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Heine’s field, existential psychology, uses the tools of science to study the kinds of questions famously asked by existential philosophers such as Albert Camus, Jean-Paul Sartre, and Simone de Beauvoir. Who are we? Why do we seek meaning? How do we connect with one another? Drawing on decades of research, Heine provides scientifically grounded answers to these mysteries. He shows that humans evolved to seek meaning: our survival depends on our ability to make sense of an absurd world. Every day, we deploy an arsenal of psychological tactics to make and maintain meaning in our lives, from rationalizing our choices, to waxing nostalgic about the past, to defending our cultural worldviews. By understanding why and how we seek to make sense, we can live authentic lives in times that don’t seem to make sense at all. This illuminating book transforms the way we understand our search for meaning and provides a blueprint for building a better life.","forthcoming":false,"isbn13":"9781541600812","publication_date":"20250128","publisher":"Basic Books","slug":"start-making-sense","subtitle":"How Existential Psychology Can Help US Build Meaningful Lives in Absurd Times","title":"Start Making Sense"},"discovery":{"categories":{"all":[{"bisac_code":"PSY045040","confidence_band":"high","label":"Existential Approaches","score":0.8357,"source":"bisac_hint_model"},{"bisac_code":"PSY045020","confidence_band":"medium","label":"Humanistic Approaches","score":0.7892,"source":"bisac_hint_model"},{"bisac_code":"PSY045010","confidence_band":"medium","label":"Behavioral Psychology","score":0.781,"source":"bisac_hint_model"}],"hint":[{"bisac_code":"PSY045040","confidence_band":"high","label":"Existential Approaches","score":0.8357,"source":"bisac_hint_model"},{"bisac_code":"PSY045020","confidence_band":"medium","label":"Humanistic Approaches","score":0.7892,"source":"bisac_hint_model"},{"bisac_code":"PSY045010","confidence_band":"medium","label":"Behavioral Psychology","score":0.781,"source":"bisac_hint_model"}],"publisher":[{"bisac_code":"HIS037070","confidence_band":"high","label":"20th-Century History","score":1,"source":"onix_publisher_code"},{"bisac_code":"PSY015000","confidence_band":"high","label":"History of Psychology","score":1,"source":"onix_publisher_code"},{"bisac_code":"PSY045040","confidence_band":"high","label":"Existential Approaches","score":1,"source":"onix_publisher_code"},{"bisac_code":"SEL016000","confidence_band":"high","label":"The Pursuit of Happiness","score":1,"source":"onix_publisher_code"}]},"genres":[{"label":"Existential Approaches","score":0.8357,"slug":"existential-approaches"},{"label":"Humanistic Approaches","score":0.7892,"slug":"humanistic-approaches"},{"label":"Behavioral Psychology","score":0.781,"slug":"behavioral-psychology"}],"reader_fit":["Good for readers who enjoy Existential Approaches","Good for readers interested in psychology","Good for fans of Psychology"],"related_lists":[{"intro":"","slug":"shelf-psy045010-behaviorism","title":"Behaviorism Books","url":"https://bookfrontier.com/lists/shelf-psy045010-behaviorism"}],"series":null,"similar_books":[{"authors":["Louis Hoffman","L. 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