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Life on Purpose: How Living for What Matters Most Changes Everything
A pioneer in the field of behavioral science delivers a groundbreaking work that shows how finding your purpose in life leads to better health and overall happiness.
Your life is a boat. You need a rudder. But it doesn’t matter how much wind is in your sails if you’re not steering toward a harbor—an ultimate purpose in your life.
While the greatest philosophers have pondered purpose for centuries, today it has been shown to have a concrete impact on our health. Recent studies into Alzheimer’s, heart disease, stroke, depression, functional brain imaging, and measurement of DNA repair are shedding new light on how and why purpose benefits our lives.
Going beyond the fads, opinions, and false hopes of “expert� self-help books, Life on Purpose explores the incredible connection between purposeful living and the latest scientific evidence on quality of life and longevity. Drawing on ancient and modern philosophy, literature, psychology, evolutionary biology, genetics, and neuroscience, as well as his experience in public health research, Dr. Vic Strecher reveals the elements necessary for a purposeful life and how to acquire them, and outlines an elegant strategy for improving energy, willpower, and long-term happiness and wellbeing. He integrates these core themes into his own personal story—a tragedy that led him to reconsider his own life—and how a deeper understanding of purposeful living helped him not only survive, but thrive.
Illuminating, accessible, and authentically grounded in real people’s experiences, Life on Purpose is essential reading for everyone seeking lasting improvement in their lives.
Your life is a boat. You need a rudder. But it doesn’t matter how much wind is in your sails if you’re not steering toward a harbor—an ultimate purpose in your life.
While the greatest philosophers have pondered purpose for centuries, today it has been shown to have a concrete impact on our health. Recent studies into Alzheimer’s, heart disease, stroke, depression, functional brain imaging, and measurement of DNA repair are shedding new light on how and why purpose benefits our lives.
Going beyond the fads, opinions, and false hopes of “expert� self-help books, Life on Purpose explores the incredible connection between purposeful living and the latest scientific evidence on quality of life and longevity. Drawing on ancient and modern philosophy, literature, psychology, evolutionary biology, genetics, and neuroscience, as well as his experience in public health research, Dr. Vic Strecher reveals the elements necessary for a purposeful life and how to acquire them, and outlines an elegant strategy for improving energy, willpower, and long-term happiness and wellbeing. He integrates these core themes into his own personal story—a tragedy that led him to reconsider his own life—and how a deeper understanding of purposeful living helped him not only survive, but thrive.
Illuminating, accessible, and authentically grounded in real people’s experiences, Life on Purpose is essential reading for everyone seeking lasting improvement in their lives.
288 pages, Hardcover
First published May 10, 2016
362 people are currently reading
1,229 people want to read
About the author
Victor J. Strecher
9Ìýbooks28ÌýfollowersVic Strecher, Ph.D., M.P.H., is a professor at the University of Michigan’s School of Public Health and its Director for Innovation and Social Entrepreneurship. For over two decades, Vic has been a leader and visionary in the fields of health and well-being, creating new solutions that operate at the intersection of the science of behavior change and advanced technology.
A noted researcher and successful entrepreneur, Vic has cultivated a passion for connecting academic research to practical applications. In 1998, Vic created Health Media, pioneering web-based “digital health coaching.� The company set a new benchmark for scalable lifestyle and condition management program delivery. Health Media was acquired by Johnson & Johnson in 2008.
In late 2014, Vic founded JOOL Health Inc. as a major paradigm shift in how individuals engage in the pursuit of well-being while offering organizations a more insightful means to support positive, healthy change. Vic and his work have recently appeared in The Wall Street Journal, The Los Angeles Times, WIRED, The Chicago Tribune, and at TEDMED and TEDx events. He lives in Ann Arbor, Michigan, with his wife, Jeri.
A noted researcher and successful entrepreneur, Vic has cultivated a passion for connecting academic research to practical applications. In 1998, Vic created Health Media, pioneering web-based “digital health coaching.� The company set a new benchmark for scalable lifestyle and condition management program delivery. Health Media was acquired by Johnson & Johnson in 2008.
