Man's Search for Meaning by Viktor E. Frankl

Why read the book?

Viktor E. Frankl’s Man's Search for Meaning recounts his survival in Nazi concentration camps during World War II and introduces his psychological theory, logotherapy. As a psychiatrist and prisoner, Frankl observes how finding purpose helped him and others endure unimaginable horrors.

The book blends his Holocaust experiences with insights on how meaning can sustain people through suffering. It offers a profound perspective on resilience and the human spirit, making it essential for anyone seeking to understand life’s deeper purpose.

Favourite quote

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.

What I Loved

Man's Search for Meaning combines raw, personal storytelling with universal wisdom, making it both heart-wrenching and inspiring. Frankl’s accounts of camp life are vivid yet restrained, focusing on moments of hope, like prisoners sharing dreams to survive.

His logotherapy framework, emphasising purpose over pleasure, feels timeless and practical, offering tools to face adversity. The book’s brevity and clarity make its heavy themes accessible, encouraging readers to reflect on their own sources of meaning.

Key Takeaway

Finding purpose, even in suffering, gives life strength and direction.