Life Worth Living: A Guide to What Matters Most (Overview)

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What does it mean to live well? How should we approach life? How should we think about death? The authors of Life Worth Living: A Guide to What Matters Most don’t claim to have the answers, but they offer some possible answers based on the life philosophies of several great thinkers. Even if you disagree with their ideas, you can use them as a springboard for figuring out what you believe. Continue reading for an overview of this book that will get you thinking about what truly matters in life and how to translate those beliefs into action.

Fostering Individualism in the Workplace: 2 Musts for Managers

A white-haired bearded man dressed in a tie that is happy with individualism in the workplace.

Do you leverage the unique aspects of your employees, or do you expect them to conform to the norm? Do you value degrees over skills? In The End of Average, Todd Rose says that judging people in comparison to the average does significant damage to society when people abuse averages in the workplace. He asserts that, if employees can use their individual strengths at work, they’ll be more productive and fulfilled. Keep reading to learn the merits of individualism in the workplace.

What Is a Life Philosophy, and Why Should You Have One?

A man pondering what life philosophy is with a cityscape in the background.

What is a life philosophy? Do you have one? Should you? In Life Worth Living, Miroslav Volf, Matthew Croasmun, and Ryan McAnnally-Linz define the notion of a life philosophy. Then, they explain why you should have a life philosophy by exploring the value it can bring to your life. Read more to learn what a life philosophy is and why it’s important to have one.

Philosophy of Happiness: Utilitarians, Buddhists, & Oscar Wilde

Three cartoon smiling people with glasses representing the philosophy of happiness.

What’s your philosophy of happiness? Is it a goal or simply a byproduct of certain aspects of your life? In Life Worth Living, Miroslav Volf, Matthew Croasmun, and Ryan McAnnally-Linz discuss happiness in the context of your philosophy of life. They explain various perspectives on the role that happiness plays in life. Continue reading to understand these various philosophies and see where your values line up.

Promote Existential Well-Being Through Your Life Philosophy

A woman with high existential well-being as she smiles on a farm ranch.

Are you happy to be alive? Are you thriving or just surviving? In Life Worth Living, Miroslav Volf, Matthew Croasmun, and Ryan McAnnally-Linz argue that a good life philosophy promotes existential well-being. It inspires you to take actions that make you feel good about your existence given your beliefs about the purpose and significance of life on Earth. Keep reading to learn more about the argument these three Yale professors make.

Material Well-Being: Views of Aristotle, Buddhists, & Nietzsche

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What’s material well-being? How do different philosophies define it? In what sense do you have it? Yale professors Miroslav Volf, Matthew Croasmun, and Ryan McAnnally-Linz contend that one component of a good life philosophy is that it promotes material well-being. In their book Life Worth Living, they explain that different thinkers have different standards of material well-being. Keep reading to learn about these intriguing perspectives.

Perspectives on Moral Well-Being: How Do You Measure Virtue?

A young woman helping an older woman's moral well being by volunteering to help her grocery shop.

Do you believe that you’re essentially a good person? How do you measure your virtue? According to authors Miroslav Volf, Matthew Croasmun, and Ryan McAnnally-Linz, life is worth living when you have a good philosophy of life. A strong life philosophy promotes moral well-being—the sense that you’re generally a virtuous person—by defining right and wrong behaviors. Continue reading to learn about various perspectives on moral well-being.

Motivation for Living Life Well: How 4 Views of Death Can Help

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How do you view death? How can your belief about death motivate you to live your life well? What you believe about death affects the way you live your life, for good or for bad. Life Worth Living discusses what a few philosophers and religious traditions say about death and how these beliefs put life into perspective in various ways. Read more to learn how different views of death might give you motivation for living life well.

How to Fix Your Mistakes: Insights From Religious Traditions

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When you realize you’ve made a mistake, what’s the first thing you do? How do you make things better? Yale professors Miroslav Volf, Matthew Croasmun, and Ryan McAnnally-Linz wrote Life Worth Living as a guide to developing your own philosophy of life. But, even when you’re living a worthwhile and virtuous life, you’re bound to mess up. What you do next matters. Keep reading for some wisdom on how to fix your mistakes and move forward in a positive direction.

How to Make Changes in Your Life & Keep Up the Momentum

A cartoon of a man watering himself in a plant pot to make a change to his life.

Do you have trouble getting started with new life habits? Do you lose momentum and fail to make the changes stick? Life Worth Living discusses the importance of creating your own philosophy of life. When you glean a new piece of your life philosophy, it’s important to translate your newfound values into action. This might require making changes to your life or even to yourself, which can be an intimidating prospect. Continue reading to learn how to make changes in your life, drawing on insights from economists, literary greats, and religious traditions.