In late 2014, Vic founded JOOL Health Inc. as a major paradigm shift in how individuals engage in the pursuit of well-being while offering organizations a more insightful means to support positive, healthy change. Vic and his work have recently appeared in The Wall Street Journal, The Los Angeles Times, WIRED, The Chicago Tribune, and at TEDMED and TEDx events. He lives in Ann Arbor, Michigan, with his wife, Jeri.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 77 reviews
September 8, 2017
The book begins with a truly beautiful autobiographical telling of the loss of the author Victor Strecher's child, and the subsequent vitalization and insight that the experience of this awful and tragic loss eventually engendered.
I was really captured by this and I had high hopes for the rest of the book. And the book delivered. Up to a point.
The central premise of the book could be summarized as follows:
Getting clear about what really matters to you (clarifying your personal values) is important but difficult work.
Purpose and meaning in life are essential to mental health, well being, resilience, growth, and even to our very survival.
A purposeful, values driven life takes sustained effortful investment, necessitating what Strecher refers to as 'energy management' i.e. maximizing life practices that engender vitality.
Strecher uses the -SPACE- acronym (Sleep, Presence, Activity, Creativity, Eating) as a mnemonic reference for the activities that are most important to energy management.
Sleep: simply refers to the importance of ample restful sleep to the maintenance of high levels of energy. A basic but frequently ignored truth. Presence: refers to being mindfully engaged, committed and awake to the moment to moment, here and now experience of life. Activity: simply refers to exercise and physical conditioning. Creativity: is rather self explanatory, referring to the use of the imagination or generation of original ideas. Eating: refers to healthy diet.
In my opinion, all of the above is sound and useful.
But the book becomes somewhat discursive, and too frequently doubles as a vehicle for promoting Strecher's business ventures, and most egregiously, himself.
The book is funny at times, and Strecher is good natured, smart and charming, so I tried to overlook these flaws, but there were just a few too many.
Each instance of self promotion triggered my critical apparatus and threw me out of the narrative flow of the book, and that ended up being fatal to my receptivity and enjoyment of the text.
I don't fault the man for promoting his work. But the execution ultimately left me feeling chilly and vaguely suspicious.
So I have to give it three (almost four) stars.
CBNQ = close but not quite.
.
I was really captured by this and I had high hopes for the rest of the book. And the book delivered. Up to a point.
The central premise of the book could be summarized as follows:
Getting clear about what really matters to you (clarifying your personal values) is important but difficult work.
Purpose and meaning in life are essential to mental health, well being, resilience, growth, and even to our very survival.
A purposeful, values driven life takes sustained effortful investment, necessitating what Strecher refers to as 'energy management' i.e. maximizing life practices that engender vitality.
Strecher uses the -SPACE- acronym (Sleep, Presence, Activity, Creativity, Eating) as a mnemonic reference for the activities that are most important to energy management.
Sleep: simply refers to the importance of ample restful sleep to the maintenance of high levels of energy. A basic but frequently ignored truth. Presence: refers to being mindfully engaged, committed and awake to the moment to moment, here and now experience of life. Activity: simply refers to exercise and physical conditioning. Creativity: is rather self explanatory, referring to the use of the imagination or generation of original ideas. Eating: refers to healthy diet.
In my opinion, all of the above is sound and useful.
But the book becomes somewhat discursive, and too frequently doubles as a vehicle for promoting Strecher's business ventures, and most egregiously, himself.
The book is funny at times, and Strecher is good natured, smart and charming, so I tried to overlook these flaws, but there were just a few too many.
Each instance of self promotion triggered my critical apparatus and threw me out of the narrative flow of the book, and that ended up being fatal to my receptivity and enjoyment of the text.
I don't fault the man for promoting his work. But the execution ultimately left me feeling chilly and vaguely suspicious.
So I have to give it three (almost four) stars.
CBNQ = close but not quite.
.
