a good job of setting up.
    • 4/5
      I'm not sure what I was expecting, but I found this book surprising in a good way. I enjoyed the author's take on this topic, and found some of my own habits and behaviors challenged in a meaningful and positive way. I wish that she had delved further in some areas of the book, but overall I found it interesting, useful, and thought-provoking.
    • 5/5
      Emily Estahani Smith's book,"The Power of Meaning" lives up to its title and more. As I initially started reading this book, I thought I would be able to read it cover to cover. However, I found so much rich information about the meanings of self-awareness, self control, enlightenment, her culture, that I needed to relish each chapter on its own. The stories she shares of people who have created a live that matters spoke to me on a very visceral level. Smith did a masterful job of bringing the book together at the conclusion and weaving all the chapters together. I highly recommend this book to anyone who is desirous of crafting a life that matters. In the end, we all matter in the little things we do everyday.
    • 5/5
      Outstanding book! I can't write enough great things. I work with college students and hear from them many of the issues that Smith notes. Although "pillars" didn't really resonate with me, the 4 "pillars" that she offers exactly speak to and address the anxieties I hear all around me. I've already re-read this after reading it the first time in just one day. I don't think most need convincing that there's a meaning crisis, but some might feel that they need some perfect roadmap. This is not that book. Instead, Smith offers many examples that are diverse and inclusive-allowing readers to reflect on how they might craft more meaning in their lives without an exclusive prescription.
    • 4/5
      Emily Esfahani Smith writes about pursuing a meaningful life. She focuses on meaning rather than pursuing happiness, which she posits as an unsatisfying goal. Chasing happiness, she says, makes us unhappy. She uses examples of influential people - Leo Tolstoy, John Muir, and their quests for meaning. She also talks about the shift in businesses and their focus on meaning. Some companies (Life is Good, Whole Foods) start out with purpose and goals other than just making money. Other companies are following suit, realizing that meaning brings a different kind of worth to companies. Smith's book brings us back to what matters, what gives depth and focus to our lives.
    • 3/5
      Six-word review: Look for meaning rather than happiness.Extended review:Drawing upon sources as disparate as Ralph Waldo Emerson and Dr. Jack Kevorkian, author Smith addresses herself to the perennial questions "What is the meaning of existence? And how can I lead a meaningful life?"She cites studies that show that a quest for happiness as an end in itself tends not to succeed. A quest for meaning is a much surer path to happiness, and meaning is characterized by its relative lack of self-serving motives. Meaning derives from four "pillars": belonging, purpose, storytelling, and transcendence. Through copious anecdotes of the sort that would be familiar to readers of Malcolm Gladwell, Smith illustrates these elements in real-world terms and shows how people find them.In this way the book imparts easily understood wisdom and guidance, commodities especially needful in these disturbed and rudderless times. Philosopy lite, we might argue, is better than no philosophy at all.There were few revelations for me in this work, not being a stranger to the subject matter; but the key points are capably supported by examples, many of which are strikingly apt. Smith also makes use of a number of literary works in a way that makes me realize how rare it is these days for an author to treat literature unapologetically as a point of common cultural reference. (However, I sharply disagree with her interpretation of Camus's "The Myth of Sisyphus," which seems to me to miss the point.) The writing itself is competent, even if not brilliant. I was a bit put off by the chapter called "Conclusion," which, despite being the final chapter, does not draw conclusions so much as introduce new material and then tack on a weak ending that we could have got to without passing through any of the foregoing discussion.My rating doesn't signify that the book is bad in any way, and I don't regret my investment in reading it; but I don't consider it a standout either. It may not shed great light, but neither does it cast shadows.Detailed and comprehensive notes in the back add considerable value. The index is not yet present in this ER copy, but if it's as well done as the notes, I would expect it to be a strong plus.
    • 4/5
      This book was difficult for me to get into and I think that had more to do with me than the content. I ended up skipping around a bit and dipping into it when ever I was feeling bored. This book is not one that you can dip in and out of though. The author presents a lot of material in the chapters and some parts are more "story-driven" than others. It is all presented beautifully though and if I could sit still long enough to read it cover to cover I think I will find it useful and beautiful.
    • 4/5
      I received this book through LibraryThing's early reviewer program.An inspiring book, with interesting ideas. My only criticism is that it's long on anecdotes, and short on instruction. I was hoping to learn how to find meaning in my own life, rather than just read about others' successes. It entertained more than enlightened for me.
