The Meaning of Your Life

Finding Purpose in an Age of Emptiness

By: Arthur C Brooks

Narrated by: Arthur C Brooks

Brought to you by Penguin.

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. 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.

© Arthur C Brooks 2026 (P) Penguin Audio 2026

Critic reviews

My friend Arthur C. Brooks clearly articulates how to live a meaningful, compassionate and purposeful life

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.

Arthur has shaped the way I see, the way I pray and the way I interact with students on a daily basis.

Every conversation I have with Arthur leaves me with a clearer perspective on what it means to live a meaningful life.

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

If you really want a change in your life and are seeking deeper meaning, congratulations. You have found the perfect book.