Book Review: Man's Search for Meaning

In the first part of the book, Frankl details his experiences living in Nazi concentration camps such as Auschwitz-Birkenau. The reader realizes that Frankl actually had an opportunity to potentially prevent these experiences but made the noble decision to honor his parents by staying with them rather than fleeing, which summarily led to his being in a concentration camp. Although his horrific experiences are of course difficult to behold as an imaginative witness, they are also inspiring and incredibly illuminating.

At least in the translation that I read, Frankl also writes in a style that is direct, unassuming, and humble—utterly without self-righteousness regarding his own stellar character and choices. His example has a very purifying effect on the reader's own conscience and decision-making. For example, Frankl does not have a rigid, black-and-white view of concentration camp prisoners being 100% good and Nazi guards being 100% evil. He sees subtlety, nuance, shades of gray—good and evil—in all of them (including himself). Can we see similarly, in the ideologically polarized times in which we live?

As another example, after the war ends and Frankl is liberated from life in the concentration camps, he does not hold a grudge against countrymen who could have prevented his imprisonment or who did nothing to help. He chooses to live among them, without resentment. In this light, so many of our modern-day grudges or resentments pale in comparison to those Frankl could have carried. Given that he chose not to take up these grudges or resentments, we see as the reader that we too have this same power to choose the baggage of our hearts.

In the second part of the book, Frankl lays out the main principles of the psychotherapeutic approach he developed, which he calls logotherapy. The philosophy underlying this form of therapy is that life is ultimately a quest for meaning (rather than a quest for power, pleasure, etc.). Although some readers who are not therapists might find the initial idea of this second part of the book intimidating at first glance, I would encourage them to read on, as Frankl shares many of his philosophical insights about meaning and purpose in this latter part of the book.

Contrary to some of the prevailing therapeutic thinking of his time, Frankl called his approach to therapy "height psychology" (as opposed to "depth psychology"). By this he meant that he emphasizes a person's future, their conscious decisions and actions, and their reaching new heights of personal meaning. There is a strong emphasis on personal choice, that each person is responsible to their own life and has responsibility (response-ability) regardless of their circumstances.

Many of Frankl's most clear-eyed concepts give the reader cause to reflect and reevaluate their own life. For example, in true existential fashion, Frankl writes, "Live as if you were living for the second time and had acted as wrongly the first time as you are about to act now." Wow—what a slam on the brakes for life mistakes we are headed toward by our own choosing.

Frankl also flips the easy question "What is the meaning of life?" on its head. He writes, "What matters, therefore, is not the meaning of life in general but rather the specific meaning of a person's life at a given moment… each [person] is questioned by life; and [they] can only answer to life by answering for [their] own life; to life [they] can only respond by being responsible. Thus, logotherapy sees in responsibleness the very essence of human existence." Instead of us questioning what the meaning of life is, we can see how we are being questioned by our lives.

Overall, Frankl's life and work speak for themselves, and they speak loud and clear into the heart of modern-day existential suffering and questioning. I recommend Man's Search for Meaning to any fellow human on the quest for meaning and purpose. May you find in Frankl a wise guide who offers timeless truths for our time.