Book Review: Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl

The book is divided into two sections, the first being based on the experiences that Viktor Frankl himself was exposed to in Auschwitz and other Nazi camps. As a psychiatrist himself, Frankl writes about the harrowing experiences in the camps from a unique perspective. As well as describing the physical suffering within the camps, he also observed the psychological impact. A few of his case studies demonstrated that in order to try to motivate a man’s inner strength in the camp, he first had to be shown a future goal. A key phrase was Nietzsche’s words, ‘He who has a why to live for can bear with almost any how’. Frankl noticed that the men with no purpose, aim, or sense in life saw no point in carrying on, and soon lost their fight to live. Frankl’s theories were based on the fact that we cannot avoid suffering in life, but we can choose how to cope with it, find meaning in it, and move forward with a purpose.

The second part of the book is based on Frankl’s theory and development of logotherapy. This therapy is based on the pursuit of what we find meaningful in life, as opposed to other theories that focus more on the primary human drive—pleasure.

I found this book insightful and encouraging, and I have learnt about how powerful it is for us as humans to have control over our brains to turn immensely stressful and hopeless situations into hopeful ones.
“In some ways, suffering ceases to be suffering at the moment it finds a meaning, such as the meaning of a sacrifice”. Viktor Frankl