Man's Search for Meaning
A book for finding purpose and strength in times of great despair, the international best-seller is still just as relevant today as when it was first published. "This is a book I reread a lot . . . it gives me hope . . . it gives me a sense of strength."
--Anderson Cooper, Anderson Cooper 360/CNN This seminal book, which has been called "one of the outstanding contributions to psychological thought" by Carl Rogers and "one of the great books of our time" by Harold Kushner, has been translated into more than fifty languages and sold over sixteen million copies. "An enduring work of survival literature," according to the New York Times, Viktor Frankl's riveting account of his time in the Nazi concentration camps, and his insightful exploration of the human will to find meaning in spite of the worst adversity, has offered solace and guidance to generations of readers since it was first published in 1946. At the heart of Frankl's theory of logotherapy (from the Greek word for "meaning") is a conviction that the primary human drive is not pleasure, as Freud maintained, but rather the discovery and pursuit of what the individual finds meaningful. Today, as new generations face new challenges and an ever more complex and uncertain world, Frankl's classic work continues to inspire us all to find significance in the very act of living, in spite of all obstacles. A must-read companion to this classic work, a new, never-before-published work by Frankl entitled Yes to Life: In Spite of Everything, is now available in English. This book was published with two different covers. Customers will be shipped the book with one of the available covers.
--Anderson Cooper, Anderson Cooper 360/CNN This seminal book, which has been called "one of the outstanding contributions to psychological thought" by Carl Rogers and "one of the great books of our time" by Harold Kushner, has been translated into more than fifty languages and sold over sixteen million copies. "An enduring work of survival literature," according to the New York Times, Viktor Frankl's riveting account of his time in the Nazi concentration camps, and his insightful exploration of the human will to find meaning in spite of the worst adversity, has offered solace and guidance to generations of readers since it was first published in 1946. At the heart of Frankl's theory of logotherapy (from the Greek word for "meaning") is a conviction that the primary human drive is not pleasure, as Freud maintained, but rather the discovery and pursuit of what the individual finds meaningful. Today, as new generations face new challenges and an ever more complex and uncertain world, Frankl's classic work continues to inspire us all to find significance in the very act of living, in spite of all obstacles. A must-read companion to this classic work, a new, never-before-published work by Frankl entitled Yes to Life: In Spite of Everything, is now available in English. This book was published with two different covers. Customers will be shipped the book with one of the available covers.
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Community Reviews
“Man’s Search for Meaning” is one of the most cited works I come across in all my reading. When you see a work referenced so much you go straight to the source for a deeper understanding. After sitting with it for some time, I came away realizing this should be mandatory reading. It’s truth telling and enlightened perspective is so needed today.
Viktor Frankl’s style is succinct and unapologetically candid. The book’s brevity is balanced by its profound & timeless wisdom born out of extreme suffering. His painful retelling of concentration camp survival guides us through unimaginable evils with a tone that almost pities the reader. Frankl’s experience is a bitter pill to take but it offers equal parts hope. Frankl also proves prophetic in his observations on American life and its bastardized outlook on the meaning of life.
It makes sense then that Frankl is so often cited. Any work that explores the 20th century human condition or later would be wise to gleam from Frankl’s astute analysis of man’s search for meaning. Especially in the face of the escalation of horrors enacted on one another in the present age. I came away thinking that hope, meaning, purpose are all found in the maintaining of even the tiniest shard of agency over one’s self. Be it perspective, dignity, or more actionable things.
WOW. Great book. I would recommend the first half of this book to almost anyone. It tells of Frankl's experiences in the concentration camp of WWII. After hearing of his stories I would find it hard to complain about anything in my own life. It then discusses his school of thought on his own logotherapy method. The second half of the book might not be for everyone since it is a little dry. But it still is informative for anyone interested in hearing of human drive and finding meaning in their own lives. Keep in mind this book only introduces you to his logotherapy ideas. He has several other books on the subject matter.
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