Man's Search for Meaning

This book written in the 50's tells a story of an Austrian-born psychiatrist as to his first hand experience of surviving a Nazi concentration camp during the World War II. He later developed his theory of logotherapy (logos is a Greek word which means "meaning"). He argued that man's striving to find a meaning in own life is the primary motivational force in him or...more

This book written in the 50's tells a story of an Austrian-born psychiatrist as to his first hand experience of surviving a Nazi concentration camp during the World War II. He later developed his theory of logotherapy (logos is a Greek word which means "meaning"). He argued that man's striving to find a meaning in own life is the primary motivational force in him or her. Even under harsh circumstances like a death camp, a prisoner still has a choice to choose his response to the external stimulus. Although he lost everything - his family, his home and his freedom - there was one thing that no one could take away from him: his right to choose happiness and growth.   hide

I have finished the death camp biography of the book, and I have come away with a profound sense of understanding of suffering. I am now embarking on the logotherapy section and am looking forward to reading how Frankl addresses what he spelled out in a more clinical format. My outlook on life has changed because of this book. I am now compelled to read more of Frankl's works as his explanation...more

I have finished the death camp biography of the book, and I have come away with a profound sense of understanding of suffering. I am now embarking on the logotherapy section and am looking forward to reading how Frankl addresses what he spelled out in a more clinical format. My outlook on life has changed because of this book. I am now compelled to read more of Frankl's works as his explanation of logotherapy helps me to make sense of where I am and who I am today. His recollection and reflection of the death camp experience made me realize that we are who we are and we are where we are as a result of choice, not circumstance as circumstance only informs us, not controls us.   hide

Very useful book; if difficult at times. Hard to argue with a fellow who's been through what he has been through. I find it describing situations I've noticed in my life and the lives of others. Helps to keep it all in perspective. I enjoyed this book, and learned much.

One of my favorite quotes from the author, so far: "Man does not simply exist, but always decides what his existence will be, what he will become in the next moment." Another one: "Man is ultimately self-determining." This book is recommended reading my Tony Robbins; that is why I decided to read it. I'm glad I did. It's insightful and thought-provoking.

The depth of this man's understanding/ knowledge about his subject--the will to live, gratitude and resentment for all that happens to us within and out of our control, and ultimately creating, losing, preceiving our lives to be meaningful-- is evidence of his wisdom. This book had to be written, Having been through so much, and managing to make it into something worthwhile that people can be...more

The depth of this man's understanding/ knowledge about his subject--the will to live, gratitude and resentment for all that happens to us within and out of our control, and ultimately creating, losing, preceiving our lives to be meaningful-- is evidence of his wisdom. This book had to be written, Having been through so much, and managing to make it into something worthwhile that people can be moved into understanding by is such a beautiful thing. Frankl uses his experiences in the unthinkable tradegy that was committed by the world through action and bystanding, and he focuses these unimaginable experiences into analyses and evaluations of the human psyche. Although Frankl lost his memoirs when they were taken from him in the concentration camp, the work he has preserved here will ensure his life and learnings will be proudly held in the world's collective memory. -well-worth the read   hide

A profoundly inspirational book told from the eyes of a wise death camp survivor/psychologist about life and the meaning found within it. Much more than another horrific story about a prisoner struggling through the days in a concentration camp in the time of the Third Reich, this book encompasses the very ideals of existence in circumstances that would otherwise be deemed impossible and explains...more

A profoundly inspirational book told from the eyes of a wise death camp survivor/psychologist about life and the meaning found within it. Much more than another horrific story about a prisoner struggling through the days in a concentration camp in the time of the Third Reich, this book encompasses the very ideals of existence in circumstances that would otherwise be deemed impossible and explains the complex psychotherapeutic method (the introduction to logotherapy) of finding that reason to live.   hide

I had high expectation for this book based on all I had heard about it. Was disappointed in the first half, but found the meat in the 2nd part. One thing that struck me is that he gives a nice encapsulation of modern man - a man who is no longer fighting for survival and hence is driven by other needs, the need for purpose. Of course in the camps, they were fighting for survivial, but I was...more

I had high expectation for this book based on all I had heard about it. Was disappointed in the first half, but found the meat in the 2nd part. One thing that struck me is that he gives a nice encapsulation of modern man - a man who is no longer fighting for survival and hence is driven by other needs, the need for purpose. Of course in the camps, they were fighting for survivial, but I was thinking that this need is perhaps much more acute in modern affluent societies. If survival is your concern, you pretty much have your purpose. But what if your survival is not a struggle. Then what is the meaning of life?   hide

For you who felt inspired by this book, another great book along this genre is "Night" [originally: "Un di velt hot geshvign" or "And the World Remained Silent"] by Elie Weisel -- fellow holocaust survivor, (Honorary Knighthood '06 & Nobel Peace Prize '86). Excellent recounting of a time when the world lost its mind: one of the many prequels to the current...more

For you who felt inspired by this book, another great book along this genre is "Night" [originally: "Un di velt hot geshvign" or "And the World Remained Silent"] by Elie Weisel -- fellow holocaust survivor, (Honorary Knighthood '06 & Nobel Peace Prize '86). Excellent recounting of a time when the world lost its mind: one of the many prequels to the current horrors inflicted upon the innocent under the quise of Spock's 'The good of the many outweigh the good of the FEW or the ONE' ....... that's until you finds yourself numbered among the FEW or the ONE.   hide

I don't know how someone could write about being in a concentration camp and not seem angry or bitter, but Frankl does it well. He also developed a third school of psychological thought called logotherapy. It seems to account for most minor psychological problems caused by modern society and how he survived the Holocaust on a sense of self purpose, while others seemed to die of no reason...more

I don't know how someone could write about being in a concentration camp and not seem angry or bitter, but Frankl does it well. He also developed a third school of psychological thought called logotherapy. It seems to account for most minor psychological problems caused by modern society and how he survived the Holocaust on a sense of self purpose, while others seemed to die of no reason other than despair.   hide