Man's Search for Meaning
Ratings681
Average rating4.2
The book is interesting it's a good 6/10. I like how it focuses more on the psychological part of his time in the contrac camp and not so much complaining about the horrible behavior of the guards. I was very annoyed how 45% of the book is things that are not the book itself but about the author and about people who wrote their opinions.
The last book I read during this year (2015) and the one with the most impact on me. A long time since a book made me think, feel and reflect so deeply on life. Truly a a masterpiece and a gem of a book!
So far, this is a happy little book by a psychologist who spent some time in concentration camps in Poland during WWII. It's a wacky joy-fest. I'm hoping to get to the inspiring parts soon, because so far it's making me see the negative sides of humanity, not the meaningfulness of life.
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I can't seem to finish this. After he gets done talking about his time in the concentration camp, he gets into “logotherapy”–his invention which brings into psychotherapy the idea that we need to make meaning in our lives.
Turns out that this pretty much reads like a more accessible Schopenhauer–it's a religious existentialism. I like the existentialism, and some of what he has to say resonates deeply. But then he digresses into religiosity and it gets...less interesting for me.
A raw and real story which ultimately tries to answer the question on what makes someone capable of overcoming the horrors of being a prisoner in a concentration camp, how do you stay sane and what keeps you alive and going in such adversities.
These days, I find myself praying for a ceasefire for our Palestinian people, who are enduring conditions strikingly similar to those described in this book—Gaza as one massive concentration camp and the West Bank fragmented into ghettos. Like the Syrians who recently found liberation, and so many others before them, their suffering too will come to an end soon.
I'd been dreading reading this book for weeks, but when I finally sat down with it, I couldn't put it down. It's an easy read, despite the unimaginable horrors Viktor E. Frankl recounts from his time in the Holocaust. He presents everything through the lens of the mind, offering a deeply personal and thought-provoking perspective.
The first part addresses the question: How was everyday life in a concentration camp reflected in the mind of the average prisoner? The second part explores the meaning and ideas Frankl had been developing even before his imprisonment. It's an important book—short, but profound on the subject.
It is a sad, horrific life described in these pages. It is also a tale of man's undying spirit and courage in the face of unspeakable evil. A big salute to the brave souls who kept their souls untainted during these challenging times.
Leí pocos libros tan realzadores de la condición humana. Inspirador como pocos. Es tan bueno como dicen y vi que recomendaron una y otra vez. Me sumo a ese grupo de personas que lo recomiendan.
La primera mitad, en la edición que incluye tanto su experiencia en el campo de concentración como el desarrollo sobre la logoterapia, es fuertísima. Este libro lo había empezado en un momento donde no estaba tan “entera” y sólida en mi vida como para que no me afecte en mi rutina normal al ser una persona muy sensible. Pero hoy día ya pude leerlo asumiendo la realidad de lo que describe y si bien me afectó bastante también, valió la pena. Son relatos del lado más oscuro de la humanidad que justamente no debemos olvidar que siempre van a estar, presentes o latentes.
Absolut bewegendes, faszinierendes und sehr interessantes Buch. Die alte Sprache ist gut zu verstehen und das Buch ist insgesamt einfach zu lesen. Das Leben im KZ wird hier von psychologischer Seite beschrieben und es wird nur wenig auf die Gräueltaten eingegangen. Dadurch können auch sensible Menschen dieses Buch lesen. Für mich hat es eine große Wirkung auf die eigene Wahrnehmung und Perspektive gegeben. Sehr lesenswert.
Absolutamente increíble manera de expresar lo que es el sentido de la vida y la última frase fue impactante, la llevaré conmigo para siempre.
I think that's the single absolutely painful books to read, that I haven't abandoned and read till the end.
There's plentiful of reviews saying “may there's something in me, because I don't like it”, as well as “I'm giving it 3* as it will look bad if I give it only 2*”.
The book is a mess. The first part is supposed to be autobiographical, but it has tons of issues. It's lacking cohesiveness (story doesn't match in a few places). Then there's the constant repetition (how bad the soup was, how hard the walking in the snow was). I get it, I am sure it was unbelievable awful and painful. But the more times the author needs to repeat himself, the weaker the book becomes, as he wasn't able to express his feelings and make you re-experience them. Not to mention how weird it seems if you read about his real life, like he spent 4 days on Auschwitz and total 5 months on those camps (not three years as he writes). I am not saying his suffering is a lie or something like that. I'm just saying I don't understand how such a slow, messed up and non-engaging “autobiography” might be liked by many.
Second part was just excruciating to read. Extremely disconnected, repeatable, full of semi-explained thoughts. He's constantly repeating how people's suffer CAN BE and IS something they can find meaning in. How? Doesn't say. Why just a handful of people manage to achieve this? Doesn't say (besides “it's hard”). There's his new system that can help people - well great, here's a long list of fancy words that you cannot even read, that he partially invented himself, and surely this means it all makes sense.
He wrote it himself - this short book cannot give you an explanation on what my theory is. I don't see any reason as why anyone should read a faulty and dull “almost autobiography”, followed by “almost explanation” of a theory.
The book has some great ideas in it, I must admit. But they're buried in an immense pile of hard to swallow nonsense. And at the end, it's mostly quotations from other people.
I wish I read a 5-10 page summary, instead of spending time on this book. Or maybe I'm just extremely disappointed why one of the most marketed books turned out to be such a pain to read...
