Freely Determined
What the New Psychology of the Self Teaches Us About How to Live

Name: Freely Determined
Brand: Blackstone Audiobooks
Availability: InStock
Author: Kennon M. Sheldon
ISBN: 9798212274760

Author: Kennon M. Sheldon

Narrator: Alex Boyles

Unabridged: 6 hr 30 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Publisher: Blackstone Publishing

Published: 11/01/2022

Categories: Nonfiction, Psychology, Philosophy, Free Will & Determinism, Cognitive Neuroscience & Cognitive Neuropsychology

Includes: Bonus Material Bonus Material Included

Synopsis

A renowned psychologist argues that free will is not only real but essential to our well-being. It’s become fashionable to argue that free will is a fiction: that we humans are in the thrall of animal urges and unconscious biases and only think that we are choosing freely. In Freely Determined, research psychologist Kennon Sheldon argues that this perception is not only wrong but also dangerous. Drawing on decades of his own groundbreaking empirical research into motivation and goal setting, Sheldon shows us that embracing the ability to choose our path in life makes us happier, healthier, and more fulfilled. He also shows that this insight can help us choose better goals—ones that are concordant with our values and that, critically, we’re more likely to actually see through. Providing listeners insight into how they can live a more self-directed, satisfying life, Freely Determined offers an essential guide for how we might recognize our freedom and use it wisely.

About Kennon M. Sheldon

Kennon M. Sheldon is professor of psychology at the University of Missouri. He is one of the founding researchers of positive psychology, a fellow of the American Psychological Association, and a recipient of the Templeton Foundation Positive Psychology Prize. He lives in Columbia, Missouri.

About Alex Boyles

Alex Boyles has been acting pretty much his entire life. He got his BA in theater–acting/directing performance from CSU Long Beach and his MFA in acting performance from Ohio State University. He started narrating audiobooks in 2019 and hasn’t looked back!

Reviews

Goodreads review by Chris on December 19, 2022

Free will is one of my favorite topics to learn about. I’m a free will skeptic, but this book definitely shifted some of my views on the topic. This is another book that’s up there for one of my favorites of 2022 as Kennon Sheldon did an amazing job breaking down free will and arguing that we should......more

Goodreads review by Michele on December 24, 2022

I read Kennon Sheldon's book after reading an intriguing review of it in the Wall Street Journal. This is a fascinating psychological exploration of free will. It succeeds quite convincingly in putting into question deterministic thinking and puts forth an integrated framework of humans linking all......more

Goodreads review by Amy on February 10, 2023

Philosophy meets psychology. It took me a while to get into the book, however, it is necessary to read the first part of the book before the author gets into the details of his argument.......more

Goodreads review by Heather on January 18, 2025

3.5, rounded up. I recommend this book with the disclaimer that it is dense and at times very hypothetical. It was fascinating to learn about the different kinds of motivations we have as humans.. and the dynamic (or lack thereof) between those motives in our choices. We've all probably heard about in......more

Goodreads review by Dyl on June 24, 2024

Explores the concept of personal autonomy and the factors that contribute to its development. Sheldon's thesis challenges conventional views by emphasizing the role of intrinsic motivation and psychological needs satisfaction in fostering genuine autonomy. He argues that individuals can cultivate au......more

Quotes

“A moving, persuasive, beautifully-written book that tackles a basic and central aspect of the human mind.” Roy Baumeister, New York Times bestselling author