The RGS Gazette The Arts 27 Issue 12 July 2024 ‘Man's Search for Meaning’ – A Review ‘ Man's Search for Meaning’ by Viktor Frankl is a powerful and moving book. It shows how people can find purpose even in the worst situations. Frankl was a survivor of the Holocaust, and his story is both sad and inspiring. His experiences in the concentration camps helped him to create a new way of thinking called logotherapy, which is about finding meaning in life. Frankl was a psychiatrist who was taken to several concentration camps during World War II, including Auschwitz. He describes the terrible conditions in the camps, where prisoners suffered from hunger, cold, and fear. Despite the horrors, Frankl noticed that those who found some meaning or purpose were more likely to survive. For example, he thought about seeing his wife again and finishing a book he had started before the war. These thoughts gave him hope and strength. Frankl saw that even when everything was taken away from them, people still had the freedom to choose their attitude. He believed that this ability to find meaning in their suffering was crucial for survival. He observed that prisoners who had something to live for, such as a loved one or a personal goal, were able to endure the hardships better than those who did not. "Frankl believed that people are driven by a need for meaning." Logotherapy is Frankl's idea that finding meaning in life is the most important thing. Unlike other theories that say people want pleasure or power, Frankl believed that people are driven by a need for meaning. He said that life has meaning in every situation, even the worst ones. Our main job is to find this meaning. Frankl explained that we can find meaning in three ways: through working on something important, through loving and caring for someone and through enduring problems with courage. In conclusion, ‘Man's Search for Meaning’ is an amazing book that teaches us about the strength of the human spirit. Frankl's experiences in the concentration camps and his ideas about logotherapy show us how important it is to find meaning in life. I found this book very interesting and worth a read. It reminds us that no matter what happens, we can always choose our attitude and find purpose in our lives. As Frankl stated, “For if there is a why, man can bear with almost any how.” Don Herh (Year 8) reviews the book: 'Man's Search for Meaning' Available in the RGS Library Victor Frankl (1945) Frankl exhibition in Vienna (2015)
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy ODA2Njk=