[b: Man's Search for Meaning] was a devastatingly powerful read. Frankl is a genius, and the strength and sheer humanity he demonstrates throughout the text is astounding. The intertwining of Logotherapy and memoir was very enjoyable and effective. Straightforward prose, brilliant style. My biggest takeaway from this was book was the importance of intentional existence, of purposeful living. I genuinely believe this book has brought me to be more conscious of my presence, of my motivations. I honestly believe I would have enjoyed this book even more if it was not for school. Regardless, I would recommend this book in a heartbeat. I imagine many of the more gruesome aspects will stick with me for a while. Frankl demonstrates a most powerful kind, his ability to keep his sanity, his brilliance and soul throughout his experience at Auschwitz's is awe inspiring.
Dostoevski said once, “There is only one thing I dread: not to be worthy of my sufferings.” These words frequently came to my mind after I became acquainted with those martyrs whose behavior in camp, whose suffering and death, bore witness to the fact that the last inner freedom cannot be lost. It can be said that they were worthy of the their sufferings; the way they bore their suffering was a genuine inner achievement. It is this spiritual freedom—which cannot be taken away—that makes life meaningful and purposeful.
—[a: Viktor E. Frankl]
The first part of this book—Frankl's exploration of his time and experiences in concentration camps and the impact these horrors had on his psyche and that of those around him—is very good. There isn't really much I can say on it that isn't said better elsewhere.
The second part, his primer on Logotherapy, was not really for me. It is very clearly something of its time and there is much about it that I like as a social worker and someone who works with people. That said, it doesn't resonate anything like the first part which really is a special work.
WHAT A FUCKING AMAZING BOOK. I finished it in one day only !! The book was full of sad emotions, just suffer,pain and pitty. I'm still trying to grasp the main point of this book, which mentions how a human can still be optmistic and have a meaning for his life even at the most suffering a man can endure. I felt bad and quiet emotional for what the prisoners went through at the Nazi concentration camps.
One of the best books I've read. The parts where he explains his experiences in the concentration camps were a bit too dark, but that was the truth right. It was hard to stomach.
I feel bad rating a holocaust book, 3 stars. How dare I. But I'd like to be honest.
The first half of the book is about the author's experiences in the concentration camp. If you have read at least 2 or 3 other holocaust literature, there is nothing new. It is short and to the point.
The second part focuses on Logotherapy. Which essentially is a psychiatric tool, which asks patients to find meaning in life for a more fulfilling existence - which could be by 1) doing something 2)experiencing something/ meeting someone 3)unavoidable suffering.
The third point seems like it was forced to be with the other two, and doesn't feel like it belongs there.
One other reason why I rated this 3, is because of the clash between this books ideas and my opinion. I don't think there's a meaning. The whole thing is random. And this meaning is only something we attribute. Can someone capable of thinking, actually fool themselves with this? I envy people who can find make meaning, where there isn't any. Of course in a concentration camp, one is only trying to survive the day, and prayers and meaning fulfilment would work. Is it same for the mundane life the majority of us lead though?
This book has been quite a ride. Never read a book about philosophy and psychology that is not purely story-telling. There was a lot of terminology I was not familiar with but enjoyed nonetheless. Overall very inspirational and motivational.
“We who lived in concentration camps can remember the men who walked through the huts comforting others, giving away their last piece of bread. They may have been few in number, but they offer sufficient proof that everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of the human freedoms – to choose one's attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one's own way.”
Even if I had only read this one beautiful sentence from Man's Search for Meaning, this would have been a worthwhile read.
To experience terrible event after terrible event during Viktor Frankl's time in the concentration camps...to feel moments of wonder at small miracles during his time there...to see times where, despite the horrors of the camps, humans rise up to be their best selves...this is the reason so many people have read and loved this book.
“The way in which a man accepts his fate and all the suffering it entails, the way in which he takes up his cross, gives him ample opportunity — even under the most difficult circumstances — to add a deeper meaning to his life. It may remain brave, dignified and unselfish. Or in the bitter fight for self preservation he may forget his human dignity and become no more than an animal.”
This reminds us all that we all have a choice every minute of our lives to add a deeper meaning to our lives even in the midst of suffering.
“For the first time in my life I saw the truth as it is set into song by so many poets, proclaimed as the final wisdom by so many thinkers. The truth - that Love is the ultimate and highest goal to which man can aspire. Then I grasped the meaning of the greatest secret that human poetry and human thought and belief have to impart: The salvation of man is through love and in love.”
And the power of Love.
Man's Search for Meaning is one of those books that you see recommended over and over again. I'm naturally skeptical of work like that, the point I put off reading this for several years. This year I picked it up and wow, Frankl gives a masterclass. This is a heartbreaking and captivating true story of overcoming the worst tragedy in modern times. Frankl is intelligent, moving, and inspiring in the face of such abhorrent acts. This book will break you, but Frankl is excellent at building you back up again afterwards.
Húrra! Þetta er virkilega góð lesning og seinni parturinn kemur á óvart með því að vera spennandi og fræðilegur
While this is definitely a good book, reading it reminded me of the time I read The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho. I can see that it is well-written, that it has valuable ideas in it, and that it wants the world to be a better place. It even moves itself in my favor by not trying to sell the idea that the world isn't so bad. If ever there was a concept where the very name drew me in, it would be Frankl's idea of “tragic optimism.” My only issue is that at no point could this book ever connect with me. I don't know why, and I don't know why The Alchemist gave me the same problem. I can tell it's good, and yet I don't care and don't feel any desire to ever read it again. It's almost upsetting because the explanation of logotherapy at the end of the book is fascinating, and the account of Frankl's experiences in the camps is harrowing. I want to be moved by this book. I want to love it more than I do. I just don't, and I'm not sure why.
I didn't expect to enjoy this, but I just did, without really understanding why. I wanted to keep reading, so that must've meant something.