Mattering

The Secret to a Life of Deep Connection and Purpose

By: Jennifer Breheny Wallace

Narrated by: Jennifer Breheny Wallace

AN INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER

“A timely, vitally important read.” — Adam Grant, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Think Again and host of the podcast Re:thinking

“Beautifully written and deeply felt. Wallace gives readers the insights we need to understand each other, and the actions we can take to enhance each other’s lives.”— Susan Cain, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Bittersweet and Quiet

“Mattering is an essential guide for how to restore meaning, comfort, and joy to our lives.” — Vivek Murthy, MD, MBA, 19th and 21st Surgeon General of the United States

From award-winning journalist and bestselling author Jennifer Wallace comes Mattering—a landmark book that introduces a transformative new framework to confront the loneliness, burnout, and lack of purpose so many of us face today.

In this groundbreaking work, Wallace makes an urgent case: mattering—the feeling that we are valued and have an opportunity to add value—is a core human need, as essential to our well-being as food and water. And yet, in today’s world, that fundamental need is going unmet, with perilous consequences. As mental and social health crises surge, we often blame social media, the pace of modern life, and polarizing politics. But beneath these issues lies a deeper crisis, what Wallace calls “an erosion of mattering.”

With her signature warmth and insight, Wallace weaves together research and deeply moving stories of mattering lost and regained. From burned-out employees to overwhelmed caregivers to people grappling with grief or struggling through a destabilizing transition, Mattering explores how our lives are transformed when we are reminded, in small and intentional ways, that we are valued and that we have value to offer. Wallace provides the essential elements to building what she calls our “mattering core”: recognizing your impact, being relied on (but not too much), feeling prioritized, and being truly known and invested in. Strengthening this core helps us reconnect to our sense of purpose, deepen our relationships, and navigate life’s uncertainties and challenges with greater resilience.

For readers of Brené Brown, David Brooks, and Adam Grant, Mattering is a rare, culture-shifting book that offers both a diagnosis and a remedy. With a clear road map and actionable takeaways, Wallace reveals how to unlock this powerful force within ourselves and how to build cultures of mattering in our homes, workplaces, and communities. 

Mattering is both a call to action and a blueprint for living a meaningful life and creating a world we so urgently need.

What matters.

Like. Such a good listen… helps with direct life experience support and communication. Delivery went well.

Nice but nothing new

Nice assembly of uplifting stories, but I was hoping for more discussion on how to find my own meaning in the world. What do you do when making others feel valued doesn’t work for you?

Beautiful idea, deftly woven.

My life and career in community development, physical and social, informed me about being a regular at third places and importance of connection. Even so, I wandered away. Thanks for bringing me back.

Meaningful change

The coherence and humanity in this writing is deeply moving. It’s possibly the most powerful book I’ve encountered on this topic. I am eager to share it with others and adopt the practical ideas in daily choices and habits. The dignity and compassion of the author has made a positive difference to me, and hopefully to each reader. This book feels like a light that has given clarity to an otherwise vague yet genuine social puzzle at different transitions in life. It has renewed my motivation and sense of purpose in relationships, with the gravitas of scientific research and the warmth of relatable stories. Thank you so very much for this gift.

The message

A sweet reminder that belonging is an active process of reciprocity—- letting one another know that who you are and they are matters.