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"Noble Purpose - the Joy of Living a Meaningful Life" is authored by Stanford University Professor of Education, Dr. William Damon.

He is the Director of the Stanford Center on Adolescence, which has been scientifically investigating how young people acquire a noble purpose in today's world.

Damon's study of noble purpose begins with the assumption that "purpose is essential for a constructive and meaningful life and that youth is a formative period for acquiring lifelong purpose."

Damon's work asks: "What noble purposes inspire today's young? How are young people being introduced to such purposes? What kinds of noble purposes are today's educational institutions advancing and what kinds are they neglecting? One of the goals of the study is to determine the social, cultural and educational conditions that promote purpose among the young."

Damon's project was inspired by his research team examination of the Laws of Life Essay contest that was conceived by the Templeton Foundation. Damon observed that "the student essays offered a unique window into the deepest thoughts and feelings of today's young people.

In the essays, the vast majority of students expressed a positive view of life and a great deal of compassion, spirituality and personal and social responsibility."

Damon's current research on the development of noble purpose is presented in a summary by the Stanford Center on Adolescence as well as in his book published by the Templeton Foundation Press.

"Dr. Damon shows how people from many cultures throughout history have pursued noble purposes - and how noble purpose can be found in a variety of activities and settings from heroic to the everyday."

As a professional who has spent more than 30 years in the field of psychological, spiritual, educational investigation into what makes for a meaningful life, I believe the character theme of noble purpose is a core lesson in the development of a kid of character.

To learn more about Damon's book, visit Templeton Press.