Books like Man's Search for Meaning

01

The Obstacle Is the Way

Ryan Holiday · Philosophy

The Obstacle Is the Way is Ryan Holiday's translation of Stoic philosophy into a practical guide for dealing with hardship.

Both dig into resilience.

02

Meditations

Marcus Aurelius · Philosophy

Meditations is not a book Marcus Aurelius wrote for anyone to read.

A kindred psychology read.

03

The Power of Now

Eckhart Tolle · Religion & Spirituality

The Power of Now is Eckhart Tolle's argument that the root of human suffering is identification with the stream of thought — the restless inner commentary that most people mistake for who they are.

Both dig into suffering.

04

Being Mortal: Medicine and What Matters in the End

Atul Gawande · Health

Being Mortal is Atul Gawande's investigation into why modern medicine is so bad at helping people die well.

A kindred psychology read.

05

The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck

Mark Manson · Self-help

Mark Manson's argument is that the relentless pursuit of positivity is itself a source of misery.

Shares meaning and resilience with Man's Search for Meaning.

06

Ikigai

Héctor García · Philosophy

Ikigai is a short, accessible book by Héctor García and Francesc Miralles that explores the Japanese concept of a reason for being — the intersection of what you love, what you are good at, what the world needs, and what you can be paid for.

Shares meaning and purpose with Man's Search for Meaning.

07

The Power of Positive Leadership

Jon Gordon · Business

The Power of Positive Leadership is Jon Gordon's argument that positivity is not a soft trait or a personality quirk — it's a competitive advantage that great leaders deliberately cultivate.

Shares resilience and purpose with Man's Search for Meaning.

08

When Nietzsche Wept

Irvin D. Yalom · Philosophy

When Nietzsche Wept is a philosophical novel by psychiatrist Irvin Yalom set in Vienna in 1882.

Shares meaning and existentialism with Man's Search for Meaning.

09

Authentic Happiness

Martin E. P. Seligman · Psychology

Authentic Happiness is Martin Seligman's founding statement of positive psychology — the scientific study of what makes life worth living.

Both dig into meaning.

10

Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us

Daniel H. Pink · Psychology

Drive is Daniel Pink's argument that the motivational model most organizations still run on — reward the behavior you want, punish the behavior you don't — is badly mismatched to the kind of work that matters most in a modern economy.

Both dig into purpose.

11

Flourish: A Visionary New Understanding of Happiness and Well-being

Martin E. P. Seligman · Psychology

Martin Seligman founded the positive psychology movement and published Authentic Happiness in 2002.

Both dig into meaning.

12

Hardwiring Happiness: The New Brain Science of Contentment, Calm, and Confidence

Rick Hanson · Psychology

Rick Hanson is a neuropsychologist and meditation teacher, and this book is his attempt to explain why wellbeing is so hard to sustain and what the brain science suggests you can do about it.

Both dig into resilience.