The Measure

The Measure is Nikki Erlick’s first novel, published in 2022 by William Morrow. The book was a New York Times Bestseller, and was chosen as The TODAY Show’s “Read with Jenna” book club pick, as well as the Barnes and Noble Discover pick. Erlick has degrees from Harvard and Columbia, and has worked extensively as a travel writer and ghostwriter. Her work has appeared in New York Magazine, Harper’s Bazaar, and Newsweek, among others. The Measure poses the question: How do you measure your life? By creating a world in which everyone knows how long their life will be, Erlick explores the philosophical questions raised by such knowledge, as well as the social, cultural, and political implications.

This guide references the eBook edition of the novel, published in 2022 by William Morrow.

Plot Summary

One morning in March, the entire world wakes up to find that a small, wooden box has been left on the doorstep of everyone over the age of 22. From that day on, everyone in the world finds a similar box at their door on the morning of their 21st birthday. Each box is inscribed with the message, “The measure of your life lies within” (2), and inside lies a coil of string indicating the length of the recipient’s life.