July 1, 2016
Been reading alot of positive psychology books lately. As well as thinking quite a bit about what i want to do when I grow up. Am very interested in the science behind purpose and how having a purpose changes your life and even more importantly how to get focus on a purpose that makes sense and doesn't overwhelm you. Victor does a good job in the first part of my questions, a very bad job on the second. This book has a lot of his own science and research on the value of purpose in life, work, etc. He also spends quite a bit of time talking about the wonderful companies he has started to commercialize his work (one of which are now owned by Johnson and Johnson), all of which are focused on employee performance (the enterprise - where the money is). If you mostly care about purpose to drive your work career forward, you will find lots of justification for hiring his companies to do that for you in this book. In many ways, this book seems like a sales job for his enterprise software company, Jool Health.
If, on the other hand you are looking for some practical ways to develop purpose in your personal life, this book fails to deliver. While he proposes a framework of positive habits that support development of purpose : Sleep, Presence, Activity, Creativity, and Eating (SPACE), there are no detailed interventions only high level platitudes like "meditation is good" and "more sleep is good". The analysis and direction of how to develop purpose is missing. I actually thought that would be part of the book, but it is sorely lacking.
If you want to understand Strecher's framework for Purpose, read this book. If you are looking for how to develop or define purpose in your own life, go find another book.
Update/Clarification: After my review, the author reached out to understand my review and give some feedback. I was surprised and happy to have a further dialogue. There is one correction, he has only sold ONE company to J&J, not two. His new company JOOL Health was only mentioned three times, and he didn't feel it was the focus of the book (while the name was mentioned only a few times the entire framework justifies the existence of JOOL and that was my #1 impression after reading the book so my comment stands). He also was disappointed that I don't view the book as a guide to finding purpose in your own life based on scientifically supported treatments as that was a primary PURPOSE in writing the book. The proposed interventions are very general and not very actionable. I suspect JOOL health has a much more detailed, structured, science based program which unfortunately is hidden behind expensive enterprise software costs and the Human Resources department. I am looking for something that I can use in my life today. Right now. While it is clear Strecher has thought alot about this, the book doesn't give me a plan or a set of tools or a coaching framework that I can execute today going forward. While I surely can pick and choose a couple things out of the book to try, that would be haphazard at best. Why is it that the best ideas in Mental Health are locked away in universities and enterprise software companies while Mental Health remains the #1 medical condition in the world and the cure rates are among the lowest in any medical field? I was expecting a book that could bend that curve down, I don't think I found it.
If, on the other hand you are looking for some practical ways to develop purpose in your personal life, this book fails to deliver. While he proposes a framework of positive habits that support development of purpose : Sleep, Presence, Activity, Creativity, and Eating (SPACE), there are no detailed interventions only high level platitudes like "meditation is good" and "more sleep is good". The analysis and direction of how to develop purpose is missing. I actually thought that would be part of the book, but it is sorely lacking.
If you want to understand Strecher's framework for Purpose, read this book. If you are looking for how to develop or define purpose in your own life, go find another book.
Update/Clarification: After my review, the author reached out to understand my review and give some feedback. I was surprised and happy to have a further dialogue. There is one correction, he has only sold ONE company to J&J, not two. His new company JOOL Health was only mentioned three times, and he didn't feel it was the focus of the book (while the name was mentioned only a few times the entire framework justifies the existence of JOOL and that was my #1 impression after reading the book so my comment stands). He also was disappointed that I don't view the book as a guide to finding purpose in your own life based on scientifically supported treatments as that was a primary PURPOSE in writing the book. The proposed interventions are very general and not very actionable. I suspect JOOL health has a much more detailed, structured, science based program which unfortunately is hidden behind expensive enterprise software costs and the Human Resources department. I am looking for something that I can use in my life today. Right now. While it is clear Strecher has thought alot about this, the book doesn't give me a plan or a set of tools or a coaching framework that I can execute today going forward. While I surely can pick and choose a couple things out of the book to try, that would be haphazard at best. Why is it that the best ideas in Mental Health are locked away in universities and enterprise software companies while Mental Health remains the #1 medical condition in the world and the cure rates are among the lowest in any medical field? I was expecting a book that could bend that curve down, I don't think I found it.
