The Measure: A Novel

INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER - The Read With Jenna Today Show Book Club Pick!

"A story of love and hope as interweaving characters display: how all moments, big and small, can measure a life. If you want joy, love, romance, and hope--read with us." --Jenna Bush Hager

A luminous, spirit-lifting blockbuster that asks: would you choose to find out the length of your life?

Eight ordinary people. One extraordinary choice.

It seems like any other day. You wake up, pour a cup of coffee, and head out.

But today, when you open your front door, waiting for you is a small wooden box. This box holds your fate inside: the answer to the exact number of years you will live.

From suburban doorsteps to desert tents, every person on every continent receives the same box. In an instant, the world is thrust into a collective frenzy. Where did these boxes come from? What do they mean? Is there truth to what they promise?

As society comes together and pulls apart, everyone faces the same shocking choice: Do they wish to know how long they'll live? And, if so, what will they do with that knowledge?

The Measure charts the dawn of this new world through an unforgettable cast of characters whose decisions and fates interweave with one another: best friends whose dreams are forever entwined, pen pals finding refuge in the unknown, a couple who thought they didn't have to rush, a doctor who cannot save himself, and a politician whose box becomes the powder keg that ultimately changes everything.

Enchanting and deeply uplifting, The Measure is a sweeping, ambitious, and invigorating story about family, friendship, hope, and destiny that encourages us to live life to the fullest.

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368 pages

Average rating: 7.37

3,470 RATINGS

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Community Reviews

Genevieve_North_Dakota
Apr 29, 2025
Very great book for discussion with our book club. Everyone in our club really enjoyed this book.
JShrestha
Apr 23, 2025
8/10 stars
I really enjoyed this book throughout the whole storyline as I find it would be a great summer or chalet read. Based on the premises that society would have the ability to find out their mortality from a magical box containing the string of your life, the reader follows the politics, relationships and inner struggles of confronting this choice. I liked how the author had different scenarios play out and still was able to build on the multiple story lines.
Engie13
Apr 22, 2025
10/10 stars
Truly well-written. It started a bit slow but by chapter 2, it picked up and it quickly hooked me and I became emotionally involved with most of the characters. The author had plenty of thought-provoking scenes, topics and moments which I loved and had to put the books down to contemplate. Very rarely does a book cause me to become so invested in it, in the character’s lives and in the outcome. I will definitely be buying the physical book (I borrowed it on Kindle Unlimited) and adding it to my annual reads!!
NSohn
Apr 10, 2025
8/10 stars
The boxes were a metaphor for the trials of life. The boxes remind us we are mortal. In my opinion, The author connects the characters to drive the theme of the book. The connection between the characters allows the reader to take full advantage of each character's rich story within the more complex narrative of the book
wardbunch
Mar 26, 2025
10/10 stars
Fantastic. Great things to think about

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