Uploaded April 2026 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
It’s inevitable that at some point in our lives, we’ll look around and wonder, “Is this what I’m meant to do with my life? What does it mean to live a meaningful life—and why does it feel so hard?” That’s a question that social scientist, Free Press columnist, and Harvard professor Arthur C. Brooks aspired to Think Twice about. From behavioral science, philosophy, and personal experience, Brooks argues that while we’re still chasing pleasure and success, we’ve lost something deeper: meaning. From social media and AI to workaholism and virtual relationships, he makes the case that we’re trying to solve complex human problems with overly simplistic tools, and it’s backfiring. In this “Think Twice” episode, Brooks sits down with guest moderator and Open to Debate CEO Lia Matthow and discusses his new book, "The Meaning of Your Life: Finding Purpose in an Age of Emptiness," the growing social crisis hiding in plain sight, researching happiness, and his roadmap for reclaiming a life that actually feels lived.
Our Guest: Arthur C. Brooks (@drarthurbrooks), New York Times Bestselling Author of "The Meaning of Your Life: Finding Purpose in an Age of Emptiness"; Professor at Harvard University; Columnist at The Free Press
Lia Matthow, CEO of Open to Debate, is the guest moderator
Visit our Substack to watch more insightful debates and subscribe to our newsletter.
#arthurbrooks #meaning #philosophy
===================================
Subscribe on Substack: opentodebate.substack.com
Official site: opentodebate.org
X: twitter.com/OpentoDebateOrg
Facebook: facebook.com/BeOpentoDebate
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/opentodebate
Instagram: instagram.com/opentodebateorg
TikTok: tiktok.com/@opentodebateorg
Open to Debate Apple Podcasts: tinyurl.com/bdzmz5xt
Open to Debate Spotify Podcasts: tinyurl.com/22tuxu7h
===================================
00:00:00 – Introduction: The Meaning of Your Life with Arthur C. Brooks
00:03:21 – Arthur's Personal Journey
00:07:11 – The Three Pillars of Meaning
00:09:43 – Left Brain vs Right Brain
00:11:07 – Complicated vs Complex Problems
00:14:52 – Why This Was Brooks’ Hardest Book to Write
00:15:58 – How Meaning Finds You
00:19:03 – Can Technology Help Us Find Meaning?
00:21:30 – Why Work-Life Balance Is a Mistake
00:25:14 – Burnout and Knowing When to Change Direction
00:28:28 – Why Suffering Is Essential to a Meaningful Life
00:31:27 – Love, Loneliness, and the “Virtual Life” Trap
00:34:27 – Free Will and the Search for Meaning
00:36:13 – Are Things Getting Better or Worse?
00:38:11 – Can the Pursuit of Meaning Become Navel-Gazing?
00:40:00 – The Relationship Between Love and Meaning
00:42:40 – Love as a Decision, Not a Feeling
00:45:40 – Can We Be Wrong About Meaning?
00:48:08 – What Does Religion Offer That Secular Philosophy Doesn't?
00:50:40 – If We Optimize Life, What Do We Lose?
00:53:50 – Will AI Destroy Meaningful Work?
00:56:45 – What Writing This Book Made Arthur "Think Twice" About
00:58:30 – Final Thoughts
It’s inevitable that at some point in our lives, we’ll look around and wonder, “Is this what I’m meant to do with my life? What does it mean to live a meaningful life—and why does it feel so hard?” That’s a question that social scientist, Free Press columnist, and Harvard professor Arthur C. Brooks aspired to Think Twice about. From behavioral science, philosophy, and personal experience, Brooks argues that while we’re still chasing pleasure and success, we’ve lost something deeper: meaning. From social media and AI to workaholism and virtual relationships, he makes the case that we’re trying to solve complex human problems with overly simplistic tools, and it’s backfiring. In this “Think Twice” episode, Brooks sits down with guest moderator and Open to Debate CEO Lia Matthow and discusses his new book, "The Meaning of Your Life: Finding Purpose in an Age of Emptiness," the growing social crisis hiding in plain sight, researching happiness, and his roadmap for reclaiming a life that actually feels lived.
Our Guest: Arthur C. Brooks (@drarthurbrooks), New York Times Bestselling Author of "The Meaning of Your Life: Finding Purpose in an Age of Emptiness"; Professor at Harvard University; Columnist at The Free Press
Lia Matthow, CEO of Open to Debate, is the guest moderator
Visit our Substack to watch more insightful debates and subscribe to our newsletter.
#arthurbrooks #meaning #philosophy
===================================
Subscribe on Substack: opentodebate.substack.com
Official site: opentodebate.org
X: twitter.com/OpentoDebateOrg
Facebook: facebook.com/BeOpentoDebate
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/opentodebate
Instagram: instagram.com/opentodebateorg
TikTok: tiktok.com/@opentodebateorg
Open to Debate Apple Podcasts: tinyurl.com/bdzmz5xt
Open to Debate Spotify Podcasts: tinyurl.com/22tuxu7h
===================================
00:00:00 – Introduction: The Meaning of Your Life with Arthur C. Brooks
00:03:21 – Arthur's Personal Journey
00:07:11 – The Three Pillars of Meaning
00:09:43 – Left Brain vs Right Brain
00:11:07 – Complicated vs Complex Problems
00:14:52 – Why This Was Brooks’ Hardest Book to Write
00:15:58 – How Meaning Finds You
00:19:03 – Can Technology Help Us Find Meaning?
00:21:30 – Why Work-Life Balance Is a Mistake
00:25:14 – Burnout and Knowing When to Change Direction
00:28:28 – Why Suffering Is Essential to a Meaningful Life
00:31:27 – Love, Loneliness, and the “Virtual Life” Trap
00:34:27 – Free Will and the Search for Meaning
00:36:13 – Are Things Getting Better or Worse?
00:38:11 – Can the Pursuit of Meaning Become Navel-Gazing?
00:40:00 – The Relationship Between Love and Meaning
00:42:40 – Love as a Decision, Not a Feeling
00:45:40 – Can We Be Wrong About Meaning?
00:48:08 – What Does Religion Offer That Secular Philosophy Doesn't?
00:50:40 – If We Optimize Life, What Do We Lose?
00:53:50 – Will AI Destroy Meaningful Work?
00:56:45 – What Writing This Book Made Arthur "Think Twice" About
00:58:30 – Final Thoughts
