Life & fun · alternatives · 2026

24 alternatives to 42

42 honest thoughts about purpose, courage, and giving up

Below are 24 products that do a similar job, ranked by how close each is in meaning and then by launch-day votes. 42 launched in 2015; newer entries below may have overtaken it.

1. 1
   Breaking Busy▲64

   How to find peace and purpose in a world of crazy

   2016 · its alternatives →

2. 2
   Mindset▲84

   How You Can Fulfil Your Potential

   2016 · its alternatives →

3. 3
   The Surrender Experiment ▲61

   Surrendering to life

   2015 · its alternatives →

4. 4
   The Happiness Trap▲63

   How to stop struggling and start living

   2016 · its alternatives →

5. 5
   Deep Thoughts▲65

   Irreverent observations about life

   2016 · its alternatives →

6. 6
   Delivering Happiness▲92

   Seeking happiness and making people happy

   2015 · its alternatives →

7. 7
   #AskGaryVee▲95

   A take on leadership, social media, and self awareness

   2016 · its alternatives →

8. 8
   The Mind Club▲67

   Who thinks, what feels and why it matters

   2016 · its alternatives →

9. 9
   The Passionate State of Mind▲54

   An insightful collection of aphorisms

   2016 · its alternatives →

10. 10
    The Art of Happiness▲65

    A handbook for living

    2015 · its alternatives →

11. 11
    The Checklist Manifesto▲108

    How to get things right

    2015 · its alternatives →

12. 12
    Meaningful▲69

    The story of ideas that fly

    2016 · its alternatives →

13. 13
    The Road to Character▲73

    The deeper values that should inform our lives

    2015 · its alternatives →

14. 14
    Nudge▲83

    Improving decisions about health, wealth, and happiness

    2015 · its alternatives →

15. 15
    If You Feel Too Much▲66

    Thoughts on things found and lost and hoped for

    2015 · its alternatives →

16. 16
    Striking Thoughts▲89

    Bruce Lee's wisdom for daily living

    2015 · its alternatives →

17. 17
    The True Believer▲60

    Thoughts on the nature of mass movements

    2016 · its alternatives →

18. 18
    Calm, Cool, Collected▲70

    How to demolish stress, master anxiety, and live your life

    2015 · its alternatives →

19. 19
    The End of Jobs▲98

    Money, meaning and freedom without the 9-to-5

    2016 · its alternatives →

20. 20
    The 20's Chronicles▲54

    A guide on how to successfully navigate through life

    2016 · its alternatives →

21. 21
    Doing Good Better▲127

    How effective altruism can help you make a difference

    2015 · its alternatives →

22. 22
    The Four Agreements▲69

    A Practical Guide to Personal Freedom

    2015 · its alternatives →

23. 23
    Living with Intent▲5

    My Somewhat Messy Journey to Purpose, Peace, and Joy

    2017 · its alternatives →

24. 24
    Essentialism▲80

    The Disciplined Pursuit of Less

    2016 · its alternatives →

Ranked by how close each launch is in meaning, then by votes. Prices were read from each product’s own site when checked and can change. Refine with your own description →