June 17, 2010

Man's Search for Meaning - Viktor E. Frankl

I finally got around to reading this very popular book, and while it wasn't exactly what I expected, it was very interesting and I suggest, an important book that I'd highly recommend you read. The first part of the book is Frankl's recount of his five year imprisonment in Auschwitz and other concentration camps. In this section he not only describes what he endured, but considers how he and other prisoners survived their horrific experiences (both mentally and physically) by focusing on reasons they had to live. This leads into the second part of the book where Frankl discusses his theory of Logotherapy - basically that man's greatest need is to find meaning and purpose for his life, and through doing so he will find peace and happiness. Very interesting food for thought - without meaning in your life, what joy can you have? Frankl suggests it is up to us create our own meaning in our lives... and he aptly poses this thought: "For the world is in a bad state, but everything will become still worse unless each of us does his best". Hopefully reading this book will inspire you too to do your best.

Kirsty

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