The Little Book on Meaning: Why We Crave It, How We Create It
Tarcher, April 2009
As a prominent self-help author and a pioneer in the field of life coaching, Laura Berman Fortgang has spent decades helping people figure out what they want to do with their lives. And so it was a bit of a surprise when a theme she heard repeatedly from her clients emerged in her own thinking and would not be dismissed: her work didn't feel as "meaningful" to her as it once had. It was one of those big realizations one has from time to time. The funny thing was, though, that it turned out the solution(s) to her problem were actually quite small . . .
In The Little Book on Meaning, Fortgang reveals that while our hunger for a "meaningful" life can be enormous, our desire for meaning is usually satiated by small, bite-size morsels of meaning -- the little, almost incidental events or achievements that make up the fabric of our lives. According to Fortgang, meaning is where you look for it, and through tenderly drawn stories from her own life and the lives of those around her, she shows readers how they too can peek around corners to discover the small elements of their lives that truly matter. Where are some of the easiest places to look? Laura takes readers through five other M words beyond the godfather of them all -- Meaning -- that will serve as markers on the path:
- Mystery: Many of us are so busy looking for answers that we fail to consider the questions.
- Minister: Caring for others can be the best thing we can do for ourselves.
- Magnificence: If we will just open our eyes -- and truly look -- beauty and purpose are everywhere!
- Mind: Tangled up in our thoughts, we fail to experience the moment.
- Mystic: When we learn to see the world through the eyes of a mystic, suddenly everything holds meaning.
hardcover | ISBN: 9781585427154 | Publication Date: April 2009
Reviews:
"Fortgang gives readers tools to find the deeper meaning in life
that we're all looking for. Using her own experiences in life and as a
coach, she shares her insights on how to reach the ease and flow that
make for a peaceful and joyful existence."
--Dr. Laura Berman, author of the New York Times bestseller Real
Sex for Real Women, and regular guest on The Oprah Winfrey Show
"The Little Book on Meaning is the grounded person's guide to
shifting into a sweeter way of being. Laura Berman Fortgang shows us
how, even with driven natures, depression, and worldly
responsibilities, we can open up to the love and mysticism that provide
the deliverance we crave. She is funny, real, and practical, and leaves
you with a deep compassion for life."
--Tama J. Kieves, bestselling author of This Time I Dance! Creating
the Work You Love
"Powerful, touching, insightful, and full of ways to unlock the wonder
of living a life you love -- The Little Book on Meaning is a
treasure. Fortgang is a brilliant guide and a great companion in
helping us find, and live from, what truly matters most."
--Mary Manin Morrissey, author of Building Your Field of Dreams
"In this wise book, Laura Berman Fortgang shares lovely stories from
her own life and the lives of others to reveal how everyday people earn
the hard-won wisdom that leads to the fulfillment of a meaningful
life."
--Julie Morgenstern, bestselling author of Organizing from the
Inside Out and Shed Your Stuff, Change Your Life
"The Little Book on Meaning offers a spiritual philosophy and
framework for life and can be shared with people of all faiths and
ages. This book will touch every soul it crosses. A must read."
--Gary Quinn, bestselling author of Living in the Spiritual Zone
and coauthor of Angel Wisdom
"The Little Book on Meaning is a search for more -- the wise
kind of 'more.' By giving the reader an honest and courageous glimpse
into her own search for meaning, Laura has offered a gift that is sure
to touch the heart of anyone who longs for a rich, soul-connected life."
--Cheryl Richardson, New York Times-bestselling author of Take
Time for Your Life and The Art of Extreme Self-Care
"This so-called little book packs a big punch. It is intelligent and
lyrical, intimate and insightful, spiritual and earthy. And it reveals
the meaning of true success and happiness."
-- Dr. Robert Holden, author of Happiness Now! and director,
Success Intelligence and The Happiness Project
"Fortgang goes to new depths in this book, and she brings us along with
her. It can't help but raise your consciousness and allow you to
recognize the meaning in all you do. What a blessing!"
-- Iyanla Vanzant, author of Tapping the Power within
"Fortgang speaks the truth. Her journey illuminates a path
that, for so many, isn't easy or clear but deeply desired. She lights
the way for all of us. Read this book to find courage, reassurance, and
peace."
-Rhonda Britten, author of Fearless Living and founder,
Fearless Living Institute
"'Meaning is one of those subjects I'm obsessed with. How do we make
it, find it, feel it? Can we? Laura's personal, moving, honest, and
funny exploration of our
perennial yearning had me reading until late, dog-earing pages, and
most of all, understanding meaning in a far deeper, truer way. What a
nourishing exploration, one that will widen your ability to experience
meaning every day and in the most heart-filling, satisfying way."
--Jennifer Louden, bestselling author of The Woman's Comfort Book
and The Life Organizer
