Frank Martela’s A Wonderful Life is getting amazing praise in the US before publication!

“A brilliant and charming book that tackles the grandest questions of life in plain terms, with humor and insight…full of anecdotes, history, thoughtfulness, perspective, and entertaining discourse. If you have any curiosity about the meaning of life—and who doesn’t?—this book is a refreshing and important resource.”

— Roy F. Baumeister, Author of New York Times bestseller WillpowerThe Power of Bad, and Meanings of Life

 

Finnish scholar Frank Martela, from the Happiest Country in the World,  answers life’s most pressing questions, in a relaxed conversational tone, such as:

  • Is happiness a worthy goal?
  • What is the foundation for meaning in a secular society?
  • Is life an existential void?

Part prescriptive and part armchair philosophy book, A WONDERFUL LIFE is accessible to everyone, from the well-read scholar to the apprentice as well as anyone curious about how to extract the greatest meaning and sense of purpose from their existence.

Advance Praise for A Wonderful Life by Frank Martela

“The search for life’s meaning is perhaps the most important quest we can undertake. And for any quest, it’s essential to have a guide. Philosophically probing yet eminently readable, A Wonderful Life  is a book you can refer to again and again on your journey toward purpose.”

 Daniel H. Pink,  New York Times bestselling author of  When, Drive, To Sell Is Human, and A Whole Mind

“We are happiest not when we have more things or accolades but when we have more meaning, research shows. A Wonderful Life is a witty and inspirational guidebook to helping you live a life of meaning. By expertly drawing on psychology, philosophy and literature, his book will entertain you as much as it enriches you.”

 Emma Seppala, author of The Happiness Track, Science Director, Stanford Center For Compassion And Altruism Research And Education. CoDirector Wellness, Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence

“This book is not only a delight to read, but it is a tour-de-force of research. Martela brings together some of the most fascinating ideas from history, philosophy, and psychology to address the most urgent question of all: What makes life meaningful? Too many people today doubt that their lives matter. In this uplifting and thoughtful work, Martela offers practical tips for we can each find more meaning in our lives.”

 Emily Esfahani Smith, author of The Power of Meaning: Finding Fulfillment in a World Obsessed With Happiness

 

Rights sold:

UNITED STATES: HarperCollins/Harper Design (orig.)
CROATIA: Planetopija
ESTONIA: Rahva Raamat
FINLAND: Gummerus
JAPAN: HarperCollins Japan
KOREA: Across Publishing
NETHERLANDS: Ambo Anthos
NORWAY: Gursli Berg Forlag
RUSSIA: Bombora

Reading material:
Full English pdf

 

 

Harper Design ∙ On Sale: March 24, 2020 ∙ Hardcover ∙ 200 pages

Read more about the author herewww.frankmartela.com • #AWonderfulLife • @f_Martela

About author


Frank Martela

Professor Frank Martela, PhD, is a philosopher and researcher of psychology specializing in the question of meaning in life. His articles have appeared in Scientific American Mind, Harvard Business Review, Salon, CNBC and his work has been featured on Quartz and on the BBC. His research has been published extensively in numerous academic journals such as Nature Human Behaviour, Perspectives on Psychological Science, Journal of Personality, Metaphilosophy, Southern Journal of Philosophy, and Academy of Management Review. He has spoken to more than one hundred audiences worldwide, including invited lectures in universities on five continents, including Stanford University and Harvard University. He’s been interviewed by the New York Times, Discover Magazine, New Scientist, Vice News, Fox News, and Monocle Observer among others. He is Assistant Professor at Aalto University in Finland.

Outside of work, Frank is a father to three lovely children, an amateur-level soccer player, with an occasional skiing trip in the winters. He is made in Green Bay, so Packers holds a special place in his heart.

Bibliography


2023, Personal Growth & Lifestyle

The Meaning Manifesto: Why Work Needs to Have a Purpose

Frank Martela


2020, Personal Growth & Lifestyle

A Wonderful Life: Insights on Finding a Meaningful Existence

Frank Martela