Man's search for meaning book cover

Man’s Search For Meaning

Viktor E Frankl

Several books and podcasts I’ve encountered have referenced Viktor Frankl’s Man’s Search for Meaning, so I decided it was time to read it myself. I bought the Kindle version without reading the cover notes, expecting a philosophical exploration. However, within a few pages, I realised the book’s context was far beyond what I had anticipated.

Frankl begins his story as a young psychiatrist who, in September 1942, finds himself in line outside a Nazi concentration camp. The book recounts his and his fellow prisoners’ harrowing experiences, interwoven with his existential reflections. Despite the overwhelming despair and suffering, Frankl discovered meaning even in misery, documenting his thoughts and experiences as a foundation for what would become Logotherapy—a new form of psychotherapy.

The second part of the book delves deeper into the principles of Logotherapy, explaining its scientific and philosophical underpinnings. I must admit that some of this content was challenging to follow as it ventures into complex psychological territory beyond my own understanding.

Nonetheless, I would highly recommend this profound work. Frankl’s reflections remind us that even in the most inhumane conditions, such as those he endured at Auschwitz and Dachau, it is possible to find meaning in life. Instead of dwelling on the life he had lost, Frankl focused on discovering purpose in the smallest moments—a practice we could all benefit from.