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A Pocket Guide to The Meaning of Life
The meaning of life. You can't buy it, steal it, borrow it.
You have to discover it.
Best-selling Catholic philosopher Peter Kreeft has written a short, thoughtful guide to help you on your journey. Kreeft lays out God's answers to your questions with a simplicity and directness that will help you find that meaning, and share that meaning with others. God's answers are not complicated or secret. They simply need to be accepted and made your own. This pocket guide will help you do just that.
You have to discover it.
Best-selling Catholic philosopher Peter Kreeft has written a short, thoughtful guide to help you on your journey. Kreeft lays out God's answers to your questions with a simplicity and directness that will help you find that meaning, and share that meaning with others. God's answers are not complicated or secret. They simply need to be accepted and made your own. This pocket guide will help you do just that.
- GenresPhilosophy
61 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2007
2 people are currently reading
49 people want to read
About the author
Peter Kreeft
201 books1,079 followersPeter Kreeft is an American philosopher and prolific author of over eighty books on Christian theology, philosophy, and apologetics. A convert from Protestantism to Catholicism, his journey was shaped by his study of Church history, Gothic architecture, and Thomistic thought. He earned his BA from Calvin College, an MA and PhD from Fordham University, and pursued further studies at Yale. Since 1965, he has taught philosophy at Boston College and also at The King’s College. Kreeft is known for formulating “Twenty Arguments for the Existence of God” with Ronald K. Tacelli, featured in their Handbook of Christian Apologetics. A strong advocate for unity among Christians, he emphasizes shared belief in Christ over denominational differences.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
September 21, 2025
This is the second offering in this series I have read. I have been able to track down all but one. The two I have read are excellent, and I look forward to reading the others in the series. This volume was added to my kindle library a long time ago, but appears to now be out of print. On Goodreads there are 4 editions, 2 paperback, kindle and an eBook, But I cannot find it online at any resellers. It is a great pity this book and series are out of print. The description of this volume states:
“The meaning of life. You can't buy it, steal it, borrow it.
You have to discover it.
Best-selling Catholic philosopher Peter Kreeft has written a short, thoughtful guide to help you on your journey. Kreeft lays out God's answers to your questions with a simplicity and directness that will help you find that meaning, and share that meaning with others. God's answers are not complicated or secret. They simply need to be accepted and made your own. This pocket guide will help you do just that.”
This book is a mini maybe even a micro catechism. The paperback is listed as 61 pages, the eBook comes in under 20. It is 67 questions and answers on the meaning of life. No introduction, no conclusion. And to be honest a very short dedication. I highlighted a few passages that really struck me while reading this volume, some of them are:
“10. Isn’t this a philosophy for monks and mystics rather than ordinary Christians?
No, because a Christian, at the very least, is one who believes that Christ has given us the very best answer to life’s most important question: What is life to the fullest? What is the meaning of life? Jesus’ answer: “This is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.” (John 17: 3)”
“13. Why doesn’t the addition of anything else to God make my life fuller?
Because “this is eternal life [life to the fullest], that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent” (John 17:3).
“19. How has God revealed Himself? In at least seven ways:
1. In nature, His creation, as an artist is revealed in his art.
2. In human nature, especially in conscience, His inner prophet in your soul.
3. In every truth we discover, every good we do, and every beauty we create. In addition to this natural revelation, God has also acted supernaturally:
4. In history, by choosing a people (the Jews) to be His collective prophet to the world, making a covenant with them, giving them His law and His prophets, performing miracles for them (such as the Exodus), and inspiring their sacred Scriptures, which Christians call the “Old Testament.”
5. Most completely of all, in sending His own divine Son, Jesus Christ.
6. Through the Church Christ established “upon the foundation of the apostles” (Ephesians 2: 20).
7. In the book the apostles authored and the Church authorized, the New Testament.”
“21. What is hope?
Hope is believing God’s promises. Hope is faith directed to the future. Like faith, hope is a response to God’s revelation, not a feeling we work up in ourselves. It is like an investment in God. Its opposite is despair, which is giving up on God.”
“49. What is this new life called?
Scripture gives it many names, such as salvation, sanctification, justification, grace, regeneration, supernatural life, divine life, eternal life, sharing the divine nature, the Kingdom of heaven, the Kingdom of God, and being born again.”
“64. Is the Church human or divine?
Like Christ, she has a divine nature and a human nature. Unlike Christ, her human nature is far from perfect. Nevertheless, she is our concrete connection with Christ Himself, especially in the sacrament of the Eucharist.”
I hope those quotes give you a feel for this volume. Number 21 above really hit me, it was one I really needed reminding of when reading this book. This is a great little volume. I really enjoyed working through it, and will likely return to it again. It has been a while since I had read a volume by Dr Kreeft, even though many years ago when a mature student I had hoped to read everything he had written.
