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The Path to Purpose: How Young People Find Their Calling in Life Paperback – April 7, 2009

by William Damon (Author)

18 customer reviews

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Drawing on the revelatory results of a landmark study, William Damon -- one of the country's leading writers on the lives of young people, whose book Greater Expectations won the Parents' Choice Award -- brilliantly investigates the most pressing issue in the lives of youth today: why so many young people are "failing to launch" -- living at home longer, lacking career motivation, struggling to make a timely transition into adulthood, and not yet finding a life pursuit that inspires them.

His groundbreaking study shows that about one-fifth of youth today are thriving -- highly engaged in activities they love and developing a clear sense of what they want to do with their lives -- but approximately one-fourth are still rudderless, at serious risk of never fulfilling their potential. The largest portion are teetering on the brink, in need of guidance to help them move forward: some are "dabblers" who pursue strings of disconnected interests with no real commitment; others, "dreamers" who have no realistic plans or understanding of what success will require.

What makes the difference? Damon shows that the key ingredient for the highly engaged is that they have developed a clear sense of purpose in their lives that motivates them and gives them direction. Based on in-depth interviews, he takes readers inside the minds of the disengaged and drifting kids and exposes their confusion and anxiety about what they should do with their lives. He then offers compelling portraits of the young people who are thriving and identifies the nine key factors that have made the difference for them, presenting simple but powerful methods that parents and all adults can and must employ in order to cultivate that energized sense of purpose in young people that will launch them on the path to a deeply satisfying and productive life.

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Editorial Reviews

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The Path to Purpose is a beautiful and important book. William Damon takes on one of the most hidden and yet important elements of child development today and provides warm insight and clear advice." -- Michael Gurian, author of The Wonder of Boys and The Wonder of Girls

"If you are a parent, a teacher, or a policy maker, this is the book to read. Damon socks the crucial problem of our youth -- purposelessness -- right in the jaw and offers us a way out." -- Martin Seligman, author of Authentic Happiness

"As a leading authority on meaning and moral development, Damon writes a timely and important book on one of our most pressing social issues -- how to instill a sense of purpose in the lives of children. Damon gives us a fresh and useful way to look at both education and character development." -- Dr. Mary Pipher, author of Reviving Ophelia and Writing to Change the Worlds

Paperback: 240 pages
Publisher: Free Press; Reprint edition (April 7, 2009)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1416537244
ISBN-13: 978-1416537243
Product Dimensions: 5.5 x 0.8 x 8.4 inches
Shipping Weight: 13.1 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
Average Customer Review: 18 customer reviews
Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #148,288 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #334 in Books > Parenting & Relationships > Parenting > Teenagers
- #9826 in Books > Education & Teaching > Schools & Teaching

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Brian Johnson

This book is fantastic.

June 13, 2016

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

“In my prior work, I had encountered the notion of purpose many times, but dimly and indirectly, as if through a telescope with an all-fitted lens. None of my earlier studies was about purpose per se; yet I now see that much of what I have been trying to understand for many years does in fact hinge on purpose. A study I conducted (with Anne Colby) of extraordinary moral commitment found that people who pursue noble purposes are filled with joy, despite the constant sacrifices that they feel called upon to make. In a subsequent series of studies (with Howard Gardner and Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi) of men and women who have done socially valuable ‘good work’ in their careers, I was struck by how vividly these people were able to answer our questions about what they were trying to accomplish and why. An elevated purpose was always on their minds, driving their daily efforts. This purpose was their ultimate concern, essential to all their personal successes—it gave them energy; it gave them satisfaction when they accomplished their goals; and it gave them persistence when they ran into obstacles. ...

This work led me to examine how young people find their purposes in life. Do adolescents have purposes, and if so, how do they learn them? What kinds of purposes, in addition to those related to careers, are inspiring today’s young? What happens when young people are unable to find any purpose at all to devote themselves to? The present book is the first account of the insights that I and my students have been gaining through our initial research into these questions.”

~ William Damon from The Path to Purpose

William Damon is a Professor at Stanford and one of the world’s leading researchers on the science of morality and child development. (This is the third Note we’ve created on his great books. Check out Noble Purpose + The Power of Ideals.)

In The Power of Ideals, he profiled six “moral exemplars”—truly world-changing humans who embodied the best within us. (The sample included such luminaries as Nelson Mandela, Jane Addams, Eleanor Roosevelt and Dag Hammarskjöld.)

In this book, William offers us insight into how twelve remarkable young people have found and expressed their purpose—giving us insight into how we can help our children discover and express theirs.

Basically, it’s a scientific look at Purpose by one of the world’s leading developmental psychologists—a powerful look at how to cultivate purpose in our children (and, for that matter, ourselves) and why it’s so important.

I'm excited to share some my favorite Big Ideas:

1. Life Purpose - Let's define it.
2. Short Horizons - Is what gets in the way.
3. Urgent Project for Parents - 9 key things to consider.
4. Entrepreneurial Spirit - Keys to cultivate.
5. "You Can Do It!" - A worthy mantra for parents.

Here’s to helping our kids (and ourselves) live lives of deep meaning and purpose as we optimize and actualize.

