Mattering - by Jennifer Breheny Wallace (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

AN INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER

"A timely, vitally important read." -- Adam Grant, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Think Again and host of the podcast Re: thinking

"Beautifully written and deeply felt. Wallace gives readers the insights we need to understand each other, and the actions we can take to enhance each other's lives."-- Susan Cain, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Bittersweet and Quiet

"Mattering is an essential guide for how to restore meaning, comfort, and joy to our lives." -- Vivek Murthy, MD, MBA, 19th and 21st Surgeon General of the United States

From award-winning journalist and bestselling author Jennifer Wallace comes Mattering--a landmark book that introduces a transformative new framework to confront the loneliness, burnout, and lack of purpose so many of us face today.

In this groundbreaking work, Wallace makes an urgent case: mattering--the feeling that we are valued and have an opportunity to add value--is a core human need, as essential to our well-being as food and water. And yet, in today's world, that fundamental need is going unmet, with perilous consequences. As mental and social health crises surge, we often blame social media, the pace of modern life, and polarizing politics. But beneath these issues lies a deeper crisis, what Wallace calls "an erosion of mattering."

With her signature warmth and insight, Wallace weaves together research and deeply moving stories of mattering lost and regained. From burned-out employees to overwhelmed caregivers to people grappling with grief or struggling through a destabilizing transition, Mattering explores how our lives are transformed when we are reminded, in small and intentional ways, that we are valued and that we have value to offer. Wallace provides the essential elements to building what she calls our "mattering core" recognizing your impact, being relied on (but not too much), feeling prioritized, and being truly known and invested in. Strengthening this core helps us reconnect to our sense of purpose, deepen our relationships, and navigate life's uncertainties and challenges with greater resilience.

For readers of Brené Brown, David Brooks, and Adam Grant, Mattering is a rare, culture-shifting book that offers both a diagnosis and a remedy. With a clear road map and actionable takeaways, Wallace reveals how to unlock this powerful force within ourselves and how to build cultures of mattering in our homes, workplaces, and communities. 

Mattering is both a call to action and a blueprint for living a meaningful life and creating a world we so urgently need.

Review Quotes

"Everybody should pick up a copy of Mattering...if you're looking for deep connection and purpose." -- Oprah Winfrey

"By turns earnest and lighthearted, this best-selling book contains a simple, necessary message about the importance of decency and kindness." -- The New York Times

"Something about Wallace's undeniable sincerity got to me. In her conversations with a firefighter, a sanitation worker, a farmer, executives, educators, parents, and retired people, she's genuinely curious about how they've come to understand that they matter." -- Ron Charles

"Journalist Jennifer Breheny Wallace lays out a framework for true mattering." -- The Boston Globe

"A lot of people don't need another goal -- they need to feel like they actually count. Mattering goes straight at the quiet stuff driving burnout and drift: feeling invisible, disconnected, and stuck on autopilot. Wallace lays out concrete ways to rebuild connection and purpose -- [Mattering is] a reset of your life." -- Brad Thor, The TODAY Show

"I love (Mattering) on so many layers and levels because it's relatable to any age group."
--Tamron Hall

"Mattering is one of those rare books that hits both the head and the heart. Jennifer Wallace weaves beautiful storytelling with rigorous science into a compelling call-to-action on how to build a meaningful life. This is an urgent, culture-shifting book that will fundamentally impact the way you live, lead, and love."
-- Sahil Bloom, New York Times bestselling author of The 5 Types of Wealth

"Too many of us feel disconnected, even from the people we love. Mattering is a powerful guide to restoring closeness in our relationships, cultivating compassion for ourselves, and creating the deep connections we all crave."
-- Lori Gottlieb, New York Times bestselling author of Maybe You Should Talk to Someone and New York Times "Ask The Therapist" columnist

"With thoughtful analysis and heartfelt stories, Jennifer Wallace helps us understand what is at the root of so many of our modern day struggles. At a time when so many people are feeling invisible, Mattering is an essential guide for how to restore meaning, comfort, and joy to our lives."
-- Vivek Murthy, MD, MBA. 19th and 21st Surgeon General of the United States

"This book is a road map for living a happy and fulfilled life. It will not only deepen your relationships, it will also change how you see yourself. Mattering should be required reading for everyone!"
-- Ina Garten, New York Times bestselling author of The Barefoot Contessa Cookbooks and Be Ready When the Luck Happens: A Memoir

"Why do so many people feel adrift and purposeless these days--and what can be done to address this problem? In this powerful and persuasive book, Jennifer Wallace explains why mattering plays such an essential role in a happy life. With cutting-edge research, deep insight, and real-life stories, Wallace explores how we can bring more mattering into our own lives."
-- Gretchen Rubin, New York Times bestselling author of The Four Tendencies and Better Than Before

"The most consequential book I have encountered in years, Mattering is a big idea laid out in fine, persuasive detail where something as simple as a clementine will tell you everything you need to know about flourishing."
-- Kelly Corrigan, New York Times bestselling author of The Middle Place and Tell Me More

About the Author

Jennifer Breheny Wallace is an award-winning journalist and author of the New York Times bestselling book Never Enough: When Achievement Culture Becomes Toxic--and What We Can Do About It, which was named an Amazon Best Book of the Year. Wallace began her journalism career at CBS's 60 Minutes and is a contributor to The Wall Street Journal and The Washington Post. She lives in New York City.