Man's Search For Meaning - Viktor E. Frankl
There is nothing in the world, I venture to say, that would so effectively help one to survive even the worst conditions as the knowledge that there is meaning in one's life. There is much wisdom in the words of Nietzsche: "He who has a why to live for can bear almost any how."
Man's Search for Meaning is a 1946 book by Viktor Frankl narrates his experiences as an Auschwitz concentration camp inmate during World War II and outlining his psychotherapeutic approach, which involved finding a positive goal in life and then immersively imagining the result.
According to Frankl, a prisoner's outlook on the future affected his survival. The book aims to address the question, "How did daily life in a concentration camp reflect on the average prisoner's mind?" Part I is an overview of Frankl's experiences in concentration camps, while Part II is an introduction to his theories about the meaning and his logotherapy theory.
I have to admit that this book is not an easy read since it comprises a plethora of medical jargon. Still, I found it immensely worth reading and highly recommended it to everyone. Since finishing this novel, I have become more critical of any future endeavors that will consume a significant amount of my time. I begin by asking myself, "Is this or will this be meaningful to me?" If the answer is "no," I will not do it. This book inspired me to live my life as meaningful as possible, to appreciate the journey more than just the destination.
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