Mattering

'The perfect antidote to our modern mental health epidemic' PROFESSOR TIM SPECTOR

'Wallace has a deep understanding of what matters most to us - and her book shows us how to find it' ADAM GRANT

'Beautifully written and deeply felt' SUSAN CAIN

From award-winning writer Jennifer Breheny Wallace, a deeply consequential look at restoring closeness in our relationships and how feeling connected - mattering - can bring purpose and happiness to our lives.

In a world where loneliness, burnout, and disconnection have reached crisis levels, Jennifer Breheny Wallace offers a transformative solution: mattering. Through vivid storytelling and groundbreaking research, Mattering: The Secret to Building a Life of Deep Purpose and Connection reveals how feeling seen, needed, and valued isn't just a nice-to-have-it's essential for our wellbeing and society's future.

Filled with stories of individuals who have discovered the power of mattering, from the story of a fire chief who re-energized his emotionally exhausted team by helping them see their long-term impact, to a woman who transformed her grief into a movement helping thousands rebuild their lives, Wallace shows how mattering can be cultivated in every sphere of life. She demonstrates that when people feel they truly matter-that their presence and contributions are noticed, needed, and missed when they aren't there-everything changes. Productivity soars, relationships deepen, and communities strengthen.