    • 3/5
      I was recently watching a discussion regarding various styles of parenting and their relative merits and drawbacks. One commentator said something that resonated deeply; "Parents want their children to have an EASY life, which is not the same as a GOOD life. Indeed, the former almost excludes the latter." Not only does this feel manifestly true, it also stands as a framing pillar of the philosophy of this book.The Power of Meaning: Crafting a Life That Matters is a reflection on the value of prioritizing meaning in our lives. In a culture which explicitly affords us the right to pursue happiness, Emily Smith suggests our focus is better placed on cultivating a life we see as meaningful, instead.To my mind, self-help books are always a bit fraught. I tend to subscribe to the proffered notion that the entire genre communicates a message which itself leads to dissatisfaction; if we are unhappy there must be something we can and ought to do about it. To improve our lives - indeed ourselves - is the right and obligation of any thinking person, and that the sure-fire means to do so can be bound between trade paper binding.I think this both oversimplifies the complex nature of the human experience and undermines the reader. By treating success or mental health as improvable by such means, we imply that to achieve the suggested outcome should be akin to closely following a repair manual. Self-Help: The Chilton Guide to Spiritual Enlightenment!That being said, I found this work to be straightforward in its approach and explicit that its aim was not to illuminate a path to happiness. Rather this text asserts the notion that much more than mere happiness, meaning is the more attainable and satisfying target.With philosophy, religion, research, and anecdote the author draws from a wide range of material to frame her point about the way in which the pursuit of happiness can so often leave us feeling hollow and unsatisfied. Her tone is conversational which makes the material approachable and utterly without a trace of the condescension so typical of the genre.I enjoyed her use of language and appreciated her unequivocal assertion that while no spiritual impetus was necessary, neither was that a less worthy route to a sense of meaning. Some tendency to treat religion as a naive cop-out in the quest for purpose is a common response from the secular population to the implication is that morality or meaning must be situated within a sacred framework to be legitimate.Here, it was refreshing to have an example which offered an alternate view which was neither advocating religion, nor hostile to it.That being said, I would echo the sentiment of another reader who suggested that though this book was capably written, it doesn't offer much in the way of revelation. Many of the concepts have been previously communicated by a variety of sources. Her particular synthesis of the ideas was neither novel nor especially inspired. While I agree with her foundational premise, I doubt it would fail to sway me had that not already been my way of thinking.Thoughtful, but thin; a decent weekend read where nothing more pressing is in the offing.
    • 4/5
      You can tell that the author put a lot of thought into this book. She beautifully discusses what gives life meaning and makes the reader stop and think many times along the way.***I received this book through LibraryThing Member Giveaway. The opinion is solely my own.***
    • 4/5
      In "The Power of Meaning" Emily Esfahani Smith walks us through the steps to having a life of meaning. According to Smith, the four pillars are Belonging, Purpose, Storytelling, and Transcendence. These pillars are what give a life its meaning. I often found myself reflecting on my own life and how the pillars fit into it. I think the real strength of this book is the accessibility of the content. Smith has something of value to say and she makes it easy for the reader to understand what that is. I think people of all backgrounds could get something from this book. I recommend it for bookgroups because I think that it could open up some insightful discussion.
    • 4/5
      A well written self-help book, a genre in which I'm not all that well read. I enjoyed it, and picked up a few delightful insights.
    • 3/5
      Smith's book argues that the pursuit of happiness and the pursuit of meaning in life are two different things, and that the former is actually far less satisfying than so much popular literature has pre-supposed it to be. She states that meaning can be built on four "pillars:" a sense of belonging, a sense of purpose, storytelling, and transcendent or mystical experiences. She devotes a chapter to each of these, describing through anecdotal evidence how various groups of people have found each pillar in their own lives. Several of these stories, particularly about how others have coped with grief and depression in novel ways, were of particular interest to me. However, I found her overall thesis hard to remember as I read through the book, and felt that I was just getting a series of disconnected anecdotes that did not fit together as a cohesive whole. Essentially, it seemed that meaning was whatever people made it to be. As a Christian, I found it difficult to be inspired by such an individual-driven proposition, and even though the author interviews and describes people who have successfully constructed a meaning to their lives after traumatic experiences, I couldn't help thinking: what about the people who don't? If meaning is what you make it, then why do so many people struggle to find it for themselves? Could it be precisely because such a fleeting, egocentric definition of meaning implies that man-centred meaning is not a fixed and certain place in which to put our hope?
