A review by tor601
The Power of Meaning: Crafting a Life That Matters by Emily Esfahani Smith

4.0

I was intrigued by the title of this book, but also worried that it would be yet another cheesy feel-good self-help book with obvious tips like "Be grateful" or "Be kind to others." Fortunately, this book was not mainstream or cheesy in any way. I really enjoyed how the author used research from many sources including religion, sociology, psychology, and medical studies to explore how we can live a life of purpose and meaning. According to the author, there are 4 themes of living a life of meaning. They are: belonging, purpose, storytelling, and transcendence. The author uses real life stories to demonstrate these 4 pillars. Some stories were a little involved and not as interesting to me, but I still feel that this book was worth reading -- it was thought-provoking, uplifting, and made me think about life in new ways.

The book also explores ways in which people can find meaning/a sense of purpose even in retirement and in the later years of life and describes the difference between a happy life and a meaningful one. This book has tons of interesting ideas and insights.