New book coming in 2027: On Purpose: The Science of Building a Meaningful Life.  Be the first to hear →
Todd Kashdan
Todd Kashdan.

On Purpose

The Science of Building a Meaningful Life

The ultimate handbook with everything you need or want to know on creating big and small purposes.

Coming in 2027 from Ten Speed Press

Sign up and you’ll hear as soon as the book is available.

Purpose is a central, guiding life aim.

This is the definition we built in the Well-Being Lab, and it sits at the center of the book. A purpose organizes your goals and energy, and gives you an anchor to hold onto during hard times.

Read some of the research behind it (PDF) →

How Purpose Works During Hard Times (Kashdan & McKnight, 2026): Buffer, purpose can soften adversity. Source, adversity can give rise to purpose. Constraint, commitment can narrow options. Target, purpose can provoke opposition.
Todd Kashdan on stage below a large slide reading Purpose: A central, self-organizing life aim

Bring the science of purpose to your event.

In keynotes and workshops, Todd shows audiences how to build a purpose and put the book’s strategies to work in their own lives.