While the search for meaning and purpose appears to be a constant throughout human history, there are characteristics about our current time period that make this search different from any other previous time, particularly for college students. In this book, Perry L. Glanzer, Jonathan P. Hill, and Byron R. Johnson explore college students' search for meaning and purpose and the role that higher education plays. To shed empirical light on this complex issue, the authors draw on in-depth interviews with four hundred college students from different types of institutions across the United States. They also analyze three sets of national survey data: the National Study of Youth and Religion, College Students Beliefs and Values, and their own Gallup-conducted survey of 2,500 college students. Their research identifies important social, educational, and cultural influences that shape students' quests and the answers they find. Arguing against a utilitarian view of education, Glanzer, Hill, and Johnson conclude that colleges and universities can and should cultivate and aid students in their journeys, and they offer suggestions for doing so.

In this book, the author brings about his thinking of the last decade or so where he attempts to understand the contemporary events of life with the teachings of our rich scriptures, Vedanta, in particular. The author brings about the hidden virtues of human beings, that of compassion, kindness, being holistic and harmonious through an insightful take on leadership, the relevance of guides and attempts to bring to context the vices or challenges, that of fear and greed. The true power within all of us which can be invigorated with approaches well established and the deeds that may be performed with that power. The author emphasizes the pertinence of choices that we make, which make all the difference and provide a path for us. There is a take on where real value might be. What must be most important for us? The book contains many real-life anecdotes which may be very interesting to read and more so as they are very relatable to each life. With these very modest, yet deep thoughts, the author wishes, if we can convince ourselves of some important choices.

What happens when higher education is introduced to the exploration of meaning and purpose? Liberal Learning as a Quest for Purpose analyzes a remarkable experiment--lasting over a decade and encompassing 88 independent campuses--to reconfigure undergraduate education as a journey toward life purpose. It ties together the liberal arts, personal development, and preparation for life all through the exploration of vocation.

Essays in tribute to pioneering researcher Herman Feifel cover all aspects of thanatology, the study of death and dying and the care of the dying and bereaved. Topics include the role of the caregiver, the process of grief, religious and spiritual perspectives, how children cope with death, and assisted death. Of interest to social workers, nurses, psychotherapists, physicians, clergy, and educators. Annotation copyrighted by Book News, Inc., Portland, OR

Why did we come to earth? Why did we take this human birth? What is the purpose of our existence? We just live and die, we look up at the sky, we cry and we ask, ‘Why?’ We don’t discover who we are and why we are here. Isn’t it time to start a quest to discover the purpose of life? To take that inner voyage to realize that I am not the body that will die, not the mind that I cannot find, not the ego that says I, it is a lie. This journey will lead us to the state of truth Consciousness where there is Eternal Bliss, Divine Love and Everlasting Peace. This book will not only help you start a quest but will also take you to achieving your ultimate goal, of realizing you are the Divine Soul and being liberated and united with the Divine.

Exploring the different points of view and 'tones of voice' adopted in theology for the meeting of religions, this book presents a contemporary philosophical and theological engagement with key issues of how different faiths might meet, of comparative philosophy of religion, the use of aesthetics, inter-religious ethics and issues relating to the self. Providing a critical evaluation of contemporary liberal, post-liberal and conservative voices, this book highlights the use of the creative imagination and explores new ideas for the meeting of religions.

Self-Action Leadership (Volumes 1 and 2) provides the first, and only, books of their kind in the academic world today. This two volume set single-handedly carves out a new and unique scholarly niche by providing the first comprehensive and secular manual to holistically address society’s universal need for personal leadership and character education. Its single-minded aim is the global promotion and proliferation of leadership, character, and life skills education in nations, communities, organizations, schools, homes, and individual lives everywhere. The concept of Self-Action Leadership (SAL) is rooted in 30 years of extensive research spanning the fields of self-leadership, leadership, action research, character education, and autoethnography. In addition to drawing on the scholarship of these extant fields, SAL simultaneously builds upon them by introducing an original theory and model that executives, administrators, scholars, teachers, and practitioners alike can universally utilize to their own advantages and to the benefit of their colleagues, subordinates, and students. Volume I—The Self-Action Leadership Theory—contains prefacing material for the combined texts. It also includes the first four book sections of the two volume set.

An admired civil servant reveals the principles and life lessons she learned that transformed her thinking and actions from poverty-level living to a successful life and career in the federal government as a member of the Senior Executive Service. Askers, Seekers, and Knockers: I ASKED takes you on a journey filled with life lessons and experiences that demonstrate how anyone can create their own personal journey to success. Through deliberate, persistent, and dedicated actions, Carolyn Jean McMillon illustrates a powerful and inspirational step-by-step process to help you design a personal plan of action to get you from where you are today to the success you desire tomorrow. McMillon demonstrates through the principles of Asking, Seeking, and Knocking that it is not your beginning that dictates where you end up, but your choices. She makes a dare to every reader that forces them to evaluate the what-ifs of life. So what if you were not born a member of the privileged class, did not receive an Ivy League education, were not fortunate enough to have a formal mentor to take you under their wings, did not have that stellar job assignments, did not finish school, had a broken home life and a dysfunctional family, have more than your share of life's obstacles and challenges, were not fortunate enough to have a pre-planned successful path laid out for your life, and the "I did not have" and what-ifs list could go on and on and on. If you have grown tired of having a pity party and using one excuse after another as reasons why you are suffering with lack in your life, this book is definitely for you. An engaging and powerful storyteller, McMillon uses enlightening parables and vignettes to offer sage advice and wisdom about making choices that impact one's life. Through positive thought-provoking exercises, this book enables readers to map out their own personal journey to success by getting rid of limiting beliefs and self-defeating doubts and putting into action new directions that will take them to their high places in life. When you give up the pity party, stop blaming things that you can't change, and focus on changing the things you can, your circumstances will change! Why is McMillon so adamantly sure that you can transform and change the direction of your life? Because she did it.

This best-selling book discusses the aspects of ldquo;successful aging,rdquo; covering growth and development from young adulthood to old age, and the impact that culture, gender, and individual differences have on these processes. Its conversational and positive tone keeps readers interested in the subject matter, as it encourages them to apply the concepts of the book to their own lives.It presents research findings, theories, and models from the fields of developmental psychology, social psychology, health psychology, sociology, and others to discuss topics of prevention, compensation, gains, and losses.For psychologists, sociologists, and gerontologists interested in a valuable resource for information about the aging process.