How to Live a Meaningful Life: Using Design Thinking to Unlock Purpose, Joy, and Flow Every Day

by Bill Burnett, Dave Evans

The #1 New York Times bestselling authors of Designing Your Life return with a groundbreaking guide to transforming your daily routine into one brimming with joy, purpose, and meaning.

In a world grappling with major societal shifts and increasing isolation, it’s easy to feel like nothing you do matters. Even when we’re at the top of our game in our careers and have reached the personal milestones we’ve always dreamed about, so many of us still feel like something is missing, disconnected, and stuck. There must be more to life than simply surviving each day—but how do we uncover it?

Bestselling authors Bill Burnett and Dave Evans, the “empowering” (Publishers Weekly) visionaries behind Stanford’s renowned Life Design Lab, have already inspired millions of readers to use design thinking principles to craft lives and careers they love. Now, in How to Live a Meaningful Life, they take on the most profound design problem of how to make a life rich with meaning and purpose. Evolving their revolutionary framework, Burnett and Evans present the latest research on what makes life worth living, showing us how to bring wonder, coherence, flow, and community into our everyday experiences. Instead of cramming more into an already packed life, they give us the steps we need to extract more out of it, moment by moment.

Through actionable insights and with Burnett and Evans’s signature compassion and warmth, How to Live a Meaningful Life equips you with the tools to turn your ordinary days into an extraordinary life today.

Genres: Nonfiction, Psychology, Self Help, Personal Development, Mental Health, Personal Growth, Philosophy

240 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 3, 2026

About the author

Bill Burnett is an award-winning Silicon Valley designer and the Executive Director of the renowned Design Program at Stanford University.

Bill Burnett is the Executive Director of the Design Program at Stanford. He directs the undergraduate and graduate program in design at Stanford, both interdepartmental programs between the Mechanical Engineering department and the Art department. He got his BS and MS in Product Design at Stanford and has worked professionally on a wide variety of projects ranging from award-winning Apple PowerBooks to the original Hasbro Star Wars action figures. He holds a number of mechanical and design patents, and design awards for a variety of products including the first “slate” computer. In addition to his duties at Stanford, he is a on the Board of VOZ (pronounced “VAWS – it means voice in Spanish) a social responsible high fashion startup and advises several Internet start-up companies.

Reviews

[Lydia Wallace]

What a great book full of inspiration. The book presents frameworks and methods to become better at solving life's biggest problems and how to get more out of life. My daughter is getting ready to graduate from college and start a new job. I gave her this book to read, and it really inspired her. Highly recommend.

[Kaiju Reviews]

Thanks Goodread giveaways for the promotional copy. I'm sorry to say that I think I'm done with the 'self-help' type of book. I didn't read much of this one, but it was too 'homespun wisdom' for me. Like 'aww shucks' kind of advice. Get back up, dust yourself off, and try again - kind of advice.

But look, I'll be honest. It may not be this book. It may be just the fact that I've hit my limit.

Bill and Dave, I've not rated this, as giving it a rating seems unfair. And I will share this copy with my local book exchange. Hopefully it finds its way into someone's hands that need it.

[Lori · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received this book as a Goodreads giveaway.

I’ve read the authors’ prior book on designing your work life & found the tips helpful. This book does the same for life.

The concepts presented are powerful and effective.
The steps build on one another and are wholly absorbing.

While “improvement books” are not a new concept, I appreciated how the authors of this experience told their experiences as well as the philosophy with such freshness, intensity and power.

[Lisa Gray · Rating 5 out of 5]

I hadn’t heard of these authors before but apparently they have another good book called “Designing Your Life”. This book uses design thinking to craft ways to develop a more meaningful life. Burnett & Evans teach this at Stanford and their ideas are intriguing. A lot of it is not new to me - find wonder/awe in every day moments, figure out your values and align your life with them, get into a flow state more often, find communities that help you grow, and so on. But there was something about this book…I read these kinds of books to review for others so I rarely set down the book and actually DO the exercises. But I took the time to do the exercises in chapter 5, to build my “life compass” and found it informing & intriguing. I think this chapter is especially informative if you are a therapist who does values work with clients - this came at values from a different direction than I’ve experienced and I found it helpful! Great for clients looking for meaning.

[Sara Weather · Rating 2 out of 5]

#11

The Good

I. Takeaways/things stood out to me: Design knowing limitations =/= endorsing reality, savoring/flow state, advice for second 1/2 of life, and a lot of really good gems

II. I had a lot of thoughts which is always good.

III. I like that when talking impact and all the other ideas it was put in the minds of oneself instead of putting too much on one specific path to a successful life.

