A book for finding purpose and strength in times of great despair, the international best-seller is still just as relevant today as when it was first published.
“This is a book I reread a lot . . . it gives me hope . . . it gives me a sense of strength.”
—Anderson Cooper, Anderson Cooper 360/CNN
This seminal book, which has been called “one of the outstanding contributions to psychological thought” by Carl Rogers and “one of the great books of our time” by Harold Kushner, has been translated into more than fifty languages and sold over sixteen million copies. “An enduring work of survival literature,” according to the New York Times, Viktor Frankl’s riveting account of his time in the Nazi concentration camps, and his insightful exploration of the human will to find meaning in spite of the worst adversity, has offered solace and guidance to generations of readers since it was first published in 1946. At the heart of Frankl’s theory of logotherapy (from the Greek word for “meaning”) is a conviction that the primary human drive is not pleasure, as Freud maintained, but rather the discovery and pursuit of what the individual finds meaningful. Today, as new generations face new challenges and an ever more complex and uncertain world, Frankl’s classic work continues to inspire us all to find significance in the very act of living, in spite of all obstacles.
A must-read companion to this classic work, a new, never-before-published work by Frankl entitled Yes to Life: In Spite of Everything, is now available in English.
Wordsworth –
I followed Viktor Frankl diligently in his journey from the gas ovens of Auschwitz into the hospitals of Vienna after he beats the 1 in 20 odds of his surviving a German concentration camp. He writes that the single most important self-determinant in his survival was his deep inherent conviction under the worst of all possible conditions that life has meaning: even here under constant risk of typhus, wearing the recycled prison garb of those who had been sacrificed to the ovens, starving, freezing, beaten, demonized and dehumanized. If one can still find meaning here and survive because of it, then under better conditions meaning should be possible to find. Frankl believes that there are three sources of meaning: 1) one’s work 2) other people whom you love 3) rising with dignity and integrity from a hopelessly tragic diminishment. He found that in the camps the survivors had a positive attitude, which reinforced their search for meaning and gave them hope in a hopeless situation. In Vienna hospitals he debunked theories of Freud and Adler with “logotherapy” which helps others to find the meaning in their lives and heal from thoughts of suicide, psychoses and neurotic behavior. “Logos” is Greek for “meaning” and if you can find it in your own life, then essentially it seems you are as invincible as Frankl, who not only survived Auschwitz but also lived into his 90’s, is the living proof of his own thesis. Ultimately, when asked what was the meaning of his life, he wrote that the meaning of his life was to help other people find the meaning in their lives. He is an existentialist but he has a positive outlook on life unlike, for example, Camus or Sartre or the usual champions of this dark philosophy, which sprang out of the widespread, bombed-out wreckage of WWII. He writes that the Nazis proved what man was capable of and Hiroshima proved how high the stakes are. So the search for meaning is important therapy not only as it heals individuals but also because it has a healing and uplifting effect upon humanity as a whole and may well be one approach to saving the human race from its own self-destruction. Frankl had a visa and train ticket out of Vienna before the Nazis rose into power but decided to stay there to help his aging parents who had no such respite. Like Frankl, his pregnant wife and parents were taken to the camps and on the first day after he came home to Vienna he learned that all three had been lost there. He wrote “The Search for Meaning” in only nine days and described how his positive attitude and search for meaning enabled him to survive. He describes how this process of autobiography helped him to begin his own healing, a term which he describes as “autobibliotherapy.” By virtue of writing down one’s findings in the search for meaning, one serves to find meaning in one’s own life and to help others find it in their lives. He prescribes no formulas and believes that every individual must find his or her own meaning in life despite diminishments and suffering and death which accompany every life. With incredible, calm clarity he writes that for everyone “suffering and death are necessary to complete life.” He believes that suffering clarifies the meaning of life and, while he doesn’t believe we need to bring it upon ourselves, the average life generally provides sufficient circumstances for us to know that suffering is an inevitable aspect of life. So why not learn from it? As Nietzsche wrote: “Suffering is the origin of consciousness.” He is not advising us to bring it upon ourselves as a form of sadomasochism but to rise above it with heroic integrity and see it as an opportunity to learn from it. He believes that such life lessons ultimately hold the keys for understanding and overcoming the diminishments of life itself. He writes that man always has a choice of action in reacting to the circumstances no matter how dire they may be. So it seems that readers, when they read great books, are searching for meaning and this search has healing powers for them. Further, it seems that when writers search for meaning in creating their work, they have an opportunity to experience the same healing benefits of autobibliotherapy. So keep reading and writing the good stuff for all the good it can do to you and by all means, read this brief, brilliant book by an Auschwitz survivor as it has life altering implications for you: this book will change your outlook on life and may well, thereby, save it through mastery of the art of living.
Rodrigo M. –
Esse livro me ajudou muito a colocar meus problemas em perspectiva, tornando-me mais grato por tudo que tenho na vida.
O momento do livro que ele está dormindo no meio de outros em um degrau me marcou bastantes. Todos os dias tenho o luxo de dormir na minha cama. Às vezes tenho dificuldades para dormir e agora sempre vem a minha cabeça que sou extremamente privilegiado e que as coisas poderiam estar muito piores.
