The Four Purposes of Life: Finding Meaning and Direction in a Changing World [Hardcover]

Dan Millman (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 1, 2011

The Four Purposes of Life was born from Dan Millman's decades-long search to make sense of life. He distills decades of experience into a concise map of the journey -- the full scope of what we're each here to accomplish here on planet Earth. 

It puts together, for the first time, essential elements from the "peaceful warrior teachings" in their full and proper context --- providing a burst of clarity to bring our lives into sharper focus.  This backstage tour of life begins with the proposition that we are here to fulfill (not one but) four purposes:

1. Learning Life's Lessons
2. Finding Your Career and Calling
3. Fulfilling Your Hidden Life Path
4. Attending to This Arising Moment

A few highlights include:

• the higher purpose of daily life
• twelve required lessons in the school of life
• how to make better decisions in career and relationships
• the qualities of leadership no matter who you are
• a mysterious system to clarifying your hidden calling
• keys to mastering the most important purpose of all

Prepare for a quantum leap in self-knowledge, insight, and wisdom to light your way, expand your awareness, and improve the quality of your life. The seeds planted by this remarkable book will bear fruit for years to come.

Editorial Reviews

Review

“Once again, Dan Millman provides us with keys to a well-lived life. This is a lovely read, filled with meaningful insight.”
— Marianne Williamson, author of A Return to Love

“A wonderful book with extremely helpful practices for finding one’s authentic purpose. Highly recommended!”
— Ken Wilber, author of The Integral Vision

“Dan’s new book offers concise and practical guidance for living a meaningful life with a clear sense of purpose.”
— Deepak Chopra, author of The Soul of Leadership

“Leave it to Dan Millman to come up with a way of making purposeful decisions and helping us see deeply into the center of each moment...a graceful and wise book.”
— Elizabeth Lesser, cofounder of Omega Institute and author of Broken Open

“A refreshingly practical yet profound approach to living your sacred calling.”
— Peter Russell, author of From Science to God

“Dan Millman reminds us of the power of our essential humanity, how to touch it and use it to make this a better world.”
— Thom Hartmann, author of The Last Hours of Ancient Sunlight

“This book skillfully delivers on its promise of bringing renewed meaning and purpose — for anyone seeking clear directions at one of life’s crossroads.”
— Ken Dychtwald, author of A New Purpose

“During one of the darkest periods of my life, Dan’s writing in Way of the Peaceful Warrior extended a hand to me and helped pull me into the light. Dan is the personification of ‘love, laugh, live, and give,’ as you will see in his new book, The Four Purposes of Life. In this book, he does it again as only he can.”
— Quincy Jones

“Dan Millman, a great teacher, shares important rules to help people everywhere improve their lives, find their passion, do what they love, and live with inspiration.”
— Don Miguel Ruiz, author of The Four Agreements

From the Author

When someone asks me to name my favorite among all the books I've written,  I ask them what a parent of three or four or six children might say if asked to name their favorite, and they get the point: I love them all. No one is better, only different.

Certainly my first, or signature book, Way of the Peaceful Warrior, is best known, and close to my heart. Yet each book provides its own unique facets. And yet . . . and yet . . . I do have a special feeling about The Four Purposes of Life.  Because it truly delivers on the promise of its subtitle -- "finding meaning and direction in a changing world." 

This book, which offers hope as well as encouraging reminders, is both timely and timeless, exploring and answering deep (yet often unasked) questions at the core of our lives:  What am I here to do? What do I really want?  Is getting what I want going to take me to where I want to be? And finally, What is the purpose of my life?

This book contains some important elements from earlier books, but for the first time places them in their proper context.  After reading it once, and even again, most readers will experience a quantum leap in wisdom and perspective that can last a lifetime.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 168 pages
• Publisher: HJ Kramer/New World Library; First Edition edition (April 1, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1932073493
• ISBN-13: 978-1932073492
• Product Dimensions: 7.4 x 5.2 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #24,870 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Most people who've read Way of the Peaceful Warrior (or seen the movie) already know a few aspects of my life. But here are some personal notes: I love to teach; so over the years I've honed writing and speaking skill in order to share what I've learned with others. I consider myself blessed to have my books embraced by so many people around the world.

Joy and I have been married for 35 years and we grow closer each day, it seems, as we gain perspective and cultivate a sense of humor (about ourselves and one another). I'm a proud dad of three grown daughters and two grandsons so far.