The Bad

I. More self-help than design oriented than I thought it would be.

II. Flow state- feels like it took over the book and there was nothing really else to say than savor the moment, not a bad thing to put forth, it just became repetitive a bit.

Thoughts

I. Fulfillment

A. Why are so many unfulfilled at their jobs? How can employers create spaces that leave people fulfilled? Jobs cannot serve two masters = can money and employee satisfaction align as goals?

B. What does a fulfilling life mean to you?

C. Element of outward validation in the idea of living a fulfilling/purposeful life.

D. There is a call overall to internally be fulfilled and curate your fulfillment now than ever.

E. If we shift from outward fulfillment we go into inward fulfillment at the very least.

II. Meaning is individual but also collective. I just read a book about how we as humans constantly synchronize so that is on my mind too.

III. Impact

B. Impact can be hard to scale at times- The common idea is I must blatantly influence as many as possible. The issue is that it is tricky to understand everyone’s impact on this earth.

What if a book only reaches one reader is its impact lesser than? What does impact mean to you? Is impact about scale? If a person does not make a major impact does that mean their life is lesser than?

IV. If we live life not for an earth-shattering moment or purpose it challenges us to create many moments/purposes. You can find yourself chasing impact or a moment instead of shifting into the next moment.

V. Savoring/How much of your time is being present: Are we focused more on outcomes than the experience which manifests the dissatisfaction people feel?

VI. Do I look at things in a to do matter? Is everything just a thing to be checked off a list instead of being experienced/savored? I think there can be a rush to move to the next thing without fulling (or even partially) getting to feel/experience something. There is also something to be said about appreciating moments beyond their prime.

VII. Gratitude journals being more what you got vs gave: From what I have seen gratitude journals are about good things that have happened in a day/time. Should gratitude journals be more about what you gave than received?

VIII. How do those in sports experience things beyond their time in sports?

IX. death of community- having a community to help one grow and/or formulate themselves is powerful.


I won this on goodreads from Simon Element

[Timothy Kato · Rating 5 out of 5]

A brilliant read. As someone who has accidentally experienced some of the ideas the book suggests, it all clicked after reading this! Lots to reflect on after reading this around values, intentions, meaning, flow, and moments. Time to keep designing!

[Sharon · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am sure that this book will benefit a lot of people, especially in our current environment, where social media makes us less empathetic and constantly worrying about what other people are doing. As someone who has been meditating and practising yoga for over two decades, I found a lot of this a bit of recycled Buddhism.

[Alex Rivas · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book offers simple tools and guidelines that everyone can use to give our life a much richer texture.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book on how to quit looking for fulfillment and instead start designing a more fulfilling life. Find beauty and satisfaction in the little things.

[Alec · Rating 3 out of 5]

Have more flow moments and less transactional moments. Saved you 8 hours

[Elizabeth]

As heard on The Happiness Lab: Getting Unstuck (How to Design a More Meaningful Life (with Dave Evans and Bill Burnett))

What does it mean to live a meaningful life? How do you find direction when you feel stuck or you’re unsure about your purpose? Dave Evans and Bill Burnett, co-founders of the Stanford Life Design Lab and authors of How to Live a Meaningful Life join Dr. Laurie to challenge our assumptions about where meaning really comes from. They share practical strategies from the world of design thinking to create a more purposeful and fulfilling life while making the most of your current circumstances.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

Designing Your Life: How to Build a Well-Lived, Joyful Life

How to Live a Meaningful Life: Using Design Thinking to Unlock Purpose, Joy, and Flow Every Day

Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience

The Developing Mind: How Relationships and the Brain Interact to Shape Who We Are

"Overly Shallow?: Miscalibrated Expectations Create a Barrier to Deeper Conversation"

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

https://omny.fm/shows/the-happiness-l...

[SpellbindingSegments · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5 Overall
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Concepts & Practical Tools

ARC provided by the author/publisher in exchange for an honest review.

How to Live a Meaningful Life is a thoughtful, practical, and encouraging guide that helps reframe how we approach purpose, work, and fulfillment. Bill Burnett and Dave Evans blend philosophy with real-life application, offering actionable tools that feel approachable rather than overwhelming. It’s less about finding one perfect path and more about designing a life that evolves with you.

