Journalist and bestselling author Jennifer Breheny Wallace explores mattering — the universal human need that allows us to feel valued, connected, and purposeful.

Regardless of the work we do or the roles we play in our communities, we all have a shared desire to contribute to something bigger than ourselves, to feel seen and needed.

In our increasingly individualized world, many of our interactions are filtered through technology, and we can easily lose the grounding sense that we matter to other people.

Jennifer Breheny Wallace is an award-winning journalist and the author of the 2023 New York Times bestseller Never Enough.

In her 2026 book, Mattering, Wallace uses conversations with caregivers, firefighters, sanitation workers, and professionals from different fields to explore the impact of feeling valued on our mental health, relationships, and sense of identity.