PURPOSEFUL

Kelley explores the ubiquitous human quest for purpose in this nonfiction work.

“This eternal search for meaning and purpose,” writes the author, “is the crucible from which all human endeavor springs.” Yet, despite the centrality of the quest for purpose throughout human history, it remains one of life’s “most elusive and perplexing challenges.” Divided into three parts, this book surveys philosophical and spiritual responses to our understanding of life’s meaning, beginning with a historical overview that draws on ancient perspectives from China, Greece, and other civilizations. Kelley emphasizes the ways in which social, economic, and geographic factors influence views of purpose across time. In the next section of the book, the author examines the paradoxes and tensions between individual aspirations and societal progress, discussing, for example, the role of public policy in human flourishing. This portion of the work includes ample examples not only from pre-modern eras but from recent history as well, referencing the legacies of Nelson Mandela, Wangari Maathai, and others. The book’s final section addresses the present with a particular emphasis on what Kelley calls “Holistic Well-being,” which balances personal spiritual fulfillment (defined as an “alignment with universal principles”) and the “greater good,” recognizing the “interconnectedness of all things.” The book’s inspirational tone is supported by a wealth of rousing quotes scattered throughout by philosophers, poets, and activists. While much of the text evinces a detached scholarly approach as Kelley presents his analysis of spiritual and philosophical wisdom across the ages, the final section veers closer to self-help with its strategies for personal improvement. The author of multiple historical and philosophical works, Kelley writes in an accessible style that blends engaging anecdotes with sound research (backed by more than 400 footnotes). While the book offers astute analysis for readers well-versed in history and philosophy across its in-depth chapters, the conversational writing style (and glossary of philosophical and spiritual terminology) makes it a welcoming primer for neophytes as well.

A well-researched and absorbing overview of humanity’s universal quest for meaning.