Overall thoughts (spoiler-free)
I really appreciated how grounded and realistic this book felt. Instead of abstract ideas or motivational fluff, it offers concrete frameworks you can actually use. The tone is reassuring and empowering, especially for anyone feeling stuck, uncertain, or pressured to “have it all figured out.” The authors emphasize curiosity, experimentation, and self-compassion, and that message resonated deeply with me.

⚠️ Spoilers below ⚠️
One of my favorite aspects was the idea that meaning isn’t something you discover once; it’s something you actively design and redesign over time. The reframing of failure as data rather than defeat was especially powerful. I loved how the authors encouraged small, low-risk experiments instead of massive life overhauls. That approach made personal growth feel achievable instead of intimidating.

The emphasis on community, reflection, and alignment between values and daily actions also stood out. It reinforced that a meaningful life isn’t just about career success, but about connection, curiosity, and intentional living.

While I found the concepts extremely valuable, some ideas felt familiar if you’ve read Designing Your Life or similar personal development books. At times, I wished for a few deeper case studies or more diverse real-life examples to further illustrate how these tools can apply across different life circumstances. That said, the clarity and accessibility of the framework make it an excellent entry point, or a reassuring refresher for anyone revisiting questions of purpose and direction.

How to Live a Meaningful Life is compassionate, insightful, and refreshingly practical. Burnett and Evans offer guidance that feels human and flexible, not prescriptive. This book gently reminds you that it’s okay to not have all the answers, and that meaning can be built through small, intentional choices over time. I walked away feeling calmer, more hopeful, and better equipped to design a life that actually feels like mine. A highly respectful and empowering read that I would confidently recommend.

Thank you so much, Simon & Schuster for the copy!

[Robert Chang · Rating 4 out of 5]

Years ago, I was a student of Bill Burnett and Dave Evans at Stanford’s Life Design Lab. As a student living through my “odyssey years,” I had many questions about how I wanted to build my life. Bill and Dave taught me that these questions are wicked problems — and that they are well suited to being tackled with design thinking. I deeply enjoyed the ideas and frameworks they introduced, so when I saw their latest book, How to Live a Meaningful Life, I jumped right in.

One of my biggest takeaways from the book is a set of powerful reframes. Rather than trying to cram more meaning into life, they suggest that meaning can be created from the life we are already living. They also distinguish between the transactional world and the flow world, proposing that by staying present, observing closely, and embracing curiosity and wonder, we can access the flow world far more easily than we might expect.

Beyond these mindfulness-adjacent ideas, the book also offers practical tools. One example is the Compass Values Exercise, which involves writing down your current story, your work view, and your life view. From there, you can perform alignment and integration checks — asking whether your current story aligns with your views, and whether your work view integrates coherently with your broader life view. They emphasize the importance of coherence: living in alignment with your story and staying true to your authentic self.

Lastly, they introduce the concept of a formative group — a group of like-minded people committed to becoming the person they want to be. They suggest prompts such as presented problems (issues you’re currently dealing with in the transactional world) and focus questions (larger questions centered on who you want to become), and encourage each of us to find or create such a support group in our search for meaning.

I love this book because it introduces ideas I don’t naturally gravitate toward, while grounding them in actionable frameworks. I’m excited to apply this design mindset to living a more meaningful life — one small experiment at a time.

[Maj · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you’ve ever wondered whether life came with a user manual, How to Live a Meaningful Life might just be the closest thing—minus the confusing assembly instructions. Bill Burnett and Dave Evans, the dynamic duo behind Designing Your Life, return with another gem that doesn’t preach about finding meaning in some far-off mountaintop moment. Instead, they invite you to design it, right here in the messy, marvelous middle of everyday living. Their style is breezy, witty, and refreshingly down-to-earth—like having coffee with two very wise friends who also happen to know their way around a whiteboard.

Rather than nudging readers toward lofty epiphanies, Burnett and Evans roll up their sleeves and hand us tools to turn ordinary days into awe-filled experiences. Their clever exercises aren’t your average self-help homework; they’re creative blueprints for noticing joy, experimenting with what lights you up, and celebrating the small wins—like discovering that “doing the dishes” can actually be an act of mindfulness if you’re paying attention (and maybe humming). The authors remind us that life design is less about perfecting our existence and more about playing with it—iteration by delightful iteration.

By the end, you don’t feel like you’ve been told how to live a meaningful life—you feel like you’ve been dancing with it. Burnett and Evans make meaning feel wonderfully attainable, woven into glimmers of connection, laughter, and curiosity. In a world obsessed with chasing fulfillment, they hand us permission to pause and say, “Wow, this moment right here is pretty amazing.” Highly recommended for anyone ready to stop overthinking life and start joyfully designing it—pun very much intended.

