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William Damon
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The Path to Purpose: Helping Our Children Find Their Calling in Life Hardcover – April 22, 2008

by William Damon (Author)
4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars 131 ratings
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The author of Greater Expectations cites rising levels of young people who are entering adulthood without a clear sense of purpose, explaining how parents and educators can productively assist children to discover and responsibly pursue their true interests. 40,000 first printing.
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  1. Print length
    240 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Free Press
  4. Publication date
    April 22, 2008
  5. Dimensions
    6 x 1 x 9.25 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    1416537236
  7. ISBN-13
    978-1416537236
  8. See all details
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Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Free Press; 1st edition (April 22, 2008)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 240 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1416537236
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1416537236
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 13.4 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6 x 1 x 9.25 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars 131 ratings

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William Damon

William Damon

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Customer reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars
4.3 out of 5
131 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

chrispark
5.0 out of 5 stars An Antidote for the Race to Nowhere
Reviewed in the United States on March 30, 2011
Verified Purchase
As a college admissions consultant, I begin a relationship with a teen client by probing that young person's interests, passions and long-term goals. I am often struck by an absence of purpose, even from students with remarkable talent. So Professor Damon's book truly resonated for me. I once thought that my role with teens was mostly about the "HOW" (i.e., getting into college); Damon's book helped me realize that, as an adult who cares about young people, it is my responsibility to help my adolescents with the "WHY."

I call this book an antidote for the Race to Nowhere, based on a recent film about the pressure placed on high school students today to get into college, without any real vision of where they are really going in life or why it matters.

This book will change you, whether you are a parent, teacher, tutor, coach, extended family member, shrink, or policymaker. Its call to action is to help our society's young people shift in a positive direction along the continuum of categories from disengaged to purposeful.

Damon does not just curse the darkness; he lights a bright candle by making positive suggestions that parents (and other adults) can put into practice on a daily basis with the teens with whom they interact.

Rather than stealing Damon's thunder, I suggest reading this book and internalizing his suggestions. The first is: "Listen for the spark, then fan the flame" whenever the opportunity arises....
12 people found this helpful
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Kevin Currie-Knight
4.0 out of 5 stars The Things We Don't Teach
Reviewed in the United States on July 23, 2009
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There are many things we teach in school. We teach students about the world at large, how to remember useful facts, how to think. But one thing we often miss is the importance of teaching kids to find and cultivate a purpose. Helping students to find their goal in life, their reason for doing the things they do, and their "end in itself" is just as important. The main thesis of this well-written and -argued book is that kids who have a purpose generally tend to do a whole lot better in a whole lot of areas than kids who are "drifters" or "dabblers," who may have short-term goals but lack a long-term unifying goal.

The Path to Purpose is based on some studies that Damon and his students have done about kids and purposes. What they found is alarming: "In our interviews and surveys, only about one in five young people in the 12-22-year age range express a clear vision of where they want to go,what they want to accomplish in life, and why." (kindle location 234) Some are "drifters" who don't have much direction to their lives, while most are "dabblers" who have toyed around with a few ideas as to what they want to do and why, but haven't found any clear direction yet.

The first part of the book focuses on the problem and why it matters. Why a purpose? Because cultivating a sense of purpose gives kids (and adults) a reason to try hard, a passion about which to learn, and a reason to endure both good and bad. Just like working a meaningful job versus a meaningless one, students tend to excel when they are working towards a goal and feel that goal to have meaning.

The second part will be the most interest to those already convinced that a problem exists. Here, Damon gives advice on how parents and teachers (with focus on parents) can help kids find purpose. Some answers are obvious: be there for your kids, listen when they talk, expose them to ideas, support them even when you may not agree with their chosen purpose (within reason, of course). Other answers are less obvious: tell your kids why you do what you do, expose them to outside influences, talk ideas through with them Socratically rather than solving problems for them, let them know the importance of persistence.