July 31, 2021
I took the free online course
taught by this author, and this book is more or less a summary of his teaching. His young daughter had a rare side effect of chicken pox, heart damage, and survived two heart transplants until her untimely death at age 19. One of the ways he dealt with the grief was to help others (and himself) find a purpose in their lives.
taught by this author, and this book is more or less a summary of his teaching. His young daughter had a rare side effect of chicken pox, heart damage, and survived two heart transplants until her untimely death at age 19. One of the ways he dealt with the grief was to help others (and himself) find a purpose in their lives.
June 12, 2016
This is a beautiful book that gives you the main tools to build, keep and develop a purpose in life and have a healthy life, with lot of scientific(recent) and philosophical references.
February 8, 2018
If you are looking for a step by step book to help you find your purpose in life, then keep walking bucko, this book isn't for you.
If like me, you are wanting a coat hanger in which to hang some sciencey/philosophical 'stuff' on, then stick around.
Unlike others, I didn't come to this book thinking it would provide me the answers to finding my own purpose in life. I stumbled upon it and hit download because every year I select a word for the year, and this year (2018) my word happens to be 'purpose'.
A serendipitious find you might say? I thought so.
It was with an open mind that I approached this book and without preconceived ideas or expectations. Merely hoping it may teach me about the concept of purpose and it's importance to my life.
And that is exactly what it did.
If you like books that take a concept, find application for it across all facets of your life, uses science and philosophy to explore that concept deeper with a little bit of humour, then this is the book for you.
For the sake of authenticty, I listened to this book rather than read it, and found it very enjoyable. I found it had the right balance between research and personal journey, and am rather glad it came across my path.
It was an easy listen, yet challenging in content and I have gone back and listened to various chapters several times over, to make sure I came to grips with the knowledge presented and how it may apply to me.
In journeying with this book, I discovered I am a person that enjoys purpose. I don't like the arbitary, I don't like to do things without meaning, so perhaps it was always going to hit a nerve with me.
“For the unexamined life is not worth living.�
� Plato
If like me, you are wanting a coat hanger in which to hang some sciencey/philosophical 'stuff' on, then stick around.
Unlike others, I didn't come to this book thinking it would provide me the answers to finding my own purpose in life. I stumbled upon it and hit download because every year I select a word for the year, and this year (2018) my word happens to be 'purpose'.
A serendipitious find you might say? I thought so.
It was with an open mind that I approached this book and without preconceived ideas or expectations. Merely hoping it may teach me about the concept of purpose and it's importance to my life.
And that is exactly what it did.
If you like books that take a concept, find application for it across all facets of your life, uses science and philosophy to explore that concept deeper with a little bit of humour, then this is the book for you.
For the sake of authenticty, I listened to this book rather than read it, and found it very enjoyable. I found it had the right balance between research and personal journey, and am rather glad it came across my path.
It was an easy listen, yet challenging in content and I have gone back and listened to various chapters several times over, to make sure I came to grips with the knowledge presented and how it may apply to me.
In journeying with this book, I discovered I am a person that enjoys purpose. I don't like the arbitary, I don't like to do things without meaning, so perhaps it was always going to hit a nerve with me.
“For the unexamined life is not worth living.�
� Plato
February 15, 2020
Does a good job breaking down the goal of purposeful living into 5 distinct areas, and outlining a series of action items in each area. I don't think this book will get your life in order, but it certainly will help. Also - full disclosure on a personal note - the author is a man whose life has been forever affected by the untimely loss of his daughter Julia(!), so my personal experience with the book will obviously be different than most others'.
February 12, 2020
The first 6 or so chapters are solid. They deal with identifying life purpose and the benefits of doing so. The last half of the book focused waaaaaay to much on sleep, meditation, etc. Too boring, out there and woo wooo. I stopped listening to the audiobook book around chapter 9. 4 stars for the first half of the book, 0 stars for the second half. That averages out to 2 stars.
December 22, 2017
Very well written and presented. I did learn a lot from it, Thank you.
October 3, 2021
A worthy addition books on purpose. Fine insight and affirmation of what purpose can do.
December 27, 2023
Somewhat shallow book. Maybe a good intro book for someone who doesn't know much about these topics. Skimmed some chapters.
