[Book review] A Man’s Search for Meaning – Part I

A Man’s Search for Meaning was one of those books I discovered out of pure luck as I talked about on my Instagram account. I had a written quote from the author, Viktor E. Frankl, in an old notebook of mine and one day I decided to investigate it. Good thing I did.

Turns out Frankl was an Austrian-Jewish neurologist and psychiatrist from the 20^th century who was taught by the likes of Sigmund Freud and Alfred Adler. One of his biggest accomplishments career-wise was being the father of the psychotherapy school called logotherapy.

Although less popular than Freud’s psychoanalysis and Adler’s individual psychology, his method was considered one of the most influential forms of existential analysis of his time and is still until today.

In life, though, he achieved a much bigger deed: surviving three holocaust concentration camps. In fact, his study was refined during the years in the camps by observing himself and the other imprisoned men. After the liberation, he returned to the practice of medicine and the treatment of patients and, at last, he writes a piece about all his learnings.

The book is divided in two parts. In the first one Frankl talks about his experiences from the camp in a quite objective way. Well, as objective as he could be all facts considered. The second part was added in the latest editions and is where he explains the concepts involved in the logotherapy analysis process. For me, both parts are captivating for different reasons. The second one, however, brought me some real life insights and has changed my way of thinking and living.

The descriptions of the camp life, in part one of the book, are pretty intense and shocking. Of course, much has already been said, written, filmed and documented about this time in history, but one can’t avoid being impressed by the new perspectives brought by such powerful testimonies.

“Those who have not gone through a similar experience can hardly conceive of the soul-destroying mental conflict and clashes of will power which a famished man experiences.”

Hunger, diseases, poor hygiene and living conditions were not the only issues, when you considerer the dreadful mind games played by the nazi guards which led to mental exhaustion and a constant state of hopelessness.

Despite all horrors inflicted upon, some men found an inner strength to keep surviving. Many of them concentrated their efforts in the hope of being reunited to their loved ones. Others, in the potential life post-camp; some recurred to humor or religion.

Whichever the strategy was, as long as one found a reason, a meaning for that situation one could at least try not giving up. As he quotes Nietzsche on this: “He who has a why to live for can bear with almost any how”.

Frankl then explains how we should find the meaning in everything in life, especially in suffering as it has a great potential to take us to a higher spiritual and mental levels. And that is basically the main argument of logotherapy: the search for meaning.

“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.”

In this sense, human beings always have a choice to try to learn, grow and find meaning in every situation as we can always choose how to act despite all actions taken around us, for example: an imprisoned man could choose to be selfless and kind in the midst of the horror of the camps.

“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.”

And as we have a choice, we also have a responsibility.

“Life ultimately means taking the responsibility to find the right answer to its problems and to fulfill the tasks which it constantly sets for each individual. These tasks, and therefore the meaning of life, differ from man to man, and from moment to moment.”

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TO BE CONTINUED