The one thing I will deduct a star for, however, is that Damon doesn't focus nearly as much as he should have on the data showing that having a purpose tends to lead to success in most areas (academic, social, etc.) He tells us this repeatedly and there is no reason to doubt him, but I was curious as to what the data show: how much more successful are those with purpose versus those without?

Also, I really wish Damon would have addressed a question many of us (especially teachers) have about how we can talk about purpose in a way value-neutral enough to be appropriate and not preachy. How can we guide kids towards purposeful lives without imposing certain values on them (when a child, say, chooses a purpose we may feel is maladaptive)? This would have been a helpful discussion to have and his book suffers for lack of it.

But all in all, this is a very important book to read for teachers and parents. As a teacher, I would like its message to inform my future teaching, and to take time whenever possible to allow kids to reflect on what their purpose is or what they'd like it to be.
28 people found this helpful
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Brady
5.0 out of 5 stars Powerful Ideas on Building Moral Character
Reviewed in the United States on March 18, 2016
Verified Purchase
I have been trying to understand how to instill moral principles in the minds and hearts of students. This is hard to do in a secular world. Dr. Damon of Stanford has wonderful insights on how to help youth develop moral character. It never occurred to me that there is a strong correlation between sense of purpose and moral character. I'm excited to apply these principles in my future career and other practical daily situations.
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austen
3.0 out of 5 stars I start reading it, but did not find it ...
Reviewed in the United States on November 19, 2015
Verified Purchase
I start reading it, but did not find it too interesting. The author should get to the point without too many stories that did not do much to inspire. Should be written in a way that would pique the interest of a young person. I bought it for my son, but now think that he will not go pass the first 2 pages.
4 people found this helpful
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Linda Liguore
5.0 out of 5 stars Insightful
Reviewed in the United States on May 31, 2019
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Great and to the point, this author does a wonderful job of outlining the current situation and the path toward raising purpose-filled children. Well done. I was inspired myself to get involved in my community again.
2 people found this helpful
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Karl W. Reid
4.0 out of 5 stars An informative and practical guide to help young people develop a sense of Purpose
Reviewed in the United States on January 25, 2014
Verified Purchase
This is a well-written, very informative book based on empirical studies of young people who demonstrate wide ranges of a sense of purpose. It succinctly and compellingly answers the question, "Why Purpose?" then details case studies of children-the 20% of the sample-who've identified their distinct contribution to the world, how they discovered it, and who who helped them along the way.
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Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Take children out of the bottom of Maslow’s pyramid
Reviewed in the United States on October 22, 2018
Verified Purchase
Damon provides both the rationale and practical tips on why and how to take children out of lives stuck at the bottom of Maslow’s pyramid -which should be a human right...
2 people found this helpful
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Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Arrived as described A+
Reviewed in the United States on July 3, 2015
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Arrived as described A+
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Top reviews from other countries

P.M. - satisfied customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Strongly recommend
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 26, 2020
Verified Purchase
Very good book. Promote a purpose in any education system should be seen as a priority. Strongly recommend this book.
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jonathan barker
5.0 out of 5 stars Helpful Overview of Huge Societal Problem
Reviewed in Canada on January 27, 2014
Verified Purchase
I'm a twenty-something looking to find my way after University and I've been seeking out books on the subject. No book has explained the threat that lack of direction can have on a persons life better than this. There are lots of reasons why this is happening, and the book goes through all of them one by one. This is highly recommended for policy makers, school counselors, teachers and parents that are looking to help their kids find meaning.

There is a helpful survey at the end that brings a lot of your life into focus.

To be honest, I still haven't found my purpose, but I feel more comfortable in my skin with knowing its a global problem and that I'm not alone.

Five Stars.
5 people found this helpful
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Madhavi Parker
5.0 out of 5 stars An easy, logical and well researched book on how to ...
Reviewed in Australia on May 19, 2015
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An easy, logical and well researched book on how to help young people live to their potential and find their purpose. Highly recommended
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SO
3.0 out of 5 stars Seems ok
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 16, 2019
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Haven’t finished reading it yet.
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