April 6, 2025
apply to make a small difference
Most relevant to my experiences in my own life and important to apply to make a difference. Glad to have read�
Most relevant to my experiences in my own life and important to apply to make a difference. Glad to have read�
May 1, 2017
I thought that this book was fantastic. If your purpose in reading this book is to turn the last page and all of a sudden have a clear purpose in your life, you will be disappointed. Victor clearly states that everyone will have a different purpose, and you need to actively attempt to find your own. If it isn't right the first time, then adjust your purpose!
The way that the concepts were taught from his own tragic experiences of his daughter's death, and through famous philosophers and scientists, made it seem very real and showed the timelessness of the struggle for, and virtues of, life purpose.
Some of the info on diet and exercise was a lot of what I already knew l, but I understand why it is in this book. I found the meditation section interesting, and have begun my own daily practice.
Overall, it was life changing for me. However I think that this is because I was personally ready for this book.
The way that the concepts were taught from his own tragic experiences of his daughter's death, and through famous philosophers and scientists, made it seem very real and showed the timelessness of the struggle for, and virtues of, life purpose.
Some of the info on diet and exercise was a lot of what I already knew l, but I understand why it is in this book. I found the meditation section interesting, and have begun my own daily practice.
Overall, it was life changing for me. However I think that this is because I was personally ready for this book.
January 1, 2019
If you want to read a book that potentially will change your life, then pick up this book, I still love to read this book. It is changing my life forever. I would recommend this book to anyone.
I have extracted from the book some paragraphs that I like best in order to introduce this good book to the readers. You can read these interesting quotes prior to making a decision to read the whole book....!
Thanks and Wish you and your family health and success.
I have extracted from the book some paragraphs that I like best in order to introduce this good book to the readers. You can read these interesting quotes prior to making a decision to read the whole book....!
Thanks and Wish you and your family health and success.
August 13, 2017
One of the best books I've read about guiding you to live a more meaningful and purposeful life. I enjoyed the practical tips, scientific evidence, personal stories, quotes and the philosophical background sprinkled throughout. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone wanting to find purpose in their life.
June 10, 2018
This book is not the usual dribble peddled by the religious folks talking about fulfilling a purpose from a book of fables aimed at oppression. Instead is a system to make sense of your life on your own terms by defining what is important to you. I wish I had this book as a child, a teenager, or in my 20s, 30s, and 40s. At least I have it now!
June 4, 2017
Vic Strecher did an excellent job of backing all his friendly advice with sound scientific research. This is an easy read with loads of highly useful and valuable information for bringing more meaning, purpose and overall well being into your life.
December 4, 2017
I'm rating this a 5 not for the writing necessarily, this book is an easy read, but for content. Strecher has pulled together a lot of research on the benefits of having a purpose in life. He uses his own personal tragedy as motivation and inspiration to share this work.
July 27, 2018
I got it at the library but I must own it. I loved it and cried so much. His daughter's story was very similar to my brother's story and the meaning his life and death brought to the lives of the people who loved him.
If you need an uplifting and enlightening quick read, here it is.
If you need an uplifting and enlightening quick read, here it is.
March 3, 2020
Literally everyone needs to read this book! A combination of real hands on tools and lots of research (and citations) to support the basic tenants that identifying and focusing on your purpose makes you happier AND healthier! Now I'm going to read it again with my highlighter!
August 17, 2020
I got a lot from reading this book. One of my favourite non-dictions for a while. Combining research, story, humour and personal tragedy/ triumph I connected with the concept of purpose in a fresh way. Highly recommend.
July 8, 2018
Life Changing
November 1, 2018
finding the purpose of your life will give you energy and fill your soul.
August 19, 2019
The book blurb makes this sound like something new and “ground breaking�. It really wasn’t, although it did have its good parts and overall I thought it provided positive advice on becoming more focused in your life. I thought this would be one of the more philosophical self-help books, and it started that way with deep-thought advice on finding a purpose in life. But it then took a dogleg turn to living a more healthy life, with pointers on diet and rest. The overall effect was more like reading a health guru than a behavior guru, not that that’s bad, but It didn’t quite jibe with my blurb-based expectations. I found the advice affirming enough, and I would add these to the pile of like-minded books that provide a mental energy refill reinforcing continual growth.
