What do you think?
Rate this book
The Power of Purpose: Living Well by Doing Good
The Power of Purpose begins with a simple but remarkable “The more you focus on helping others, the more you will succeed in reaching your own goals.” Peter S. Temes builds on this fundamental insight to share a simple plan for living with the truest and most enduring kind of happiness.
At the heart of The Power of Purpose are the “three levels of thinking.” At the first level, we ask, Who am I? and What do I want? At the second level, we ask, Who do other people think I am? How do I look to them? But the real magic happens when we hit the third level, forgetting about ourselves and asking the questions that lend a powerful sense of purpose to our How do others look to themselves? How can I help others become the people they want to be?
To help us along the way, Temes, who teaches humanities at Columbia University, draws on the wisdom of great thinkers including Aristotle, Søren Kierkegaard, and Abraham Lincoln; the life lessons of great achievers ranging from Mother Teresa to Michael Jordan; and home truths he’s gathered from his parents, his grandparents, and his three children. From all these sources and from his own life of great personal accomplishment, Temes identifies the essential knowledge that brings people happiness and success. He cites Aristotle’s notion that happiness is not a psychological state but a moral one, resulting from doing good in the world. Temes also believes in the pivotal importance of trust and team-building in every area of life, from the family to the workplace to the street corner.
The Power of Purpose is a map for finding the confidence and power, the opportunities and occasions, and—most important—the techniques and strategies for centering your relationships and work on helping others. It is a book with a point of the clearest path to your own success and happiness lies in helping others get to where they want to go.
At the heart of The Power of Purpose are the “three levels of thinking.” At the first level, we ask, Who am I? and What do I want? At the second level, we ask, Who do other people think I am? How do I look to them? But the real magic happens when we hit the third level, forgetting about ourselves and asking the questions that lend a powerful sense of purpose to our How do others look to themselves? How can I help others become the people they want to be?
To help us along the way, Temes, who teaches humanities at Columbia University, draws on the wisdom of great thinkers including Aristotle, Søren Kierkegaard, and Abraham Lincoln; the life lessons of great achievers ranging from Mother Teresa to Michael Jordan; and home truths he’s gathered from his parents, his grandparents, and his three children. From all these sources and from his own life of great personal accomplishment, Temes identifies the essential knowledge that brings people happiness and success. He cites Aristotle’s notion that happiness is not a psychological state but a moral one, resulting from doing good in the world. Temes also believes in the pivotal importance of trust and team-building in every area of life, from the family to the workplace to the street corner.
The Power of Purpose is a map for finding the confidence and power, the opportunities and occasions, and—most important—the techniques and strategies for centering your relationships and work on helping others. It is a book with a point of the clearest path to your own success and happiness lies in helping others get to where they want to go.
- GenresNonfiction
281 pages, Hardcover
First published March 21, 2006
7 people are currently reading
43 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
January 9, 2025
A friend gave me this book a while back, and it is indeed filled with lot’s of helpful nuggets about how to live your life. Reading it was a bit of a lesson in humility…The stories/lessons about famous folks and his personal friends reminded me a bit of Malcom Gladwell’s writing because there were always takeaways and lessons to be learned. Temes asks big picture questions like: what is the good life? What do we owe our neighbors? What must we do in the face of injustice? “The way to find happiness for yourself is to help others to be happy. This is the irony- the irrationality- of moral discovery: to find your inner self, you need to look outward. Where does purpose come from? It comes from everyone else.” (246). Social cohesion involves asking “how do I look to others? What role am I playing in their story?…what does this other person care about? What’s on her mind? What’s the shape of her own personal story right now?” (254).
Or: “how do people see themselves? What are their goals for themselves? How can I help them reach those goals?” (161). I found myself thinking about my dog Radar here as well…😂…and in thinking about this, I also baked cookies for my difficult neighbors.
Some takeaways: giving is always better than receiving! It’s import develop the habit of seeing the world thru others’ eyes and then determining how to make a positive difference in their lives/the world. Helping others in turn helps ourselves.
