What Do You Want Out of Life?: A Philosophical Guide to Figuring Out What Matters

A short guide to living well by understanding better what you really valueand what to do when your goals conflict

What do you want out of life? To make a lot of moneyor work for justice? To run marathonsor sing in a choir? To have childrenor travel the world? The things we care about in lifefamily, friendship, leisure activities, work, our moral idealsoften conflict, preventing us from doing what matters most to us. Even worse, we dont always know what we really want, or how to define success. Blending personal stories, philosophy, and psychology, this insightful and entertaining book offers invaluable advice about living well by understanding your values and resolving the conflicts that frustrate their fulfillment.

Valerie Tiberius introduces you to a way of thinking about your goals that enables you to reflect on them effectively throughout your life. She illustrates her approach with vivid examples, many of which are drawn from her own life, ranging from the silly to the serious, from shopping to navigating prejudice. Throughout, the book emphasizes the importance of interconnectedness, reminding us of the profound influence other people have on our lives, our goals, and how we should pursue them. At the same time, the book offers strategies for coping with obstacles to realizing your goals, including gender bias and other kinds of discrimination.

Whether you are changing jobs, rethinking your priorities, or reconsidering your whole life path, What Do You Want Out of Life? is an essential guide to helping you understand what really matters to you and how you can thoughtfully pursue it.