Man's Search for Meaning

Classic Editions

No cover

Viktor E. Frankl: Man's Search for Meaning (2020, Ebury Publishing)

240 pages

English language

Published Oct. 23, 2020 by Ebury Publishing.

ISBN:
978-1-84604-638-4
Copied ISBN!

View on OpenLibrary

4 stars (179 reviews)

Psychiatrist Viktor Frankl's memoir has riveted generations of readers with its descriptions of life in Nazi death camps and its lessons for spiritual survival. Based on his own experience and the stories of his patients, 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. At the heart of his theory, known as logotherapy, is a conviction that the primary human drive is not pleasure but the pursuit of what we find meaningful. Man's Search for Meaning has become one of the most influential books in America; it continues to inspire us all to find significance in the very act of living.

45 editions

Finding Life's Meaning

5 stars

In the darkest corners of human existence, where hope seems a distant memory, Viktor E. Frankl's "Man's Search for Meaning" emerges as a profound testament to the indomitable human spirit. This is a story of tragedy and triumph, illustrating the power of hope and resilience.

The Holocaust, one of the greatest tragedies in human history, casts a long shadow over Viktor E. Frankl's narrative. Deported to concentration camps, Frankl confronts the depths of human suffering and loss. Yet, amidst the ruins of humanity, he uncovers a remarkable truth: the unbreakable human spirit. His story, interwoven with the silent struggles of his fellow inmates, serves as a universal symbol of resistance against despair and dehumanization.

Central to the book is the quest for life’s meaning. Frankl's experiences in the concentration camps profoundly influenced his existential outlook and his perspective on life, emphasizing the significance of finding meaning even in the most …

El hombre en busca de sentido

5 stars

Viktor Frankl nos trae sus experiencias en un campo de concentración y cómo logra superar ése calvario.

Cuando uno pasa por una crisis y se enfrenta a la pérdida del sentido de vida, uno debería aferrarse a algo, ¿Qué le da sentido a tu vida? Si encuentras ése ancla a la realidad logras superar, no sin esfuerzo la adversidad. Lectura obligada para cuando estás bien y sobre todo para cuando estás mal.

La logoterapia nace de aquí y el enfrentarse a las cosas es para muchos, la vía a la recuperación.

Doesn't need my opinion

3 stars

But... I didn't really engage with it. The stories are obviously huge and terrible and we all should know all of this very well. And I do. It was just nothing that I didn't already deeply know at this point in my life so I abandoned the book without finishing it. But you know, do read it. Kids: read it! If there's anything in there that you didn't know, or that can still unlock new depths of humanity for you, you must read it! I didn't need to at this point and there's so much to be read and so little time! So I moved on pretty quick.

Review of "Man's search for meaning" on 'Goodreads'

5 stars

Divided into two parts, the first relates the inspirational survival of four concentration camps during the Holocaust with the important lesson being the positive correlation between one’s ability to maintain hope and their ability to survive. The second explains the system of Logotherapy pioneered by the author and a branch of Freudian psychoanalysis. Here the therapeutic setting is to help individuals understand the deeper meaning of suffering in life, their specific purpose, and to overcome mental tension by finding a broader individualized meaning for their existence.

Review of "Man's Search for Meaning" on 'Goodreads'

4 stars

In the worst period of my life, I felt ill and depressed all the time. But only one thing that kept me going is the work I was doing back then. I'm a programmer. A simple routine of writing programs every day brought me little joy even I have nothing to hope for in the future.

Years after I crawled out from that depression, I have to nod to every single word of this book.
Everyone is different, and we can't deduce the vast life into three single meanings. But at least I find these meanings stay true to myself.

The first meaning is work. As I told my story, it was my saviour. It still is.

The second meaning is love. You sure know that sensation when you think about someone and you strive your best to protect her, or at least to not disappoint her.

The third meaning …

Strong first half, weak second half

4 stars

First half was an incredibly insightful look into the nature of man, and investigated an angle of the concentration camp not often looked at. The second half, which deals with his own theory of logotherapy feels a lot less impressive, mostly just reiterating things already implicit in the first half but a lot less convincingly.

Review of "Man's Search for Meaning" on 'Goodreads'

5 stars

This really is a great book encompassing the whole gamut of human emotions. Having experienced the most meaningless suffering of the concentration camps Viktor Frankl examines what distinguished those who lived and died and boiled it down to those who had a meaning in their life survived and those who could find none, in many cases died. I love his analogy of the meaning of a book or movie. “How do you know the ultimate meaning unless you hang in to the end?”

This is not an explanation of what is the meaning of life, the universe and everything but a framework for discovering what the meaning of your life could be. Since this such an old book I kind of regret that I didn’t read it earlier and now understand why it is so often mentioned. Such is life.

Review of "Man's Search for Meaning" on 'Goodreads'

5 stars

The first part reminded me of the book "Night" (1960) by Elie Wiesel. Both are very important books to understand the intentisty and brutalism of concentration camps.

