Mattering - by Jennifer Breheny Wallace (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

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

"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

"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 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 has contributed to The Wall Street Journal and The Washington Post. After graduating from Harvard College, Jennifer began her journalism career in television at "60 Minutes". She lives in New York City with her husband and their three children.