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A review by saarahnina
The Power of Meaning: The true route to happiness by Emily Esfahani Smith
5.0
Read from 10/07/17 to 13/07/17
Valuable
In this book Emily Eshfani Smith explores the meaning of life. She writes with a discursive prose, and discusses the different themes which contribute towards a more meaningful, more fulfilled life. She dismisses the common idea that only happiness is significant, rather she introduces the idea that a deeper life comes from more than instant gratification or even just long term happiness. It comes from meaning. She delivers the core message that there are four pillars which amount to meaning: belonging (connections), purpose (identity), storytelling, and transcendence (humility, and an appreciation that there exists a world beyond and greater than oneself.)
This book will save you from browsing journals, researching, or listening to complicated philosophical discussions in your attempt to figure out how best to accomplish a meaningful lifestyle. Smith writes concisely, delivering a wide array of research from the field of science, philosophy and ethics -Kant, Aristotle, Viktar Frankl- and psychology and also religious perspectives - Sufism, Ghandi, the Buddha. As someone who studied Psychology and religion, I appreciated Smith's thorough exploration of topics including grief, legacy, death, suffering and ultimately, love and compassion. Also having studied William James and religious experiences, I already had an interest in mysticism and the meaningful lives that result from such experiences.
I found Smith's research to be impressive, and the lessons drawn from said research were easily understood. Though this is evidently a scholarly piece of work, you do not need to be a scholar to understand it as the language and terminology was defined.
In the Western world, we live such busy, distracted, lives. We often blindly obey, believing our choices to be made for us, or we just follow everyone else. We conform. Thus, we don't always get the chance to appreciate the questions which demand deep thought or we deliberately avoid such questions. This book takes you on that personal journey, guiding you and helping you answer the questions that so often lie dormant at the back of your mind.
I received this book through NetGalley.
Valuable
In this book Emily Eshfani Smith explores the meaning of life. She writes with a discursive prose, and discusses the different themes which contribute towards a more meaningful, more fulfilled life. She dismisses the common idea that only happiness is significant, rather she introduces the idea that a deeper life comes from more than instant gratification or even just long term happiness. It comes from meaning. She delivers the core message that there are four pillars which amount to meaning: belonging (connections), purpose (identity), storytelling, and transcendence (humility, and an appreciation that there exists a world beyond and greater than oneself.)
This book will save you from browsing journals, researching, or listening to complicated philosophical discussions in your attempt to figure out how best to accomplish a meaningful lifestyle. Smith writes concisely, delivering a wide array of research from the field of science, philosophy and ethics -Kant, Aristotle, Viktar Frankl- and psychology and also religious perspectives - Sufism, Ghandi, the Buddha. As someone who studied Psychology and religion, I appreciated Smith's thorough exploration of topics including grief, legacy, death, suffering and ultimately, love and compassion. Also having studied William James and religious experiences, I already had an interest in mysticism and the meaningful lives that result from such experiences.
I found Smith's research to be impressive, and the lessons drawn from said research were easily understood. Though this is evidently a scholarly piece of work, you do not need to be a scholar to understand it as the language and terminology was defined.
In the Western world, we live such busy, distracted, lives. We often blindly obey, believing our choices to be made for us, or we just follow everyone else. We conform. Thus, we don't always get the chance to appreciate the questions which demand deep thought or we deliberately avoid such questions. This book takes you on that personal journey, guiding you and helping you answer the questions that so often lie dormant at the back of your mind.
I received this book through NetGalley.