New Books in Critical Theory Rebecca Newberger Goldstein, "The Mattering Instinct: How Our Deepest Longing Drives Us and Divides Us" (Liveright Publishing, 2026)
May 12, 2026
Rebecca Newberger Goldstein, philosopher and novelist known for exploring big ideas in culture, returns with a book about the human longing to matter. She traces how mattering shapes identity through stories and psychological, biological, and philosophical lenses. Listens to how different strategies for feeling significant link to creativity, politics, and social conflict.
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Humans Justify Their Own Existence
- Humans uniquely seek to justify their existence to themselves, not just survive or flourish.
- Goldstein links this self-justifying drive to our large brains and capacity for self-reflection that turns theory-of-mind inward.
Novel Sparked The Mattering Idea
- Goldstein discovered the mattering theme while writing her novel The Mind-Body Problem to explain a protagonist's chronic misery.
- The character says she doesn't feel she matters in the way that matters to her, prompting Goldstein's inquiry.
Mattering Emerges After Security Enables Self-Reflection
- Mattering arises once basic needs and safety allow self-reflection to kick in.
- Goldstein ties its evolutionary origin to big brains, social cognition, and turning theory-of-mind inward.