The second part explains the basis of Logotherapy, whose basis is the human´s will to meaning. In that sense it remined me of the book "Punished by rewards".

avatar for EdenS.Cohen

rated it

5 stars
avatar for kracekumar

rated it

5 stars
avatar for fakelvis

rated it

4 stars
avatar for pim

rated it

5 stars
avatar for WorzelFG

rated it

5 stars
avatar for monmac

rated it

3 stars
avatar for sergeant_cat

rated it

5 stars
avatar for maja

rated it

5 stars
avatar for secretGeek

rated it

4 stars
avatar for samullen

rated it

5 stars
avatar for sifuCJC

rated it

5 stars
avatar for Beldam

rated it

4 stars
avatar for ngs

rated it

5 stars
avatar for xavierroy

rated it

3 stars
avatar for jumpinggrendel

rated it

5 stars
avatar for vinibaggio

rated it

5 stars
avatar for wakatara

rated it

4 stars
avatar for dan_oglesby

rated it

3 stars
avatar for elunedli

rated it

5 stars
avatar for wiebkehere

rated it

4 stars
avatar for agentydragon

rated it

4 stars
avatar for ItsGG

rated it

4 stars
avatar for vincekd

rated it

3 stars
avatar for andywenk

rated it

5 stars
avatar for Pretense

rated it

5 stars
avatar for Gifty

rated it

5 stars
avatar for brunon

rated it

4 stars
avatar for bryanjd

rated it

4 stars
avatar for 73pctGeek

rated it

1 star
avatar for tylerbones

rated it

5 stars
avatar for cjhubbs

rated it

3 stars
avatar for gawwrgi

rated it

5 stars
avatar for mattmerk

rated it

4 stars
avatar for greeen

rated it

3 stars
avatar for 2tinybirds

rated it

5 stars
avatar for taylorIT

rated it

4 stars
avatar for codito

rated it

5 stars
avatar for Justtryin

rated it

5 stars
avatar for AnsgarFrej

rated it

4 stars
avatar for Wyatt

rated it

5 stars
avatar for rift

rated it

5 stars
avatar for WonkoTheSane

rated it

5 stars
avatar for gabeguz

rated it

4 stars
avatar for govmarley

rated it

4 stars
avatar for rufzerg666

rated it

3 stars
avatar for gamer

rated it

4 stars
avatar for arnoud999

rated it

5 stars
avatar for AudientVoid

rated it

4 stars
avatar for ahhlee

rated it

3 stars
avatar for tobifroe

rated it

5 stars
avatar for rulism

rated it

5 stars
avatar for 5quid5

rated it

5 stars
avatar for lumii

rated it

4 stars
avatar for stim

rated it

3 stars
avatar for SeaJay

rated it

3 stars
avatar for DavidLove

rated it

4 stars
avatar for eviley3

rated it

5 stars
avatar for God-Is-Love

rated it

5 stars
avatar for KeenOwl

rated it

3 stars
avatar for npchampion

rated it

5 stars
avatar for molgar

rated it

5 stars
avatar for ixnu

rated it

5 stars
avatar for Jaldert

rated it

5 stars
avatar for sorinb

rated it

5 stars
avatar for LaDragonista

rated it

3 stars
avatar for esensar

rated it

5 stars
avatar for piotr

rated it

5 stars
avatar for jlevesque

rated it

3 stars
avatar for UdeRecife

rated it

4 stars
avatar for pneuma

rated it

5 stars
avatar for elementaryflimflam

rated it

5 stars
avatar for karlhungus

rated it

4 stars
avatar for MrDiamondJ

rated it

5 stars
avatar for alexmorse

rated it

4 stars
avatar for braintoast

rated it

3 stars
avatar for Shtakser

rated it

5 stars
avatar for yayJill

rated it

4 stars
avatar for hsubu

rated it

5 stars
avatar for schmavery

rated it

4 stars
avatar for CharlesCrow

rated it

5 stars
avatar for tronicdude

rated it

5 stars
avatar for VaishaliP

rated it

5 stars
avatar for rmdaley

rated it

5 stars
avatar for pneumoREADS

rated it

4 stars
avatar for sukhmel

rated it

4 stars
avatar for jarmbruster

rated it

5 stars
avatar for shootmanng

rated it

5 stars
avatar for bedone

rated it

5 stars
avatar for yasharz

rated it

2 stars
avatar for Smokler

rated it

5 stars
avatar for d4rko

rated it

5 stars
avatar for Wim3141

rated it

5 stars
avatar for IntrepidTiger

rated it

3 stars
avatar for erinlcrane

rated it

4 stars
avatar for Jameson

rated it

4 stars
avatar for paulfidalgo

rated it

5 stars
avatar for hearse

rated it

5 stars
avatar for kotnik

rated it

5 stars
avatar for zz

rated it

4 stars
avatar for TimMason

rated it

2 stars
avatar for edmooney

rated it

5 stars
avatar for statori

rated it

4 stars
avatar for deadmarshal

rated it

5 stars
avatar for avid-reader

rated it

4 stars
avatar for dianamontalion

rated it

4 stars
avatar for krypton1066

rated it

4 stars
avatar for stefan786

rated it

5 stars
avatar for liy

rated it

4 stars
avatar for pjones

rated it

4 stars
avatar for Ignazio

rated it

4 stars
avatar for flashy_dragon

rated it

3 stars
avatar for Isoprenoid

rated it

5 stars
avatar for BojanB

rated it

4 stars
avatar for pauln99

rated it

4 stars
avatar for neilernst

rated it

4 stars
avatar for jnyrose

rated it

5 stars
avatar for georgewhatup

rated it

5 stars
avatar for autumnfrost

rated it

5 stars
avatar for OtroMono

rated it

4 stars
avatar for Alex_Loar

rated it

5 stars
avatar for b34n5

rated it

4 stars
avatar for coppelia

rated it

5 stars