More goodness— including PhilosophersNotes on 300+ books in our *OPTIMIZE* membership program. Find out more at brianjohnson . me.

3 people found this helpful

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The Things We Don't Teach

July 23, 2009

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

There are many things we teach in school. We teach students about the world at large, how to remember useful facts, how to think. But one thing we often miss is the importance of teaching kids to find and cultivate a purpose. Helping students to find their goal in life, their reason for doing the things they do, and their "end in itself" is just as important. The main thesis of this well-written and -argued book is that kids who have a purpose generally tend to do a whole lot better in a whole lot of areas than kids who are "drifters" or "dabblers," who may have short-term goals but lack a long-term unifying goal.

The Path to Purpose is based on some studies that Damon and his students have done about kids and purposes. What they found is alarming: "In our interviews and surveys, only about one in five young people in the 12-22-year age range express a clear vision of where they want to go,what they want to accomplish in life, and why." (kindle location 234) Some are "drifters" who don't have much direction to their lives, while most are "dabblers" who have toyed around with a few ideas as to what they want to do and why, but haven't found any clear direction yet.

The first part of the book focuses on the problem and why it matters. Why a purpose? Because cultivating a sense of purpose gives kids (and adults) a reason to try hard, a passion about which to learn, and a reason to endure both good and bad. Just like working a meaningful job versus a meaningless one, students tend to excel when they are working towards a goal and feel that goal to have meaning.

The second part will be the most interest to those already convinced that a problem exists. Here, Damon gives advice on how parents and teachers (with focus on parents) can help kids find purpose. Some answers are obvious: be there for your kids, listen when they talk, expose them to ideas, support them even when you may not agree with their chosen purpose (within reason, of course). Other answers are less obvious: tell your kids why you do what you do, expose them to outside influences, talk ideas through with them Socratically rather than solving problems for them, let them know the importance of persistence.

The one thing I will deduct a star for, however, is that Damon doesn't focus nearly as much as he should have on the data showing that having a purpose tends to lead to success in most areas (academic, social, etc.) He tells us this repeatedly and there is no reason to doubt him, but I was curious as to what the data show: how much more successful are those with purpose versus those without?

Also, I really wish Damon would have addressed a question many of us (especially teachers) have about how we can talk about purpose in a way value-neutral enough to be appropriate and not preachy. How can we guide kids towards purposeful lives without imposing certain values on them (when a child, say, chooses a purpose we may feel is maladaptive)? This would have been a helpful discussion to have and his book suffers for lack of it.

But all in all, this is a very important book to read for teachers and parents. As a teacher, I would like its message to inform my future teaching, and to take time whenever possible to allow kids to reflect on what their purpose is or what they'd like it to be.

16 people found this helpful

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austen

I start reading it, but did not find it ...

November 19, 2015

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

I start reading it, but did not find it too interesting. The author should get to the point without too many stories that did not do much to inspire. Should be written in a way that would pique the interest of a young person. I bought it for my son, but now think that he will not go pass the first 2 pages.

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dahveed

Well written and thought provoking

September 3, 2016

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

Parents and teachers should read this important book. As a teacher, i, too, have seen many students struggle with disaffection and lack of purpose, interest, and/or passion. The suggestions made by the author are important, and more people should be getting informed and tackling this challenge

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Timothy Buchanan

A meaningful focus for the next generation of adults. ...

November 1, 2016

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

A meaningful focus for the next generation of adults. Who are they and what is their purpose, should be a foundation for their education.

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Karl W. Reid

An informative and practical guide to help young people develop a sense of Purpose

January 25, 2014

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

This is a well-written, very informative book based on empirical studies of young people who demonstrate wide ranges of a sense of purpose. It succinctly and compellingly answers the question, "Why Purpose?" then details case studies of children-the 20% of the sample-who've identified their distinct contribution to the world, how they discovered it, and who who helped them along the way.

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Momoffive

realization that no matter how small we make a difference

June 5, 2015

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

A very thought provoking book to help the realization that we all have the ability to make a difference no matter how small. I bought it with the focus on my son but found it applicable to all the family.

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Most recent customer reviews

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Three Stars

We'll see if it gets read.

Published 1 year ago

Steve C.

Pie in the sky

It's OK- but I found myself constantly thinking about a white, middle class bias regarding what happiness is.Read more

Published on August 17, 2016

Brady

Powerful Ideas on Building Moral Character

I have been trying to understand how to instill moral principles in the minds and hearts of students. This is hard to do in a secular world. Dr.Read more

Published on March 17, 2016

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Arrived as described A+

Published on July 3, 2015

Chrissy

Four Stars

In pretty good condition. The binding was a little messed up. Overall satisfied.

Published on December 16, 2014

Tasha

Enjoying it!

As a parent of two little boys, I always love a book and tips on how to help them succeed. I thought this one gave some really good advice on how to mentor them to become...Read more

Published on January 25, 2014

Liora Hess

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Disclosure: I was sent a free copy of this book to review. This review is an accurate reflection of my opinion of the book.Read more

Published on February 8, 2012

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