A deeply personal exploration of how one life, shaped by curiosity, compassion and unexpected turns, became a lifelong search for purpose and meaningful contribution.
Written by Ken Banks, the social innovator and anthropologist behind FrontlineSMS, The Pursuit of Purpose: Part Memoir, Part Study – A Book About Finding Your Way in the World traces the experiences, decisions and discoveries that shaped more than three decades of work across conservation, technology and international development. Part memoir, part reflection, it asks not simply what we do with our lives, but why.
The idea behind the book
Purpose is often presented as something we’re expected to discover, as though it already exists ‘out there somewhere’ waiting to be found. This book suggests something different. Purpose is rarely a single moment of revelation. More often it emerges slowly through the choices we make, the people we meet, the setbacks we endure and the courage to follow our curiosity, even when the destination is far from clear.
Beginning with the profound impact of Live Aid in 1985, the story follows an unexpected path through Africa, anthropology, wildlife conservation, humanitarian work and social innovation. Along the way it explores how one question led to another, and how a desire to understand the world gradually became a desire to help change it.
Why THIS matters
Many people feel pressure to have their lives all figured out. We compare ourselves with others, worry we’re on the wrong path or wonder whether our work really matters. The Pursuit of Purpose offers a gentler perspective. It reminds us that meaningful lives are rarely planned, and that purpose often reveals itself only when we look back and join the dots.
Rather than encouraging readers to search for a single calling, the book celebrates curiosity, compassion and the small decisions that quietly shape the people we become.
Why THIS BOOK is different
“Purpose isn’t something we find. It’s something we grow into, one experience, one conversation and one choice at a time.”
This is not a success story disguised as a memoir. It is an honest account of uncertainty, mistakes, unexpected opportunities and lessons learned in places and situations that challenged long-held assumptions. The stories are personal, but the questions they raise are universal.
The book doesn’t offer a formula for living a meaningful life. Instead, it invites readers to reflect on their own experiences, values and aspirations, and to consider how purpose is often discovered through service, relationships and paying closer attention to the world around us.
What you’ll LEARN
- Why purpose often emerges through experience rather than careful planning
- How curiosity can become the starting point for meaningful change
- The importance of listening before acting
- Lessons from three decades working across technology, conservation and humanitarian response
- Why setbacks and uncertainty can become our greatest teachers
- How a life of contribution is built one small step at a time
About THE AUTHOR
Ken Banks is a British award-winning social innovator, technologist and anthropologist with over 25 years’ experience working in developing regions of the world, particularly Africa, with a focus on technology, conservation and humanitarian relief. He is a PopTech Fellow, an Ashoka Fellow, a National Geographic Explorer and the recipient of numerous fellowships and awards including the ACM Eugene L. Lawler Award for Humanitarian Contributions within Computer Science. He is best known as the creator of FrontlineSMS and is the founder of kiwanja.net and apathy to action.
Inside the book
From witnessing the impact of Live Aid as a teenager to working alongside communities across Africa, from building technology used around the world to questioning what success really means, The Pursuit of Purpose combines personal stories with thoughtful reflections on leadership, empathy, resilience and the search for a life that gives back more than it takes. Whether you’re standing at a crossroads, looking for a renewed sense of direction or simply curious about how purpose unfolds over a lifetime, this book is an invitation to reflect on your own journey.
“I recommitted to my current path with a clarity that I can only attribute to Ken, his wisdom, and the questions he asked us to consider.” – Revicita
★★★★★ Amazon review
“By narrating his life, Ken beautifully reminds us of the possibilities our individual impact can have in this shared human journey.” – Esther
★★★★★ Amazon review
HOW TO GET THE BOOK
There are a few ways you can get hold of a copy of the book. In the spirit of all of Ken’s work, a free PDF can be downloaded from this website here. If you have a Kindle, or would prefer a paperback or hardback copy, these have been set at the lowest price possible and can be ordered through Amazon. If audiobooks are more your thing, you’ll find that here.
ALSO AVAILABLE
Beautifully Borrowed: Twelve Reflections on Mortality, Attention and What We Leave Behind
Twelve short reflections on mortality, attention and what we leave behind – a companion for anyone trying to make sense of the fact that their time here won’t last forever.
The Little Book of Mindful Social Change
A short, honest guide for people who want to make the world better without burning out, hardening or losing themselves (or those they seek to help) in the process.
The Rise of the Reluctant Innovator
A refreshingly honest look at innovation through the eyes of people who never intended to become innovators in the first place.