I’ll note a couple of points that I thought were very well done with this book. The author’s voice, his choice of words and the anecdotes he shares were very easy to listen to and agreeable. His anchor anecdotes are about his daughter’s struggle with health issues, and this was very compelling, emotional writing. I listened on audio and found myself sitting in my car in a parking lot to focus on listening to these stories. Having daughters similar in age to the author’s, this hit home. Lastly, I listened to the audio version of this book, narrated by R.C. Bray. The narrator’s voice is deep and gravelly, his pace is slow and thoughtful. I’ve listened to others done by Bray (“The Martian�, “Fat City�) and here he speaks slower and deeper. He comes across as a kind of a voice of wisdom, ala Sam Elliott, with some knowing humor. The narration made this book better.
I’ll note a couple of points that I thought were very well done with this book. The author’s voice, his choice of words and the anecdotes he shares were very easy to listen to and agreeable. His anchor anecdotes are about his daughter’s struggle with health issues, and this was very compelling, emotional writing. I listened on audio and found myself sitting in my car in a parking lot to focus on listening to these stories. Having daughters similar in age to the author’s, this hit home. Lastly, I listened to the audio version of this book, narrated by R.C. Bray. The narrator’s voice is deep and gravelly, his pace is slow and thoughtful. I’ve listened to others done by Bray (“The Martian�, “Fat City�) and here he speaks slower and deeper. He comes across as a kind of a voice of wisdom, ala Sam Elliott, with some knowing humor. The narration made this book better.
June 28, 2024
Written lightheartedly, hopeful and full of purpose. Victor J. Stretcher brings into the light a underlying thought many of whom feel, "What's my purpose?".
It's not a way to find your purpose but to enrich your life and guide it into the right direction of where and what you want your purpose to be. What I find interesting is the idea that the absurdity-boring-plain purpose doesn't matter but rather that you have one.
Victor brings in studies of the effects a person purpose has in their life as they deal with traumatic experiences, harsh upbringings, structured systems and the idea of post-traumatic growth. It brings into the idea on how having simply a purpose improves one's day to day life -- ranging from connections, sex, motivation, etc.. Not only does he bring in studies but references of his own experiences of travelling the world; meeting people brimmed of life yet deficit of the living standards many of us are privileged to have. Along as the death of his daughter, and how he had to learn to grieve and find a purpose after such affect.
Willpower! The case studies are extremely intriguing.
Ideas that fascinate me is eudaimonic and hedonic pleasures and the indulgence of hedonic compared to the efforts of striving for a eudaimonic goal.
But, Victor J. Stretcher throughout the novel consistently references Nietzsche's philosophy of the metamorphosis from a camel to a lion then finally a child. And I wonder, can I break the status quo for myself, untether standards, liberate myself from such ideals and live true to myself?
4.5/5 - Really interesting book, biased as it's my favourite genre to read.
It's not a way to find your purpose but to enrich your life and guide it into the right direction of where and what you want your purpose to be. What I find interesting is the idea that the absurdity-boring-plain purpose doesn't matter but rather that you have one.
Victor brings in studies of the effects a person purpose has in their life as they deal with traumatic experiences, harsh upbringings, structured systems and the idea of post-traumatic growth. It brings into the idea on how having simply a purpose improves one's day to day life -- ranging from connections, sex, motivation, etc.. Not only does he bring in studies but references of his own experiences of travelling the world; meeting people brimmed of life yet deficit of the living standards many of us are privileged to have. Along as the death of his daughter, and how he had to learn to grieve and find a purpose after such affect.
Willpower! The case studies are extremely intriguing.
Ideas that fascinate me is eudaimonic and hedonic pleasures and the indulgence of hedonic compared to the efforts of striving for a eudaimonic goal.
