By
Viktor Frankl
1946/2006
The book is divided into two parts. The first part chronicles Viktor Frankl’s personal experiences in Nazi concentration camps, including Auschwitz, during World War II. He describes the daily struggles and atrocities that he and other prisoners endured, such as starvation, forced labour, and constant threat of death. Despite the horrific conditions, Frankl observed that some individuals managed to find a sense of meaning and purpose, which helped them survive. He notes that those who had something to live for, whether it was a loved one or a future goal, were more resilient and more likely to endure the suffering.
In the second part of the book, Frankl introduces his psychotherapeutic method called logotherapy, which focuses on the pursuit of meaning as the central human motivational force. According to Frankl, life has meaning under all circumstances, even the most miserable ones. He argues that people can discover meaning through three main avenues: by creating a work or doing a deed, by experiencing something or encountering someone, and by the attitude we take toward unavoidable suffering. Frankl emphasizes that although we cannot always control our circumstances, we can always choose our attitude in response to those circumstances.
Reference
Frankl, V. E. (2006). Man's search for meaning. Beacon Press. (Original work published 1946)
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