[Chapter.whispers.reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book got delivered on one of the Indian festivals (Diwali) and felt it as a gift for me to change and enhance more about life. When I started this book I thought to read it very slowly . But in one go I read around 66 pages out of 210 pages. I felt amazed.
The authors Bill Burnett and Dave Evans are director and co fonder of Life Design lab at Stanford University.
Finding meaning and purpose of life is so important which leads us for a peaceful life.
I have been slowly understanding how much purpose of life is impact on the lifestyle we choose and move forward in the life.
The reframing activity is what our professor used do for our final project in my master's. He used to suggest us to go level wise and ask questions how the details are helpful to showcase the project.

I love the concept of three views of an individual. Normal, Curiosity and wonder . Once we start seeing thing from wonder angle things will be much amazing. Feel the amazing things that surround us.
Curiosity + mystery = wonder

Having a coherent life. Stabilizing things and having key elements that are aligned and interconnected.
Like who are we , what we do and what we believe in.


Engage reflect and story telling practice (ERS) . Develop formtive community which helps in becoming ourselves.


There is nothing called late. Life is a flow world and there is only now. Each and every moment is a valuable for opportunity to design life. Let's design it well.

[Val Shen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is so in time for our society today! In a fast-changing world with paradigm shifts in so many areas, as an executive and career coach, I have listened to many life stories in which people have good jobs, happy families, material possessions, and many achievements etc and yet deep down, they question what is the meaning of their lives, and why there is a feeling of “void” deep down. The authors provided new inspiring perspectives using design thinking mindsets to view/reframe purpose, meaning and passion, so that we are not chasing from one goal to another, and never feel “enough” or have “enough”. The book also provided practical tools to show us how to think like a designer, get unstuck, and find new ways to live a meaningful life without turning our lives upside down or reinventing ourselves from scratch. I have tried some of the great reframing tools, and the concepts of the “transactional world” vs the “flow world” made me reflect deeply on how I operate daily. It provided refreshing new mindsets for us to navigate an ambiguous, fast-changing and sometimes incomprehensible world, in meaningful ways. You cannot only just read the book, but you need to practice the tools, such as grabbing a pen and paper, reflecting and working through some of the exercises as you read along the book, and try stuff in our daily lives. I look forward to practising more of the mindsets and tools in the future.

[Roxanne Hori]

I have read several books about making a transition and being thoughtful about it. None compared to this new book by Dave Evans and Bill Burnett.

If you are at a juncture in your life where you are looking for guidance to think through your next step or how to bring more substance to your life, this is a must read.

As an executive coach who has the pleasure of working with people in transition, I found this book to be very helpful. Applying Designing Your Life principles and exercises to the thought process makes this a fun read and one which many will find helpful.

I have clients who are looking to incorporate more meaning into their lives. The road map the authors have provided is easy to navigate. As always, they pepper the book with real life case studies, including using themselves as examples.

They make finding meaning in one’s life accessible vs. a huge mountain to climb. Many people I speak with are looking for a way to have impact and meaning in their work or personal lives. This book provides the reader with a realistic path to achieving that.

I will be encouraging any clients exploring looking for more meaning in their work and personal lives to read this. Like their earlier books, I suspect this will become the bible for those of us in transition.

[G.F. Erichsen · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book has plenty of sound advice that sounds very much like an adaption of Action and Commitment therapy: Spend a lot of time in active mindfulness, observing and appreciating rather than judging, and do what you can to make the way you live your life align with your deepest values. I have used, although quite imperfectly, such an approach for years, and it indeed is a path to enhancing one’s meaning and purpose.

It’s also a lot more difficult than the authors make it sound.

My problem with this book, and I don’t know how else to put it, is that it seems to have been written for the privileged. Nearly all the examples used in this book are of people who are by most measures quite successful, as the authors are. I would have loved to read examples of the people in situations where many of us are, working in dead-end and/or grunt jobs that a don’t pay enough and have little to offer offer than a paycheck. I also would have liked to see how this principles can by used by those with psychological issues such as depression, anxiety, ADHD, OCD, loneliness, addictions or whatever.

I’m not saying the principles of the book aren’t valid for most people, but I suspect that many “ordinary” people reading this book will wonder how it applies to them when their lives don’t seem anything like the lives of those in the book.

[Farnham68 · Rating 5 out of 5]

I give this book 5/5 stars! Great work Bill & Dave!