But, Victor J. Stretcher throughout the novel consistently references Nietzsche's philosophy of the metamorphosis from a camel to a lion then finally a child. And I wonder, can I break the status quo for myself, untether standards, liberate myself from such ideals and live true to myself?
4.5/5 - Really interesting book, biased as it's my favourite genre to read.
November 10, 2019
Picked up randomly from a visit to the library. Happened to be next to an author I've read before (Adam Grant), and said Grant was one of the people giving a review that made it onto the front cover. Cool, I thought. Let's give it a go.
The book is interesting, helpful, but mostly seemed like a cathartic experience for the author to get through the tragic experience of losing his daughter at 19, after what seemed a brief life of tribulations. I enjoyed the book, and Strecher did explain part of his purpose was to help out many, many people (I'm paraphrasing). I read it quickly, mostly because I was intrigued by the scope of material presented: for example, I never connected the two ideas of "assigning a purpose to one's life" and "getting enough sleep and eating the right foods", yet there they were, those two sections deep inside this book. It was nice, in part, to not have the heavy weight of psychology smacked against my brain, I'll admit.
The SPACE suggestions (Sleep, Presence, Activity, Creativity, and Eating) anchored (no pun intended for those of you who read the book and remember the main analogy presented throughout) the thesis nicely, and I'll be able to refer to those and understand their application in my life easily.
Good reference book to have, and refer to from time to time, when you're feeling a little misguided!
The book is interesting, helpful, but mostly seemed like a cathartic experience for the author to get through the tragic experience of losing his daughter at 19, after what seemed a brief life of tribulations. I enjoyed the book, and Strecher did explain part of his purpose was to help out many, many people (I'm paraphrasing). I read it quickly, mostly because I was intrigued by the scope of material presented: for example, I never connected the two ideas of "assigning a purpose to one's life" and "getting enough sleep and eating the right foods", yet there they were, those two sections deep inside this book. It was nice, in part, to not have the heavy weight of psychology smacked against my brain, I'll admit.
The SPACE suggestions (Sleep, Presence, Activity, Creativity, and Eating) anchored (no pun intended for those of you who read the book and remember the main analogy presented throughout) the thesis nicely, and I'll be able to refer to those and understand their application in my life easily.
Good reference book to have, and refer to from time to time, when you're feeling a little misguided!
February 8, 2018
There were times when I wanted everyone I know to read this book, and other times when I grew quite bored. Basically, the book is written to inform readers about the benefits of living with purpose and how one can inject more purpose into one's life. The author is well qualified to write the book as he works in the medical field and has studied the impact of purposeful living on hundreds of patients and clients. I found the parts where he talks about what purpose is and how it has helped people give their lives meaning very inspirational. In fact, I found myself making copious notes about my top values in an effort to refine my own sense of purpose. However, the second part of the book is devoted to aspects of a healthy lifestyle that support purpose but aren't about purpose itself. I found these parts repetitive and uninspiring.
In the end, I gave the book a four-star rating because I still believe the first part of the book offers great value. For anyone wishing to gain a clearer idea of his own top values and thus refine his own purpose in life, this book will surely not disappoint.
In the end, I gave the book a four-star rating because I still believe the first part of the book offers great value. For anyone wishing to gain a clearer idea of his own top values and thus refine his own purpose in life, this book will surely not disappoint.
May 21, 2020
A pioneer in the field of behavioral science and social entrepreneurship and a Professor at the University of Michigan School of Public Health; delivers a groundbreaking work that shows how finding your purpose in life leads to better health and overall happiness.
Your life is a boat. You need a rudder. But it doesn’t matter how much wind is in your sails if you’re not steering toward a harbor—an ultimate purpose in your life.
Going beyond the fads, opinions, and false hopes of “expert� self-help books, Life on Purpose explores the incredible connection between purposeful living and the latest scientific evidence on quality of life and longevity. Drawing on ancient and modern philosophy, literature, psychology, evolutionary biology, genetics, and neuroscience, as well as his experience in public health research, Dr. Vic Strecher reveals the elements necessary for a purposeful life and how to acquire them, and outlines an elegant strategy for improving energy, willpower, and long-term happiness, and well-being.
