The Mattering Instinct

Type: Book

As of November 2026, The Mattering Instinct has been mentioned in 4 episodes across 1 podcast, first heard Feb 2026 on John R. Miles. Rebecca Goldstein's book, The Mattering Instinct, is frequently referenced in episodes of John R. Miles' podcast. It serves as a central topic in discussions about human motivation and existential questions, with Goldstein describing it as a work she has "devoured." Other guests also connect the themes of the book to concepts like "mattering projects," emphasizing its relevance to understanding human engagement and decision-making.

Rebecca Goldstein is an American philosopher and novelist. She has written ten books, both fiction and nonfiction. She holds a Ph.D. in philosophy of science from Princeton University, and is sometimes grouped with novelists such as Richard Powers and Alan Lightman, who create fiction that is knowledgeable of, and sympathetic toward, science.