I believe you'd find me a good (but not perfect) example of what I teach; I continue to learn, grow, and practice. I have my head in the clouds but feet on the ground.

For more info about my books and seminars, please visit www.peacefulwarrior.com, sign up for my eList, follow me on Facebook or Twitter, or just google peaceful warrior.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

33 of 34 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This simple and profound little guide provides wise advice on how to create a more meaningful life, April 3, 2011

By 

Alain B. Burrese "Author, Speaker, Mediator, ... (Missoula, MT) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Four Purposes of Life: Finding Meaning and Direction in a Changing World (Hardcover)

There is an old saying, "When the student is ready, the teacher will appear." In the case of Dan Millman's newest book, "The Four Purposes of Life: Finding Meaning and Direction in a Changing World" it is more like, when the student is ready, the lesson will appear. I say this because I have been a fan of Millman's books and teachings since the 1980s when I read "Way of the Peaceful Warrior." I've studied his teachings, and they have influenced my own.

I've also known that this book was coming out in 2011 for quite some time, and looked forward to adding it to my library. What I didn't know was this book was for anyone seeking deeper insight into themselves and their lives, but especially for those at a crossroads, facing a challenge or change, when "business as usual" no longer applies. Just this week I embarked upon a new journey where I will face unique challenges as I accepted a position as an Executive Director of a not for profit organization that fulfills two (satisfying work and providing a useful service) of the three needs Millman discusses in the chapter on finding your career and calling. One of my challenges is to lead the organization to a place where the third need (financial income or good money) will be realized.

"The Four Purposes of Life" is a small hardcover book that contains a simple, yet profound message. Simple in that is it easy to read, and that Millman has the ability to describe complex ideas in language that make the ideas easier to grasp and implement into one's life. Profound in the fact that contemplation on the ideas presented in this short guide can have an enormous impact on one's life.

The four areas, or purposes, covered include learning life's lessons, finding your career and calling, discovering your life path, and attending to this arising moment. Each of these chapters provides insight, guidance, and stimulus to think about your own path and where you will go from here. The third purpose, discovering your life path, is a short course on the Life Purpose System that Millman detailed in his book "The Life You Were Born to Live." This system is based on your birth number, and there is an appendix to assist you with determining yours, or you can go to Millman's website to find your number. The fourth purpose, attending to this arising moment, is something Millman has written about before as well, but this chapter really hit home as I was reading it this morning. It is good to be reminded that there are no ordinary moments, and I just may reread Millman's book of that title for some deeper contemplation on this topic.

Each of us has a different path to follow, and Millman has that rare ability to offer practical guidance and insights regardless of one's chosen path. This simple and profound little guide provides wise advice on how to create a more meaningful life. The wisdom in these pages will not only help you find the passion to improve your life, but provides the inspiration to do it now.

Reviewed by Alain Burrese, J.D., a regular column on negotiation for The Montana Lawyer.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Best Book Yet!!!, March 29, 2011

By 

David L. Cairns "Courage and Love Training" (Vancouver, WA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Four Purposes of Life: Finding Meaning and Direction in a Changing World (Hardcover)

While Dan Millman has written four(4)inspirational novels, eight(8) guidebooks, an inspirational book and two(2) children's books this book is his best, most complete book to date. It takes the best from each of the 8 guidebooks and distills them to the essence of the message. This is a book that I will give to friends and student's much as I have given away "Way of the Peaceful Warrior". It is truly a book that enables you to "find meaning and direction in a changing world".

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Dan's most concise teachings in one book, April 1, 2011

By 

Martin Adams (California, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Four Purposes of Life: Finding Meaning and Direction in a Changing World (Hardcover)

I've been a dedicated follower of Dan's teachings for the past ten + years, and for good reasons: they exude excellence, clarity and compassion in a way rarely found in this world. So I naturally have high standards when it comes to Dan's work, and I'm pleased to say that this book exceeded even these expectations.

In this book in particular, I sense a spiritual maturity and clarity that can probably only come from a long life well lived; I can't quite put my finger on why I have this particular impression: it could be the style, the 'tightness' of the prose (every word in The Four Purposes seems to have a purpose in itself as well!) or simply the energy resonance I sense between the lines. Either way, it's a gem of a book. It also distills most of Dan's teachings into a concise format -- all these years, all the different directions the author explored, have been brought together into a single framework, and that's what I love about this book as well.

I sense this book in particular can be a great introductory book for newcomers to Dan's work as well. Highly recommend it.