Start Making Sense

“Thought-provoking…An illuminating proposal for how to live today.”—Publishers Weekly

"A beautiful, deep, thoughtful book. Start Making Sense is for anyone who has asked themselves: yes, yes — but what is the meaning of my existence? That's everyone, I think —​ ​including me. Steve Heine, a pioneer in the new field of existential psychology, offers no glib prescriptions. Instead, Heine probes the evolutionary origins and contemporary implications of our species' hard-wired need for meaning. Will you know what to do with the rest of your life after reading this book? Maybe not. But as Heine so beautifully argues, sometimes understanding the questions is even more important."—Angela Duckworth, New York Times-bestselling author of Grit

“In Start Making Sense, Heine reveals the hidden centrality of ‘meaning’ in human life as he harvests the first fruits from the new field of existential psychology. In communities with historically unprecedented levels of wealth, health and security, what many of the dislocated and depressed need is not more drugs or counseling per se—though those can help, as he notes—they hunger for meaning in their lives. In this new Age of Anxiety, what we all need is not boundless opportunities but a story that weaves us into both a thick social network of friends and a rich cultural tapestry, one that conveys to us why we want to get up every day. In this important book, Heine has put his finger on what might be the most pernicious plague of our times.”—Joseph Henrich, author of The WEIRDest People in the World

"Given their increased wealth, leisure time, and lifespan modern Westerners should be the happiest people ever to have lived, and yet instead anxiety and depression appear to be on the rise. Heine, one of the pioneers of the psychology of meaning, argues that a root problem is a loss of identity and purpose. This book offers accounts of why this might happen as well as strategies for re-gaining our existential footing.”—Edward Slingerland, author of Drunk

"Heine is a sage guide in a world that increasingly feels meaningless. Start Making Sense is essential reading for anyone seeking to understand the science behind our psychological need for purpose and meaning—and how these needs can be met through connectedness and cultural narratives. Through a rich tapestry of stories, studies, spirituality, and philosophy, Heine offers a clear and compelling vision for leading a meaningful life amid the complexities of the modern world."—Michael Muthukrishna, London School of Economics

"Start Making Sense should be a college read for all students and for anyone worrying about what counts as a meaningful life and how to live one.  Heine is a pre-eminent social and cultural psychologist who brings the science to these timeless existential questions. He shows how variable the answers can be and how much they matter for health, happiness and well-being. The result is a bold, accessible and inspiring book."—Hazel Markus, Stanford University