    • 5/5
      Emily Esfahani Smith gives the reader knowledge, power, and a true path to meaning in this wonderfully articulate book. As she teaches us the elements of meaning, she artfully weaves a story using examples of how and why her elements will work. The reader unwitting finds herself identifying with the experiences.."Yes, I have been in that situation!" and "Now I understand how I could have changes that outcome years ago!". Esfahani Smith's guidance is backed by scientific research. What makes this book such a compelling guide is how she weaves the tapestry of her narrative. I give this book 5 stars.
    • 5/5
      We are all looking for "the good life"-whatever we need to make life worth living. There are two very different paths to achieve this: the happy life, based on positive feelings and emotions. This is temporary. And the meaningful life, consisting of things morally and intellectually worth doing. It is a richer life and long lasting. These can run parallel or in two different directions. Smith takes us on a search for the meaningful life. The author writes about the contrast and how to try to measure how rewarding our lives can be. For instance raising children has been associated with a meaningful life, but the added stress and sleepless nights might not seem like the happiest of times. We connect to something larger than ourselves when we include significance to our actions and bring happiness to others. Suicide is most often a result of losing one's meaning to life, rather than being unhappy and giving up. The examples Smith uses of those who have found meaning in their lives used self-reflection and self knowledge to turn their lives around. Each of us must find our own purpose for who we are and what we value. Smith gives us the four pillars of meaning to keep in mind. In this way we can make our careers and our lives more purposeful by adopting a "service mindset" knowing how our work affects other people and benefits those we love. This book is very well written and well researched. It is worth reading for anyone wanting a better life.
    • 4/5
      This book, admittedly, sat unread on my nightstand for quite a while. Maybe I wasn't ready to jump into the exploration of the meaning in my life. Once reading, I found I was able to easily identify with the author's examples. I enjoyed the research she presented, and the concepts were presented clearly. Whether I am able to apply these concepts to my own life remain to be seen. But this was a worthwhile read.
    • 4/5
      This book achieves something rare: an exploration of the topic of meaning in a way that feels contemporary and rational. There are plenty of classical treatments from religion, psychology and history. The author draws upon those. There are as many more recent books that lose their grounding in new age fluff and singular world views. The author avoids any of that. What's left is a modern framework, built around the elements of belonging, purpose, storytelling, and transcendence. The exploration provokes thought based on both logic and belief. The structure is solid, and the stories are moving. Whether you already have meaning or are skeptical that it is possible, this book will give you something to build upon.
    • 5/5
      A balm for our machine age.Our world substitues screens and social media for hearth and human interaction and promises a tech future with increased insulation and isolation. We may have the world's knowledge at our fingertips but this is small comfort when, in the words of Thoreau, we all seem to be leading lives of quiet desperation. The search for meaning in life appears to become all the more poignant and elusive. It doesn't have to be this way according to author Emily Esfahani Smith. She presents us with a roadmap that points the way to a deeper, more satisfying life. She has found that four themes or pillars (as she calls them) are the foundation for finding meaning - belonging, purpose, storytelling and transcendence. She goes into detail on each pillar and then combines them with adversity to show how they can facilitate growth. Finally, she goes beyond the individual to explain how cultures of meaning can make life richer for us all. A lovely and multi-layered read. I had to be won over to this book as Smith is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania Positive Psychology program. For reasons that I won't elaborate on, I have issues with some of the founding tenets of this program but Smith quickly put me at ease. I only state this as I had a negative bias to overcome. One of the aspects of the book that I particularly enjoyed was that while the author embraced religion as a conduit for life meaning she did not state it as the only method nor did she favor any specific religion (I found her telling of her Sufi background to be very interesting and enlightening). In all, I found the book to be very inspirational and well worth rereading for years to come. Recommended.
    • 4/5
      A clear and concise guide to leading a more meaningful life. Smith explores four pillars of life with chapters on belonging, purpose, storytelling, transcendence, and growth. It is a well research book with insights from prominent psychologists, sociologists, philosophers and neuroscientists. A beautiful guide to discovering a path to meaning and enlightenment.
    • 5/5
      This is a review for The Power of Meaning: Crafting a Life That Matters, by: Emily Esfahani Smith. I received this book through Librarything.com Early Review Giveaway for a honest review. I found this book to have some helpful tips in it. I also enjoyed some of the interesting stories told about some actual people. I found that some of the people in the book were strong and wasn't afraid to speak their minds.