Life on Purpose is essential reading for everyone seeking lasting improvement in their lives.
Your life is a boat. You need a rudder. But it doesn’t matter how much wind is in your sails if you’re not steering toward a harbor—an ultimate purpose in your life.
Going beyond the fads, opinions, and false hopes of “expert� self-help books, Life on Purpose explores the incredible connection between purposeful living and the latest scientific evidence on quality of life and longevity. Drawing on ancient and modern philosophy, literature, psychology, evolutionary biology, genetics, and neuroscience, as well as his experience in public health research, Dr. Vic Strecher reveals the elements necessary for a purposeful life and how to acquire them, and outlines an elegant strategy for improving energy, willpower, and long-term happiness, and well-being.
Life on Purpose is essential reading for everyone seeking lasting improvement in their lives.
June 17, 2021
Audiobook duration: 5 hours 34 minutes
Narrator: R.C. Bray
This book was 90% great. It has some important lessons about how to find purpose in your life and what kind of personal growth that can lead to. The author shared his personal story of losing his daughter and how it affected him. It even had a moment of humor with the quote "Modern Aristotle would say listen to your heart, and don't act like Charlie Sheen". But then towards the end of the book, suddenly I was thrust into a chapter filled with diet advice and repeated suggestions to go to the author's website/download his app. It felt like an infomercial and delegitimized his sincerity. Then it picked back up into meditation, resilience, and post traumatic growth.
Regardless of the self advertising, the bottom line is to strive for Eudaimonia- finding happiness by pursuing meaningful and complex goals which affirm your core values.
Narrator: R.C. Bray
This book was 90% great. It has some important lessons about how to find purpose in your life and what kind of personal growth that can lead to. The author shared his personal story of losing his daughter and how it affected him. It even had a moment of humor with the quote "Modern Aristotle would say listen to your heart, and don't act like Charlie Sheen". But then towards the end of the book, suddenly I was thrust into a chapter filled with diet advice and repeated suggestions to go to the author's website/download his app. It felt like an infomercial and delegitimized his sincerity. Then it picked back up into meditation, resilience, and post traumatic growth.
Regardless of the self advertising, the bottom line is to strive for Eudaimonia- finding happiness by pursuing meaningful and complex goals which affirm your core values.
February 16, 2023
Life on Purpose is an enjoyable read. The main point is to argue for the value of living life with a sense of purpose and how this likely connects to higher wellbeing. A large portion of the book focuses on how to have more energy so that one can better act willfully on purpose. To this end, there's a focus on SPACE: Sleep, Presence, Activity, Creativity, and Eating.
The sweetest part of the book is probably Victor's autobiographical tale. I relate to his aspiration to treat his students as if they were his children in terms of the degree of support and care he offers. Which is practically speaking quite challenging, and yet the goal "shouldn't be restricted". Instead, the logistical constraints and prioritizations are in a different abstraction layer than the purpose.
The advice on purposes pretty much says anything goes. Something involving more than oneself seems advised.
The sweetest part of the book is probably Victor's autobiographical tale. I relate to his aspiration to treat his students as if they were his children in terms of the degree of support and care he offers. Which is practically speaking quite challenging, and yet the goal "shouldn't be restricted". Instead, the logistical constraints and prioritizations are in a different abstraction layer than the purpose.
The advice on purposes pretty much says anything goes. Something involving more than oneself seems advised.
April 15, 2019
This was a really great audiobook and had many different parts that were fascinating and interesting. Easy suggestions to incorporate into daily life that all lead towards help to find a purpose. It wasn't a book all about finding a purpose, but rather all of the different parts that lead towards helping find your purpose, or even a purpose. Things that include sleep, food, meditation, activity, etc.
What I really like is how Strecher is honest that purposes can change all of the time and that's okay. I found much of the information helpful and thought provoking. It is a book that I may listen to a few times and jot notes down as there were definite pointers that I wish I had written down.
What I really like is how Strecher is honest that purposes can change all of the time and that's okay. I found much of the information helpful and thought provoking. It is a book that I may listen to a few times and jot notes down as there were definite pointers that I wish I had written down.
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