It's here! Browse the 2024 Penguin Christmas gift guide
Languishing

Languishing

How to Feel Alive Again in a World That Wears Us Down

Summary

'With his pioneering research, Corey Keyes put languishing on the map. In this powerful book, he brings it to life. Rethink your understanding of mental health, update your views on happiness and come closer to realizing your potential.'
Adam Grant, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Hidden Potential



Do you feel demotivated and aimless?
Are you running on empty?
Is it hard to pinpoint what's wrong?

Millions of us are struggling with this emotional state of weariness, and until now, we've lacked the vocabulary to understand it. But Dr Corey Keyes has identified this feeling as languishing, and here he draws on the latest research and real-life case studies to trace its spread to a level of global epidemic, asking the fundamental question of how we find lasting wellbeing.

Breaking down the science of emotional exhaustion, Keyes shows that our very obsession with happiness complicates the process of finding it. Only by shifting our focus from feeling good to functioning well can we unlock the key to flourishing. He reveals the choices and mental habits that inadvertently worsen the problem, and shares simple but powerful steps anyone can take to restore meaning, joy, and calm to their lives.

Languishing is a must-read for anyone tempted to downplay the demotivation and emptiness they've been feeling, to help build a buffer against the pressures of modern life and find true flourishing.

Reviews

  • Wise, profound and deeply compassionate
    The Sunday Times

About the author

Corey Keyes

Dr Corey Keyes is a sociologist and professor emeritus at Emory University whose research on mental health – including his pioneering work on the science of human flourishing – has had wide-reaching policy implications.

Over the course of his career, he’s advised the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the World Happiness Forum, as well as governmental agencies in Canada, Northern Ireland, and Australia.
Learn More

Sign up to the Penguin Newsletter

For the latest books, recommendations, author interviews and more