3 New Books to Help You Find Meaning and Purpose

Believing every one of us has a specific purpose is a powerful motivator, inspiring us to see our lives as narrative arcs. In her new book, The Path Made Clear, Oprah makes a strong case for seeing your own journey through this lens. She truly believes we’re all made to perform unique miracles, an idea that clears away the mundane clutter of our daily lives and demands more of us.
If you’re like me, the idea of performing miracles is also little intimidating—but it doesn’t have to be. Oprah draws wisdom from the relationships she’s cultivated with thinkers, visionaries, and wise people from around the world. She asks questions that tease out the lessons others have learned and shares them with those of us who might be living more humble lives. In the pages of Path, Brené Brown, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Eckhart Tolle, and others offer wisdom gleaned from their own journeys. The book is organized into ten chapters that serve as guideposts for those who are struggling to evolve. And a valuable discussion of detours helps readers know they’re growing—even when life is messy or the way forward is unclear. That’s just the kind of every day miracle Oprah performs.

Part of what makes finding meaning and purpose so difficult is there are so many ways we can seek to do it. We might do deep personal work. We might grow a family. We might lead a city through a crisis or head up a classroom. Everything from writing a book to praying in solitude can bring meaning to our lives and the wider world. Writer and commentator David Brooks has thought deeply about how to blend these commitments into a coherent whole that feels personal and full of purpose. In his new book, The Second Mountain, he encourages readers to understand their calling in life and engage with their world. His words will resonate with everyone from graduates to grandparents, but his real aim goes beyond individual readers. He hopes to infuse our entire society with more meaning and purpose.
The book left me with a powerful image in Brooks’ description of two mountains. Those who are striving for fame, security, or validation are on a mountain they’ll never stop climbing—or if they do reach the top, they’ll realize the accomplishment feels hollow and unsatisfying. Life is really about climbing off that mountain and onto a different one, where, decision by decision, we build meaningful lives. Our days are driven less by outer markers of success and more by how we can serve others. On that second mountain, we begin a quest to focus on others through work, faith, family, and service to the community.
There’s something so reassuring about focusing less on proving ourselves and more on what good we can do in the world. It takes the pressure off in the same way that it can be easier to socialize while hosting an event than to mingle as one of its guests. Being of service naturally gives our lives meaning.

No one can say Melinda Gates hasn’t had an impact on the world; she’s devoted much of her life to serving in powerful ways. In The Moment of Lift, she argues that if we lift up women, we will lift the entire world, including the people most desperately in need. As she details the issues women around the world face, including everything from child marriage to harassment, it’s impossible not to feel inspired to take action. If you’re not sure where to get started, Gates offers issues that will call to those on the second mountain.  She encourages readers to join the movement in her new book, part manifesto, part memoir, and part call to action. We don’t need to be perfect to begin. We don’t need to become bodhisattvas to find purpose. We need simply to reflect, focus on what matters, and when the path curves, swerve toward meaning, service, and connection.
Seeing this little stack of books on my bedside table reminds me to let go of the mundane and envision my goals for the next day in a deeper way. Some days I journal chapter by chapter. Other days, I dig more deeply into a specific author’s ideas. But wherever I am in the process, I feel reassured by their wise words. And I like knowing someone out there is thinking about making this world a more meaningful place, just like I am.