Life Worth Living audiobook cover - A Guide to What Matters Most

Life Worth Living

A Guide to What Matters Most

Miroslav Volf, Matthew Croasmun and Ryan McAnnally-Linz

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Categories:
Religion & SpiritualityMindfulness & HappinessPhilosophyMotivation & Inspiration

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Key Takeaways from Life Worth Living

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Life Worth Living
Redefining the Good Life+
Three Modes of Responsibility+
Philosophical & Religious Visions+
Scope of Care and Mortality+
Putting Vision into Action+

Quiz — Test Your Understanding

Question 1 of 6
In the book, how do the authors use the 'Smokey the Bear' metaphor to explain our moral responsibilities?
  • A. It represents the three primary modes of responsibility: the self (agent), the forest (sphere of impact), and Smokey (authoritative figure/judge).
  • B. It illustrates how human beings are solely responsible for protecting the natural environment from industrial destruction.
  • C. It demonstrates that a flourishing life requires abandoning modern conveniences and returning to a simpler life in the wilderness.
  • D. It shows that preventing disaster in our personal lives is the only ethical obligation we truly have as individuals.
Question 2 of 6
How did Oscar Wilde's view of a good life, developed during his time in prison, differ from Jeremy Bentham's utilitarian philosophy?
  • A. Wilde believed that all pleasures are of equal value, while Bentham created a strict hierarchy of intellectual pursuits.
  • B. Wilde concluded that avoiding pain is the highest good, whereas Bentham believed suffering was necessary for creating art.
  • C. Wilde realized that sorrow is a fundamental and beautiful component of life, rather than something to be strictly avoided.
  • D. Wilde argued that personal freedom from societal laws is the only way to achieve true happiness, rejecting Bentham's constitutional ideas.
Question 3 of 6
According to Buddhist philosophy as discussed in the text, what is the root cause of human suffering and how should it be addressed?
  • A. Suffering is caused by a lack of material wealth, which should be remedied through focused ambition and hard work.
  • B. Suffering stems from craving itself, and one must detach from the need for pleasure to achieve transcendence.
  • C. Suffering is a punishment from a higher power, and it can only be resolved through strict religious obedience.
  • D. Suffering is an illusion created by society, and it disappears when one isolates themselves completely from others.
Question 4 of 6
When discussing the 'sphere of responsibility,' what critical perspective does Robin Wall Kimmerer offer regarding the good life?
  • A. She argues that a good life is only attainable for free individuals who own property, echoing Aristotle's historical views.
  • B. She asserts that human ethical obligations should extend strictly to other humans, leaving nature to govern itself.
  • C. She contends that a flourishing life requires extending our respect and responsibility to non-human life and the natural environment.
  • D. She believes that artistic genius requires exemption from everyday chores, aligning with Nietzsche's philosophy.
Question 5 of 6
Why do thinkers like Martha Nussbaum and C.S. Lewis argue that the finite aspect of life (mortality) is essential?
  • A. Because the fear of death is the only effective deterrent against immoral and selfish behavior.
  • B. Because the certainty of death proves that all human endeavors are ultimately meaningless.
  • C. Because an infinite life would lack urgency, and it is mortality that gives our choices agency and purpose.
  • D. Because recognizing our mortality allows us to detach completely from worldly cravings and desires.
Question 6 of 6
What is the primary purpose of the 'examen,' a tool developed by St. Ignatius of Loyola?
  • A. It is a daily five-part prayer designed to help individuals reflect on their actions, seek forgiveness, and recognize God's presence.
  • B. It is a communal ritual used by large congregations to debate theological differences and establish unanimous values.
  • C. It is a meditation technique aimed at completely detaching the mind from physical sensations and worldly attachments.
  • D. It is a philosophical test used to determine whether an individual's actions have produced more pleasure than pain.

Life Worth Living — Full Chapter Overview

Life Worth Living Summary & Overview

Life Worth Living (2023) is about discovering your own vision for a meaningful life. It offers a wide spectrum of philosophic and theological ideas in order to better understand what is most important to you, and how to turn that understanding into action.

Who Should Listen to Life Worth Living?

  • Anyone who’s ever wondered about the meaning of life
  • People interested in theology and comparative religion studies
  • Curious minds looking for inspiration and guidance

About the Author: Miroslav Volf, Matthew Croasmun and Ryan McAnnally-Linz

Miroslav Volf is a professor of theology at Yale Divinity School, where he is also the Director of the Yale Center for Faith & Culture. He is also the author, or co-author, of numerous books dealing with religion, faith, and compassion including The End of Memory, and the award-winning Exclusion and Embrace.

Matthew Croasmun is a lecturer at Yale College, as well as the Director of the Life Worth Living Program at the Yale Center for Faith & Culture. He is also an author, having written The Emergence of Sin, and co-written For the Life of the World with Miroslav Volf.

Ryan McAnnally-Linz is an Associate Director of the Yale Center for Faith & Culture. His other books include The Home of God, and Public Faith in Action, both of which he co-authored with Miroslav Volf.

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