If you felt like Designing Your Life was the compass you needed to navigate your career, How to Live a Meaningful Life is the map for your entire existence. Bill Burnett and Dave Evans have done it again, taking the high-concept ambiguity of "meaning" and breaking it down into a practical, actionable, and deeply empathetic framework.

They stay anchored in Design Thinking and argue that a meaningful life isn’t something you find, but something you create, through intentionality and experimentation. It’s not just a book you read, but a book you will “do”. Each chapter is packed with exercises that will transform you in ways you never imagined. It will not only pack your bags for the trip, but show you which roads to take.

By the time you’re done reading this book , your life will feel as good on the inside as it might look to others on the outside! Isn’t that really all any of us are looking for? That inner peace we think others are seeing when they look at our smiling faces on social media? This book will help you find your flow, and I bet you didn’t even know it was lost!

I’d like to thank Simon & Schuster for a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

[Teague · Rating 4 out of 5]

Listened at 1.5 speed. A lot of what they did here is in Life and Work Design books (which I use annually) but the difference is a new focus on thinking about a purpose-driven, meaningful life after age 55. There’s tips to start now if you’re younger but I really love the application of the Infinite Game to the next 40 years. I haven’t thought of engaging or starting a formative community (group of 3-6 people who have a shared desire to get more meaning out of life and a willingness to reflect on their experiences and participate authentically in community)—different from community organizing group formations or political organizing committees—but now I am. Meeting every 3 weeks is ideal, zoom is fine, arrive with “compass” (found in all their books) and their “focus question.”


I like the “twofer” mindset/daily practice: radical acceptance + availability.

The design mindsets: wonder, radical acceptance, fully engaged and calmly detached, and create your world.

Simple flow (SF): practicing radical acceptance + availability; brief moments of SF are more available than the rarer “peak flow”. Extended SF: my bench sitting/cloud watching at Los Pinos trailhead.

Peak flow (PF): Maximum skill to respond to a high level of challenge.

“I live in the best of all possible worlds.”

[Cgallozzi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Full Disclosure - I've read "Designing your Life"; I've watched several YouTubes about this subject.

Argument - how to 'get more out of life' - without 'cramming more into life' - search for meaning in a practical sense.

They review some of the Designer's Credo - concerning your life - "...Create the Future..." through various examples and exercises. Some of their messages reflect the equivalent of a software designer's mantra - rapid prototyping and etc. (as opposed to move fast and break things).

Much mention of "Flow" - finding balance between challenge level and skill level - a 'place where time stops' as you fully engage yourself.

A readable guide for many concerning "how to think about and to design" meaning in one's life - by finding your "true north" and rapid prototyping - and the use of radical acceptance (of where one is in one's life cycle and circumstance).

Recapitulation of previous models; some new models concerning creating supportive communities.

An important thought model - taking responsibility for designing one's life - and some important templates - the proof, however is left to the student.

Should be of interest to those who think about/read self-help books.

Carl Gallozzi
Cgallozzi@comcast.net

[Ian · Rating 5 out of 5]

An investment of time that pays dividends in day-to-day well-being.

There is no true “how-to” manual for life, but this book is the closest thing I’ve found.

How to Live a Meaningful Life is an impossible-to-ignore resource. Reading it, I found myself wondering how I got so lucky to encounter this particular book out of the millions that exist….funny enough, it even explores the nature of luck itself. You will be surprised.

Whether you apply what you learn, read out of curiosity, or simply want to think more deeply about life and meaning, this book offers value to anyone.
Depending on how deeply you apply yourself to studying it, it invites serious self-reflection and ultimately leaves you feeling empowered and energized.

It feels almost impossible to read it without walking away with genuine insights. For me, there were many.

By the final page, you may feel so vividly alive that you’re left wondering whether you had truly been living before discovering this book.

Note, the book mentions Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience by Mihály Csíkszentmihályi. Highly recommend that book if you resonated with this one.

[Pam · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received an electronic ARC from Simon Element through NetGalley.
The two authors offer thoughts and guidance for using Design Thinking in our lives. Each chapter offers informative text and ends with exercises to incorporate the ideas in our reality. The concepts build on each other so by the end, readers have the needed tools to move toward designing a life that works for them - to move from the transactional to the flow style.
Books like this are not new but this one offers a more relaxed writing style. The two authors refer to themselves by their first name and provide examples and anecdotes to make their points. This worked well for me as I was reading this during a stressful time in the year. I chose to read a chapter a day and process what was written rather than move through quickly. The beauty of this book is that you can read it straight or read it at a slower pace. The exercises are your choice as well.

