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mdwsn27's review against another edition
3.75
Graphic: Confinement, Excrement, Fire/Fire injury, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Suicide attempt, Murder, Gaslighting, Genocide, Police brutality, Suicidal thoughts, War, Violence, Death, Antisemitism, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Injury/Injury detail, Racial slurs, Racism, Self harm, Slavery, Terminal illness, and Torture
jeroenlt's review against another edition
4.5
Graphic: Antisemitism, Genocide, Deportation, Torture, Murder, Emotional abuse, War, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Physical abuse, and Hate crime
Moderate: Cannibalism
Minor: Cancer
ptitirodactyle's review against another edition
I don’t plan on reading the second part at the moment, because of the criticism that has been brought upon Logotherapy by numerous psychologists and the lack of scientific evidence to support some of the claims.
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Murder, Antisemitism, Suicide, Torture, Injury/Injury detail, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, War, Physical abuse, Slavery, Grief, Death, Deportation, Mental illness, Eating disorder, Genocide, Hate crime, and Violence
tmickey's review against another edition
3.75
Graphic: Violence and Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Physical abuse, Hate crime, Addiction, Suicide attempt, Murder, Genocide, and Torture
gheddi's review against another edition
4.0
Graphic: Antisemitism, Suicide, Torture, Death, Genocide, Hate crime, Murder, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, War, Suicide attempt, and Violence
samdalefox's review against another edition
5.0
The book was recommended by my mental health counsellor, highlighting Frankl's finding and assertion that the only thing a person has control over, is their attitude to their circumstances. This aspect has certainly helped me in my own mental health work.
Unlike some of the other reviews, I enjoyed the second part of the book as much as the first. (I read the 80's edition). This may be because of my medical science background and interest in psychiatry. I found Frankl's way of describing his personal experiences almost objectively, quite comforting and appealed to my natural way of thinking. Although the field has developed since his writing, I found it very interesting learning about logotherapy and found it complemented my interest in existentialism. I do think some of the observations he makes are still very relevant today, especially his comments relating to existential boredom.
The first part of the book where he describes his experiences in concentration camps was, of course, difficult to read. However this is the first time I've 'enjoyed' (for lack of a better word) reading about the Holocaust. Previous historical iterations from secondary sources always had the whiff of political war propaganda to me. Frankl's lived experience retelling has no such endorsement of war. What was significant for me, was he not only described his and other's various suffering, but attempted to explain it too. E.g. Why the prisoners and guards reacted in the ways they did. How their psychology and identity was affected as well as their physical health. Frankl goes through each stage of the prisoner's psychological response to his trauma.
Overall, a harrowing, but important read. I think it has the potential to help many people. Maybe be more compassionate to others, maybe employ some logotherapy principles to their own life, maybe become more consciously opposed to war.
Moderate: Genocide, Emotional abuse, War, Suicide, Death, Confinement, Antisemitism, Violence, Torture, Suicide attempt, Physical abuse, and Murder
Holocaustedgario's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Hate crime, Murder, Physical abuse, Religious bigotry, Torture, Violence, and War
margztgz's review against another edition
5.0
Frankl has the unique voice of a poet, survivor, psychologist, and philosopher all rolled into one. I feel absolutely touched, and will now genuinely be readjusting my entire outlook on life. One of my favorite books I have read this year, to be sure. Everyone, please pick this up at least once!
Graphic: Antisemitism, Bullying, Cannibalism, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Grief, Hate crime, Murder, Police brutality, Physical abuse, Religious bigotry, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Trafficking, Torture, Violence, War, and Self harm
crufts's review against another edition
5.0
Man's Search For Meaning is two books in one: it's a Holocaust memoir, but also an introduction to a form of psychotherapy called logotherapy which focuses on the human desire for meaning.
Firstly, how well does it work as a Holocaust memoir? Compared to other Holocaust memoirs (Elie Wiesel's Night, Yoram Gross's My Illustrated Life, and another memoir which will remain unnamed), Man's Search comes out on top as the best one I've ever read.
It declares exactly what it is up front (unlike My Illustrated Life). It only includes details that are relevant to the overall thesis of the story (unlike the memoir-which-shall-not-be-named). It writes with hope and intention for a better humanity (unlike Night, which is a portrait of inhumanity and cruelty). Its text is not fragmented and manic prose, but simple descriptive statements (also unlike Night). And it's short and to the point (which can be considered a plus for nearly any book, but especially a Holocaust memoir).
Secondly, how well does it work as a primer for logotherapy? Pretty well. Here my comparisons are the various other psychology books I've read, but especially The Courage To Be Disliked, since that book also attempts to promote a particular school of psychotherapy. (See my review of The Courage here.)
While I would have liked to hear more about how logotherapy can be applied in practice, the theory itself appears sound. Any reader over the age of two can attest to the truth of the claim that you can bear suffering quite well as long as you feel it's for a purpose, or it otherwise has meaning. Conversely, it's when one's suffering seems meaningless that thoughts of ending it all start to circle.
And you know, whenever I've been in a truly difficult or hopeless situation, stricken with fear or dread, there was always one thing that always gave me instantaneous comfort: the knowledge that no matter what happened, I still had the power to be the best version of myself possible. Whoever (or whatever) was causing me grief, no matter what they did to me, they couldn't stop me from choosing to remain polite, kind, and moral. "Living well is the best revenge", and by living well I gained the strength to get through those difficulties. And this is exactly the claim the book makes.
These observations are in contrast to my reading of The Courage To Be Disliked, where some of its claims rang true but others rang very hollow indeed. Now I actually want to read up about logotherapy!
If other Holocaust memoirs have burned you with their relentless misery and meaningless suffering, Man's Search For Meaning may be the soothing salve you need.
Graphic: Death, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Trafficking, Violence, Physical abuse, Slavery, Genocide, Bullying, and War
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Suicide attempt
Minor: Hate crime, Confinement, Excrement, Torture, Cannibalism, and Antisemitism
This is a Holocaust memoir. If you're looking for some light reading today, this book isn't the right pick. You might also consider reading only the second part (which discusses logotherapy), although you'll miss some of the context.nepheloma's review against another edition
5.0
Moderate: Antisemitism, Body horror, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Medical content, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Self harm, Slavery, Terminal illness, Suicide attempt, Suicide, and Violence