There were several other good nuggets of life philosophy and advice, sometimes from thinkers like Aristotle, Thereau, Whitman, Emerson, more. One of my favorites was thinking about “winning the war, not the battles” in relationships, business, parenting. Another was to try to “find transcendence in ordinary life,” if you are trapped in a domestic life and you can’t “go to the woods to live…confront the essential facts of life..suck the marrow out of life” etc. you have to believe in relationships, love, compassion- things beyond the day to day of life. He also has a passage about being the good you wish to see in the world, or how creating more good in the world is a better use of time than trying to fight evil. And he suggests fighting mediocrity with action (Plato’s hope for a more meaningful, satisfying life). I liked what he said about gratitude: that the most meaningful prayer is the impulse to pray, and say thank you, not formal worship per say. But he’s not disrespectful of faith: as he says that reason and insight will only take you so far, then faith can begin.
Overall this was a great read, and I found some spiritual ambition to help others…and find my purpose in life. But also: this is not in the book; but I found myself thinking that Life just has meaning and purpose. Temes does mention that it comes from within. However, You don’t have to intellectualize it to appreciate it. Like a joy and appreciation for life can't be taught? You either have it or you don't? But maybe it can be taught idk🤔
Or: “how do people see themselves? What are their goals for themselves? How can I help them reach those goals?” (161). I found myself thinking about my dog Radar here as well…😂…and in thinking about this, I also baked cookies for my difficult neighbors.
Some takeaways: giving is always better than receiving! It’s import develop the habit of seeing the world thru others’ eyes and then determining how to make a positive difference in their lives/the world. Helping others in turn helps ourselves.
There were several other good nuggets of life philosophy and advice, sometimes from thinkers like Aristotle, Thereau, Whitman, Emerson, more. One of my favorites was thinking about “winning the war, not the battles” in relationships, business, parenting. Another was to try to “find transcendence in ordinary life,” if you are trapped in a domestic life and you can’t “go to the woods to live…confront the essential facts of life..suck the marrow out of life” etc. you have to believe in relationships, love, compassion- things beyond the day to day of life. He also has a passage about being the good you wish to see in the world, or how creating more good in the world is a better use of time than trying to fight evil. And he suggests fighting mediocrity with action (Plato’s hope for a more meaningful, satisfying life). I liked what he said about gratitude: that the most meaningful prayer is the impulse to pray, and say thank you, not formal worship per say. But he’s not disrespectful of faith: as he says that reason and insight will only take you so far, then faith can begin.
Overall this was a great read, and I found some spiritual ambition to help others…and find my purpose in life. But also: this is not in the book; but I found myself thinking that Life just has meaning and purpose. Temes does mention that it comes from within. However, You don’t have to intellectualize it to appreciate it. Like a joy and appreciation for life can't be taught? You either have it or you don't? But maybe it can be taught idk🤔
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 1, 2018
4.5 stars I chanced upon this book at the downtown Portland library.
Temes uses personal and professional examples and references the writings of famous philosophers and poets. I liked the 3 levels of questions and how we need to strive for level 3 questions: How do others look to themselves? How can I help others become the people they want to be?
I love his outward view of success which reminds me of a scripture: To find yourself you have to lose yourself in the service of others. I think my favorite section is the one on Aristotle: to find happiness you have to strive to be a better person. If everyone lived this way, we would live in a much better world.
When it came to the business examples, I had a harder time relating since I am not a business person. I enjoyed how he ended with stories and his wishes for his children who already seem to be following in his and his wife's positive examples.
Temes uses personal and professional examples and references the writings of famous philosophers and poets. I liked the 3 levels of questions and how we need to strive for level 3 questions: How do others look to themselves? How can I help others become the people they want to be?
I love his outward view of success which reminds me of a scripture: To find yourself you have to lose yourself in the service of others. I think my favorite section is the one on Aristotle: to find happiness you have to strive to be a better person. If everyone lived this way, we would live in a much better world.
When it came to the business examples, I had a harder time relating since I am not a business person. I enjoyed how he ended with stories and his wishes for his children who already seem to be following in his and his wife's positive examples.
