Man's Search for MeaningPsychiatrist Viktor Frankl's memoir has riveted generations of readers with its descriptions of life in Nazi death camps and its lessons for spiritual survival. Between 1942 and 1945 Frankl labored in four different camps, including Auschwitz, while his parents, brother, and pregnant wife perished. Based on his own experience and the experiences of others he treated later in his practice, Frankl argues that we cannot avoid suffering but we can choose how to cope with it, find meaning in it, and move forward with renewed purpose. Frankl's theory-known as logotherapy, from the Greek word logos ("meaning")-holds that our primary drive in life is not pleasure, as Freud maintained, but the discovery and pursuit of what we personally find meaningful. At the time of Frankl's death in 1997, Man's Search for Meaning had sold more than 10 million copies in twenty-four languages. A 1991 reader survey for the Library of Congress that asked readers to name a "book that made a difference in your life" found Man's Search for Meaning among the ten most influential books in America. |
Other editions - View all
Common terms and phrases
achievement actually alive answer anticipatory anxiety asked Auschwitz barbed wire became become block warden called camp’s Capo chief doctor collective guilt comrades concentration camp death dream everything existential frustration existential vacuum experience fate fear feeling of meaninglessness find meaning Frankl freedom future gas chambers guards happened hope individual’s inmates inner knew liberation life’s live logotherapeutic logotherapy look lost Man’s Search meaningful mental mind neurosis neurotic never noögenic once one’s opportunity paradoxical intention past patient person piece of bread pleasure possible potential meaning prisoners psychiatrist psychoanalysis psychological psychotherapy question reactions responsible Search for Meaning sexual Shema Yisrael shouted sick Sigmund Freud situation soup spiritual spite statistical survey Statue of Responsibility suddenly suffering suicide survive symptom tell things thought told transport tried typhus Vienna Viktor Viktor E waited wife words