[Christine · Rating 3 out of 5]

In this book, the authors try to address the question of how to make your life seem more meaningful. If you are one of those people that seem to have everything they want - career, money, family, etc. - yet feel like you are stuck and/or that your life is still missing something, this book is for you. The authors explore ways to help you bring more purpose, joy and flow into your every day life.

I did find this book to be very informative. There are real exercises that they give you at the end of each chapter, although all of the exercises seem to definitely take some time and you need to be committed to doing them. I did feel like the bottom line piece of advice was that you should really just stop and smell the roses in everything you do.

I think some people will find this book very useful. It wasn't completely for me, but it was well done.

I received an advance review copy for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Lauri · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
How to Life a Meaningful Life: Using Design Thinking to Unlock Purpose, Joy, and Flow Every Day is a practical guide to practicing the exercises that can help you to live a life of more flow moments- of taking time to smell the roses, so to speak. It is an approach to design a life that does not just live in the transactional world, but that takes time to allow the joy of nature, passion, and soul to vibrate within us in moments of flow. Designing a life that leans in to mystery and curiosity, helps to harness our natural sense of wonder. Further aligning who we are with what we believe and what we do builds a strong compass and leads to life coherency. I liked the practical examples and exercises provided in this guide. I also like the unique way this book encourages readers to reframe their world and their mindsets.

[Jill · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was skeptical about how this book would be able to address meaning without getting into more spiritual/self-help realms. I was appreciative of how the authors addressed that right up front. A lot of what they covered in this book was exercises and ideas around mindset and how to think about life and some tools that I think can benefit a lot of people. The chapters towards the end did seem to mimic a lot of what I think people find in faith communities, but for those who aren't part of a faith tradition, those activities and engagements can certainly help with meaning.

I think what this boils down to is people and their relationship with contentment. More so than anything else, if people can develop a healthy practice of contentment, I think life can provide a lot of meaningful moments. I also think this book did a great job showcasing the importance of slowing down and being still--and noticing simple things around us. Yes!

[ladieniqma · Rating 4 out of 5]

What if reaching the top of the mountain doesn't fill your cup? Will the next peak make it any fuller? By forever looking up or behind us, what are we missing in the right here, right now?

These are the types of questions Bill Burnett and Dave Evans pose to regear our task-focused minds. Through a structured step-by-step guide to alter our mindsets, this book reminds us that curiosity is a superpower in living a meaningful life. I pledge to practice my flow going into 2026.

Thank you Simon Element for this giveaway The How to Live a Meaningful Life: Using Design Thinking to Unlock Purpose, Joy, and Flow Every Day.

[Dyan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I will say that there is something for everyone in this book. One author is an Atheist, and one is a Christian. Suggestions and techniques are provided for every age group of adults.

I am going to warn you, each chapter of the book, starts out with a summary of the lesson/technique, and it will SEEM overwhelming. Just take a breath, take it slow, and realize they are going to break it down in bite-sized pieces. At the end of each chapter, you will be led in an exercise to implement and use each technique.

This is a jewel of a book. Take it slow, read a little at a time, and you will be amazed about what you find out about yourself.

Thank you to Francesca at Simon and Schuster, Simon and Schuster, Bill Burnett, and Dave Evans for my advanced readers' copy of this book for my honest opinion.

[Jessica Brainard · Rating 4 out of 5]

How to Live a Meaningful Life is a thoughtful and practical guide that blends the principles of design thinking with the universal quest for purpose. Bill Burnett and Dave Evans distill complex ideas into approachable steps, helping readers reframe challenges, experiment with new possibilities, and build a life rooted in curiosity and intentional action. Their tone is warm, encouraging, and refreshingly pragmatic—less about finding a single “right” path and more about designing one that evolves with you. This book stands out for its actionable exercises and its ability to make personal growth feel both creative and achievable. A great read for anyone seeking clarity, momentum, or simply a more joyful and engaged way of living.

[Lisa Scheible · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m a fan of Bill and Dave having read Designing Your Life and attending some of their sessions. This was a really good reminder for where I am in life juggling work and motherhood and feeling like I live more days than not in survival mode. It’s repetitive like many of these books but the beginning is solid and they give 5 frameworks that are helpful for reframing everyday things that I have been actively using (at least two of them - radical acceptance and curiosity with the kids) in the last few weeks that have helped me pause, be grateful, and enjoy more moments in everyday life. Once you get past the introduction to the frameworks though you don’t have to read the rest of the book.