    • 5/5
      This was in incredibly powerful book, looking at the science and psychology behind what gives a person's life meaning and purpose. I loved the research, something I already felt, that stood for the premise that searching for "happiness" is misguided and happiness naturally flows from a life we feel has purpose. In fact, the search for happiness, when one does not feel it, nor know how to achieve it, actually produces more stress. This book put me steps ahead of five+ years of Buddhist and yogic studies! That said, it shed light on how to best use those beautiful tenants also. I highly recommend this book, even if you feel you are on the right path (for you), of meaning and purpose, it is just very fascinating, educational and does dispel some long-held (and hard dying beliefs) about what happiness actually IS. Even if you stay well clear of "self help" type books, this is very different, and well worth a gander. Highly recommended.
    • 4/5
      Researchers found that when nursing home residents were given a plant for their rooms, those charged with caring for the plants themselves were more social and more healthy than those told nurses would take care of the plants for them. Fewer of these people died during the course of the study. Clearly it doesn't take much to give life meaning, to make sticking around seem worthwhile. Yet so many people, including those younger, healthier and with seemingly more to live for than those nursing home residents, find their lives meaningless.Emily Esfahani Smith explores the vital importance of having a sense of meaning in one's life in her new book "The Power of Meaning: Crafting a Life That Matters." She finds four pillars on which this sense of meaning rests.Belonging: When there's somebody who thinks you matter, you are more likely to feel that you matter. And if you matter to them, they are likely to matter to you.Purpose: The contribution one makes to the world need not be anything grand. It can be something as small as taking care of a plant.Storytelling: The simple act of telling the story of your life to others can reveal what your life actually means.Transcendence: The night sky, a religious experience, a baby's ear, the Grand Canyon -- such things can make us feel small and insignificant, yet at the same time make us feel a part of something grand and eternal.Smith provides excellent examples of each of these pillars and builds a solid case for the importance of each in our lives. Yet she nearly lost me very early in her book. In her introduction she writes about how after her Iranian family settled in Montreal, their Sufi faith and weekly meetings with other Sufis gave meaning to their lives. But then she casually writes, "My family eventually drifted away from the formal practice of Sufism," as if the faith that supposedly gave their lives meaning was of no more significance than a house plant.
    • 5/5
      I thoroughly enjoyed this book as it provided many thought-provoking concepts for what really matters in life. In the style of Malcolm Gladwell, Emily Esfahani Smith includes real life stories combined with extensive research, which really add to her message of the book. I found myself jotting down the names of historical figures, works of literature and other references in the book, which I want to research further. I would highly recommend this book to anyone searching for more meaning in their lives. Please note that I received a free copy of this book, as part of the LibraryThing Early Reviewers, in exchange for an honest review.
    • 5/5
      Hardcover (edit)ReviewWhat a fantastic book!This book is great for anyone who likes to read books that cause them to think. The book covers how important meaning is to people especially when they are in crisis. Unlike some books that are bogged down in the science, this book brings a perfect mixture of stories and the science that they support. This is a perfect example of how books like this should be balanced.The Power of Meaning was never boring, it's the kind of book one picks up any time they have free time and the pages just keep turning. As you read through it, it is very easily to stop and think how the principles apply to your life and you can evaluate the meaning in your life. I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to think about the meaning of their lives and what gives people meaning in their lives. It is a very thoughtful read, an easy read, and I would recommend it to everyone.
    • 5/5
      What an amazing read. I was really impressed how this book took on the question of meaning and purpose in life and then managed to come through with answers. Well written and engaging, I believe it could shine a light on the dark search for meaning that we all encounter.The author doesn't focus on only one answer but the many ways in which humans find meaning and purpose in our time on earth. Highly recommend to give you new insight or even reinforce beliefs you already have.My favorite Early Reviewer book I've ever been lucky enough to receive!
    • 5/5
      I'll admit that I was a little disappointed when I received this book as a LibraryThing early reviewer. Ugh. Another self-help book. Once I convinced myself to give it a try, I devoured this book. Did it say anything radical? No. In many ways, it buttresses the work of Frankl (Man's Search for Meaning) and Kushner (When Bad Things Happen to Good People), two books that I found to be useful to me. Smith says that meaning in our lives rests on the four pillars of belonging, purpose, storytelling, and transcendence. She includes many illustrative examples. This would be a great book to give to new high school and university graduates.
    • 3/5
      Emily Smith compiled lots of different research on meaning to write her book, The Power of Meaning. The ideas presented were very helpful to get the reader thinking about the difference between living a happy life and a meaningful life.