Publisher Description
In a series of essays that explore the notion of what brings significance to our existences, clarifying why we have this longing beyond the present moment and an insatiable dissatisfaction with where we are, scholar Frank Martela tackles the subject of finding meaning in life.
With beautiful decorative elements and an engaging design, the book approaches its subject in a readily digestible form. It grapples with some of life’s most pressing questions, like "Is happiness a worthy goal?" and "What is the foundation for meaning in a secular society?" and "Is life an existential void?" yet Martela answers these questions and more in a relaxed, conversational tone and with a wry sense of humor, placing some of life’s greatest philosophical concerns and quandaries into a modern-day context.
Martela quickly and concisely gets to the heart of the matter: your place in the world and how to find meaning in life as countless thinkers and philosophers have done before, yet the emphasis here is on what we do with the life we have and how we can make it more meaningful. Part prescriptive and part armchair philosophy book, A Wonderful Life is accessible to everyone, from the well-read scholar to the apprentice as well as anyone curious about how to extract the greatest meaning and sense of purpose from their existence.
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About Frank Martela
Frank Martela, PhD, is a philosopher and researcher of psychology specializing in the question of meaning in life. He has written three books for the general audience in Finnish, currently writes a monthly column for Helsingin Sanomat, the largest newspaper in Finland, and has appeared on Finland’s largest television and radio stations. His work has been published in numerous academic journals such as Journal of Personality, Journal of Positive Psychology, Journal of Happiness Studies, Metaphilosophy, Southern Journal of Philosophy, Motivation & Emotion, and Organization Studies. A popular speaker, he has done a Tedx Talk, and given invited speeches to more than 100 different organizations worldwide, including multinational corporations, ministries, universities, and conferences. He has been published in Scientific American Mind and Salon, his work has been featured in Quartz and on the BBC, and he’s been interviewed for the New York Times, Fitness, Vice News, and Monocle Observer. He is currently based at Aalto University, Helsinki.