This volume could be read by a secondary school student, or a grad student, but a theologian or a new convert and they will all get something out of it. It is an excellent volume that any Catholic or any Christian would benefit from reading.
It is a great read, thank you Dr. Kreeft and Our Sunday Visitor.
This book is part of a series of reviews: 2025 Catholic Reading Plan!
“The meaning of life. You can't buy it, steal it, borrow it.
You have to discover it.
Best-selling Catholic philosopher Peter Kreeft has written a short, thoughtful guide to help you on your journey. Kreeft lays out God's answers to your questions with a simplicity and directness that will help you find that meaning, and share that meaning with others. God's answers are not complicated or secret. They simply need to be accepted and made your own. This pocket guide will help you do just that.”
This book is a mini maybe even a micro catechism. The paperback is listed as 61 pages, the eBook comes in under 20. It is 67 questions and answers on the meaning of life. No introduction, no conclusion. And to be honest a very short dedication. I highlighted a few passages that really struck me while reading this volume, some of them are:
“10. Isn’t this a philosophy for monks and mystics rather than ordinary Christians?
No, because a Christian, at the very least, is one who believes that Christ has given us the very best answer to life’s most important question: What is life to the fullest? What is the meaning of life? Jesus’ answer: “This is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.” (John 17: 3)”
“13. Why doesn’t the addition of anything else to God make my life fuller?
Because “this is eternal life [life to the fullest], that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent” (John 17:3).
“19. How has God revealed Himself? In at least seven ways:
1. In nature, His creation, as an artist is revealed in his art.
2. In human nature, especially in conscience, His inner prophet in your soul.
3. In every truth we discover, every good we do, and every beauty we create. In addition to this natural revelation, God has also acted supernaturally:
4. In history, by choosing a people (the Jews) to be His collective prophet to the world, making a covenant with them, giving them His law and His prophets, performing miracles for them (such as the Exodus), and inspiring their sacred Scriptures, which Christians call the “Old Testament.”
5. Most completely of all, in sending His own divine Son, Jesus Christ.
6. Through the Church Christ established “upon the foundation of the apostles” (Ephesians 2: 20).
7. In the book the apostles authored and the Church authorized, the New Testament.”
“21. What is hope?
Hope is believing God’s promises. Hope is faith directed to the future. Like faith, hope is a response to God’s revelation, not a feeling we work up in ourselves. It is like an investment in God. Its opposite is despair, which is giving up on God.”
“49. What is this new life called?
Scripture gives it many names, such as salvation, sanctification, justification, grace, regeneration, supernatural life, divine life, eternal life, sharing the divine nature, the Kingdom of heaven, the Kingdom of God, and being born again.”
“64. Is the Church human or divine?
Like Christ, she has a divine nature and a human nature. Unlike Christ, her human nature is far from perfect. Nevertheless, she is our concrete connection with Christ Himself, especially in the sacrament of the Eucharist.”
I hope those quotes give you a feel for this volume. Number 21 above really hit me, it was one I really needed reminding of when reading this book. This is a great little volume. I really enjoyed working through it, and will likely return to it again. It has been a while since I had read a volume by Dr Kreeft, even though many years ago when a mature student I had hoped to read everything he had written.
This volume could be read by a secondary school student, or a grad student, but a theologian or a new convert and they will all get something out of it. It is an excellent volume that any Catholic or any Christian would benefit from reading.
It is a great read, thank you Dr. Kreeft and Our Sunday Visitor.
This book is part of a series of reviews: 2025 Catholic Reading Plan!
October 23, 2024
This is a simple, 67-point catechism on exactly what the title says: the meaning of life. Of course, the meaning of life is nothing less lofty than eternity in the beatific vision; or to put it more simply, the meaning of life is God (Kreeft's concluding point #67).
Along with some other short works, such as Dr. Kreeft's talks ("10 Uncommon Insights Into Evil from Lord of the Rings" is my favorite) and Catholic Answers' booklets (Pillar of Fire, Pillar of Truth; The Words of Eternal Life), this is what I'd call a "kick in the pants" read. It's not a lengthy apologetic that will convince an unbeliever. It's not a detailed catechism to answer every question of a convert. It's a letter to the hard heart and the soft mind. it's a honing steel to sharpen rough edges. You can read it in one sitting to keep things in proper alignment.
Along with some other short works, such as Dr. Kreeft's talks ("10 Uncommon Insights Into Evil from Lord of the Rings" is my favorite) and Catholic Answers' booklets (Pillar of Fire, Pillar of Truth; The Words of Eternal Life), this is what I'd call a "kick in the pants" read. It's not a lengthy apologetic that will convince an unbeliever. It's not a detailed catechism to answer every question of a convert. It's a letter to the hard heart and the soft mind. it's a honing steel to sharpen rough edges. You can read it in one sitting to keep things in proper alignment.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews