Why Do We Feel Anxious and Empty?
Decoding in ‘Anxious to Matter’ by Harsh Patel
“What’s the point of all this?” Perhaps, this is one of the many questions we all have been once stuck with while staring at a screen, slogging through emails and a never-ending to-do list. The world feels like it’s sprinting towards efficiency at the expense of meaning of this little life itself. Somehow, Anxious to Matter steps in like a wise friend, offering a cup of coffee and a deep, thought-provoking conversation about what it means to truly matter, right at this moment. We are all finding the larger meanings of our lives. But this book isn’t just another self-help book or a quick-fix guide to “finding purpose” and “finding life.” The book brings together philosophy, psychology, leadership, design, and even a dash of mathematics to help us wrestle with the big questions: Why are we here?
Time is running out. An ancient secret lies dormant, its fragmented pieces scattered across the echoes of time. Generations have sought it, yet all have failed. Now, nature itself signals its imminent unveiling, a hidden truth stirring after centuries of slumber. Shadows lengthen, whispers grow, and the very air turns thick, hinting at a poisonous shift in the very breath of the world. Has the time come?
What is in the book Anxious to Matter?
At its core, Anxious to Matter is about the universal human longing to leave a mark, to feel significant in a world that can sometimes reduce us to nothing but a machine. The fear that our efforts, our creations, our very existence might not count in the grand scheme of things makes us anxious. But rather than letting us reflect on the uneasiness, the book is an invitation to explore how we can craft lives and work that resonate with purpose, quality, and beauty.
Why do we feel disconnected? Why does so much of life including work, social media, even leisure leaves us feeling empty? How do we make our work and lives feel like they matter?
The book points a finger at the commodification of life and answers all our anxious thoughts. While it is a bold critique, it yet offers to us a hopeful path forward, urging us to reconnect with the richness of human experience and finding clarity amidst the chaos. Drawing on the wisdom of philosophical heavyweights like Plato, Nietzsche, and Wittgenstein, alongside modern thinkers like Daniel Kahneman and Judea Pearl, the essays in the book explores the concept of flow, and that magical state where time melts away, and you’re fully immersed in what you’re doing.
Why This Book Feels Like a Friend
For beginners, the book is a treasure trove for anyone who loves big ideas and connecting the dots across disciplines. If you’re a generalist who geeks out over blending philosophy, psychology, and design or if you’re just someone who’s tired of shallow answers to life’s big questions, this book is for you. For individuals and professionals, especially those in leadership, creative fields, or design, it offers practical wisdom wrapped in philosophical depth. It explores and answers how one can bring quality and purpose into work.
Moreover, Anxious to Matter is not preachy or overly academic, even though it’s packed with big ideas. It feels like a conversation with someone who’s just as curious and human as you are.
About the author
With a lifelong curiosity about the human condition and the search for meaning, Harsh Patel has consistently sought to explore the deeper questions of existence, blending philosophical depth with a practical approach to modern challenges. An alumnus of the IIT Kharagpur, he has worked across diverse fields - including Aerospace Engineering, Manufacturing, Medical Technology, and Software Development.
A rigorous thinker, he draws deeply from philosophy - particularly metaphysics, epistemology, and aesthetics - while weaving these insights into practical reflections that resonate in today’s digitally cluttered, often directionless, world.
Currently developing a product of his own, Harsh continues to explore the intersection of thought and action. He finds creative expression in painting, playing the guitar, and engaging in stimulating conversations. This book marks the culmination of years of introspection and inquiry, inviting readers to examine meaning and the essence of being.
Available on: Amazon.in | Flipkart | WFP StoreFrom the Editor's desk
Vanshika Gupta