Esse é um exemplo simples de aplicação prática do livro, mas para mim foi muito marcante em vários aspectos.
Kindle Customer –
The book is a story that happened to the author, a psychiatrist, about his experiences living in a concentration camp. It focuses mainly on the psychological analysis of what was happening in prisoners’ minds, not excluding the author himself. We therefore have, to some degree, a scientific text, which in the view of horrors of the camp is also very emotional. All of that is supplemented with the description of logotherapy — a type of psychotherapy developed by the author.
From the foreword, it is clear that having the story from the concentration camp as the background, the book is in part psychological and part philosophical text. This information, together with the perfect scientific language the author uses and a couple of existentialistic quotes, bought me instantly. I had got more than I expected. Somehow the author managed to balance the academic tone of the book with the expressive and poetic one, adequate for the world he is describing.
The text moved me deeply, both intellectually and emotionally, making its experience somehow complete. It creates a perfect immersion. It allows the reader to read some part, close a book, close eyes, take a deep breath, and take a minute to contemplate it with the accompaniment of emotions bursting in the chest, empathizing with the author’s situation.
Of course, not all the fragments are like this. Some parts are more scientific or more poetic, some of them being neither of them. My overall impression is however complete.
After this story, there comes a description of logotherapy. This description is deprived of emotional value, but as a more scientific text, it is still enjoyable. I find it however to be a bit disconnected from the previous part, merely referencing it a couple of times, not as much as I would expect.
There is also one short chapter at the end, which seems to be a supplement to the supplement, i.e., to the second part of the book. I would say that it is repetitive and also now dominating scientific language starts to be unnecessarily too convoluted. This part is just OK in my opinion.
To be clear, I am not saying that I agree with the author in everything and that his thoughts are not questionable. Much on the contrary. His points are however described in a very enjoyable and illustrative way, making it clear what experiences prompted him to think a particular way. That being said, I consider logotherapy presented in the book to be a nice, well-justified theory, from the abstract point of view.
In my opinion, it is not a psychotherapy book in the first place, i.e., the psychotherapeutic part is not one of the main advantages of the text. I would not choose this book for psychotherapeutic purposes. I would recommend it more for existential philosophy enthusiasts, people being partial to the old partially academic language, or those wanting to read an emotional story accompanied by a deep narrator analysis.
Overall, mainly expressing the sentiment for the first part, I love this book as it is a complete experience touching both the brain and the heart.
Ludvig –
“Man’s Search For Meaning” de Viktor E. Frankl est un ouvrage puissant et incontournable. Dans ce livre, Frankl partage son expérience dévastatrice des camps de concentration nazis et explore comment il a trouvé un sens à sa vie malgré l’horreur.
Le livre est divisé en deux parties : la première est un récit autobiographique des conditions inhumaines dans les camps, tandis que la deuxième développe la logothérapie, la thérapie par le sens qu’il a créée. Frankl démontre que même dans les pires circonstances, les êtres humains peuvent trouver un sens à leur existence, ce qui les aide à survivre et à prospérer.
Son écriture est claire et poignante, offrant des réflexions profondes sur la nature de la souffrance, la résilience et la quête de sens. Frankl illustre comment une attitude mentale positive et une recherche de sens peuvent transformer même les expériences les plus traumatisantes en opportunités de croissance personnelle.
“Man’s Search For Meaning” est un témoignage émouvant et inspirant qui rappelle l’importance de trouver un but dans la vie, même dans les moments les plus sombres. C’est un livre qui mérite d’être lu par tous, offrant des leçons intemporelles sur la force de l’esprit humain et l’espoir.
Nandu –
Quite a small book but contains really really valuable wisdom….it strengthens your soul and mind…the author doesn’t narrate much about the cruelty of the Nazis but he shows us how to overcome it psychologically…a source of immense energy and positivity…
Amber –
It was a very good book. I’m happy to have read it. Although a tough read, it was interesting to compare the circumstances of individuals and how each one experienced it differently. I would recommend it.
Chessur –
Viktor E. Frankl is an incredibly impactful and thought-provoking read. This book delves deep into the human psyche, exploring themes of suffering, purpose, and resilience through the lens of Frankl’s harrowing experiences as a Holocaust survivor.
Pros:
– Inspiring and Thought-Provoking: Frankl’s insights into finding meaning in the midst of suffering are deeply moving and encourage readers to reflect on their own lives.
– Accessible and Engaging: Despite the heavy subject matter, the book is written in a way that is easy to understand and highly engaging.
– Timeless Wisdom: The lessons and philosophies presented are timeless, providing valuable guidance for anyone seeking a deeper understanding of life and their place in it.
Cons:
– Intense Subject Matter: The descriptions of Frankl’s experiences in concentration camps are harrowing and may be difficult for some readers.
– Philosophical Depth: Some sections delve deeply into existential philosophy, which may be challenging for readers not accustomed to such material.
Overall:
Man’s Search For Meaning is a must-read for anyone interested in psychology, philosophy, or personal development. Frankl’s profound reflections on the human condition and his testament to the power of finding meaning even in the most tragic circumstances offer invaluable lessons in resilience and hope. Highly recommended for those ready to explore the depths of human purpose and perseverance.
Oneworlonerace –
Insightful and wish I’d read it sooner.