Emerson, the Stoics, and Me has descriptive copy which is not yet available from the Publisher.

Although we're taught to believe that insecurity is something to be avoided, the more open you are to the truth of insecurity, the stronger you become.The Wisdom of Insecurity will help you to embrace this ubiquitous humility of life more fully.A Better Listen audio production.

“Mark Matousek has produced [a] riveting account of his search–at age 38, with the help of a private detective–for the father who abandoned him at age four. A searing meditation on the psychic harm suffered by men and women without fathers, this wise odyssey wrestles with questions of life and death and the search for the meaning of one’s existence.” —Publishers Weekly (Starred Review)“I was four years old when my father came back to kidnap me,” begins thi...

Writing to Awaken is an inspirational investigation of the self through expressive writing, guiding you along the path of awakening through radical truth-telling and self-inquiry. With targeted and revelatory questions, you’ll be prompted to explore your own personal narrative—to write honestly about your deepest wounds, greatest challenges, hidden gifts, yearnings, and opportunities for growth—in order to discover a deeply authentic understanding of yourself and move toward a mor...

Do survivors of life's greatest trials possess a secret knowledge? Is there an art to survival―a map for crossing the wilderness―or daily life? Why do some people blossom through adversity while others stop growing? Drawing on twenty years' experience in this field, using stories, parable, and scientific data, acclaimed memoirist Mark Matousek gives the first-ever comprehensive look at this mysterious phenomenon of viriditas, the power of drawing passion, beauty, and wisdom from t...

Passion is the lifeblood of a creative existence. How does it operate in your current life and where might you be tamping it down, missing out on opportunities for increased enjoyment and personal freedom?Passion and Abandon explores the topics of pleasure, surrender, self-trust, repression, risk, and our attitudes toward the desires and passions that burn within us.A Better Listen audio production.

In this 2023 conversation with Justine Willis Toms, writer Mark Matousek reminds us that In these times of chronic planetary, traumatic stress, we have access to the radical and relevant philosophy of the American treasure, Ralph Waldo Emerson.Emerson’s philosophy of self-reliance which, in his terms, was much more than standing alone as a self-sufficient individual. It is about paying attention to the well-being of the spirit and reliance on the divine intelligence that we all sha...

“Love your crooked neighbor with your crooked heart," Auden suggested. We are all crooked creatures – perfect in our imperfections – loving with our crooked hearts. The struggle is the point, not the destination.Love is something we prove by our deeds and demonstrate by our intentions. It comes from a spirit of play more than a spirit of work or duty. We don't contain love, it burns through us; it's intimate but doesn't belong to us. It’s close and available, but its own master. We...

“With a seeker’s profound curiosity, a journalist’s keen eye, and a potent combination of honesty, courage, intelligence, and tender-heartedness, Mark Matousek as written a beautiful book that is at once a spiritual autobiography and an exploration of one of the most mystical beings of our time.” —Dani Shapiro, author of HourglassMark Matousek was a nonbeliever when he met Mother Meera in 1985. Yet, in her presence, he experienced inexplicable occu...

What’s Your Story? is a fascinating investigation of this storytelling process and what it can teach us about who we really are.As Matousek says, “When you tell the truth, your story changes. When your story changes, your life is transformed.” The best selling memoirist and teacher guides listeners on a journey of self-discovery through personal writing, posing questions we don’t often ask ourselves in the course of everyday life.Who am I? What do I believe? What d...

We often make our life choices by default, taking the easy or well-traveled path, obeying the voices of practicality and conformity, over the siren call of freedom.By asking ourselves which aspects of the self we wish to change, and being specific about our desires, we empower ourselves to make creative choices.A Better Listen audio production.