March 18, 2018
Easy to read
Practical examples of how to apply what he was saying. Change the world by helping others helps define ones purpose
Practical examples of how to apply what he was saying. Change the world by helping others helps define ones purpose
May 5, 2019
Philosophy and purpose.
February 13, 2011
This was a GREAT book….maybe a little bit scattered in the basic approach and message, but very inspiring! It teaches the importance of living with a purpose. When that purpose is to help others not only will you be so much happier, but you will also be able to make a meaningful difference in the lives of others and the world. The author teaches the three levels of thinking:
1. The first-level of thinking focuses on asking, “How am I? How do I feel?”
2. The second-level of thinking focuses on asking, “How do others see me?”
3. The third-level of thinking focuses on asking, “How do others see themselves? What are their most important goals?”
As we commit to helping others accomplish their goals and be successful we will be happy and be able to accomplish a lot of good ourselves. Some of the other important points include:
• Tune in to what other people care about the most
• Don’t be afraid to fail
• Focus on the war, not winning all the battles
• Fight for what you love, not against what you hate
• Know the real thing when you see it
• Think critically about yourself
• Without relationships with others nothing else is possible!
• Share every gain
• Always build teams and look for shared commitments and shared interests
• Pay attention to the people who matter most
For me a lot this comes down to being unselfish, caring about and loving others, and remembering your priorities. Make relationships a priority. Know what you want to give and have a plan for helping others accomplish their goals.
“Behold, I do not give lectures or a little charity. When I give I give myself.” - Walt Whitman
1. The first-level of thinking focuses on asking, “How am I? How do I feel?”
2. The second-level of thinking focuses on asking, “How do others see me?”
3. The third-level of thinking focuses on asking, “How do others see themselves? What are their most important goals?”
As we commit to helping others accomplish their goals and be successful we will be happy and be able to accomplish a lot of good ourselves. Some of the other important points include:
• Tune in to what other people care about the most
• Don’t be afraid to fail
• Focus on the war, not winning all the battles
• Fight for what you love, not against what you hate
• Know the real thing when you see it
• Think critically about yourself
• Without relationships with others nothing else is possible!
• Share every gain
• Always build teams and look for shared commitments and shared interests
• Pay attention to the people who matter most
For me a lot this comes down to being unselfish, caring about and loving others, and remembering your priorities. Make relationships a priority. Know what you want to give and have a plan for helping others accomplish their goals.
“Behold, I do not give lectures or a little charity. When I give I give myself.” - Walt Whitman
February 5, 2016
I found this book to be quite interesting; however, it did not really improve my knowledge in this area. I like the way Peter S. Temes opens the book by exploring what he calls the three levels of thinking. The first level is totally egocentric in that we are only concerned on how things impact ourselves. The second level moves us a bit further from the center ego-centrism to the outer edge by focusing on the perceptions of others regarding ourselves. The last level—the point where we want to reside in—focus on others. In this level our ego is in check as the focus is on the other person. In the third level or phase, we are tuned into others and what they care about, we share every success. The key to having a purpose is to have the ability to be of benefit to others. It is truly in giving ourselves to others that we have our purpose. So, in essence, the secret of living a life of purpose is to make relationships a priority. This is a good read but requires the reader to have patience and to stick with it.
November 3, 2013
I found this book very useful and insightful and posted a number of sections on FB to share the insights. The first half to 2/3 spoke more to me than the last pages. The basic premise of the book is there are three levels of thinking
1. getting past asking, "how am I? how do I feel"
2. getting past asking, "how do others see me?"
3. arriving at the most important questions, "how do others see themselves? what are their most important goals?
The commitment statement that leads to success: "I can help others"
1. getting past asking, "how am I? how do I feel"
2. getting past asking, "how do others see me?"
3. arriving at the most important questions, "how do others see themselves? what are their most important goals?
The commitment statement that leads to success: "I can help others"
June 26, 2007
This book has interesting ideas that can be applied to almost every situation you encounter. I'm interested in trying to apply some of the concepts in my work with different teams at my school in the fall. Maybe I'll have more feedback after I see how easy it is to apply the information presented. Overall, a decent but not great book.
August 31, 2015
a little bit repetitive, but worth the read, because the ideas are sound.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews