The Search for Meaning [Paperback]

Thomas Naylor (Author), Magdalena R. Naylor (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 1997

A economist, a pastor, and a psychiatrist join forces to encourage readers to examine their lives and themselves intellectually, emotionally, and spiritually, and to examine seriously and systematically the why of our existence. "A good job. . . . A quest for meaning cannot be conducted without some reference to an ultimate concern."--James M. Wall, Christian Century.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

This book grew out of an undergraduate seminar at Duke University, taught during Operation Desert Storm by an economist and a theologian; later, a psychiatrist from Warsaw joined the seminar faculty. These authors present very clearly not only the meaninglessness, alienation, and acquisitiveness of modern life but also its consequences--orthodoxy, hedonism, narcissism, and health fetishism. Believing that being, rather than having, is the key to meaning, the authors discuss meaningful work, helpful tools in the search for meaning (e.g., psychotherapy, literature, art, religion, education), and the development of soul. This book never imposes an ideology or doctrines of any religion, but it does guide the reader toward honest searching. Highly recommended for all libraries.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback
• Publisher: Abingdon Press (December 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0687081769
• ISBN-13: 978-0687081769
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #656,159 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A guide to help you in your search, July 30, 2000

By 

[e-mail] - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Search for Meaning (Hardcover)

This book is a wonderful source to help you on your search for meaning in life. It tells us that us that each of can not be expected to be given meaning, but we must find meaning for ourselves. Hence, life becomes an adventure for everyone, where we must contemplate our existence to the extent that we must avoid preoccupation with meaninglessness, separation and having and instead focus on being. With being you can uncover your spiritual quest, intellectual growth, emotional balance and physiological homeostasis. This book forces you to think about your present mode of life. Are you so busy that traffic, long hours, and plane rides consume your life? Do you let yourself buy into that accumulating wealth will bring you happiness? Many more questions are presented and analyzed and this book is recommended for one who is facing difficulty in life or just interested and curious if there is meaning. I can say that after reading this book that I have a much better conception of meaning for myself and approach the forthcoming years of my life with more understanding that life is a puzzle that one can put together if you take the time and patience to carefully think how to put the pieces together.

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars THREE PERSONS IN SEARCH OF MEANING, September 18, 2010

By 

James L. Park "James Leonard Park" (Minneapolis, MN USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Search for Meaning (Paperback)

Thomas H. Naylor, William H. Willimon, & Magdalena R. Naylor
The Search for Meaning

(Nashville, TN: Abingdon Press, 1994) 221 pages
(ISBN: 0-687-02586-9; hardcover)
(Library of Congress call number: BD435.N39 1994)

This book grew out of an interdisciplinary college seminar
offered by the authors: an international economist,
a college chaplain, & a psychiatrist.
Many of the problems of the world are traced to meaninglessness.
The authors do not offer any easy answers,
but they do offer some advice on organizing
one's life around one's own goals and purposes.
The good life is a slight modification of the middle-class way of life.
Being is better than having.
We can find meaning in love, work, family,
and commitment to purposes beyond ourselves.

Other books along this same line will be found on the Internet:
"Meaning in Life Bibliography".

James Leonard Park, existential philosopher.