You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.
Take a photo of a barcode or cover
4.1 AVERAGE
4.1 AVERAGE
hopeful
informative
reflective
fast-paced
dark
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide, Antisemitism, Schizophrenia/Psychosis
Moderate: Xenophobia
Minor: War
''So shouldn't we all be able to achieve it today in, after all, incomparably milder circumstances? To say yes to life is not only meaningful under all circumstances - because life itself is = but it is also possible under all circumstances.''
Quote (page 107)
Viktor Frankl, founder of the third Viennese school of Psychotherapy, already started working on his 'Meaning of Life' theory before the Holocaust. During his deportation to Auschwitz he lost his manuscript, but saw his theory come to live under the extraordinarily horrifying circumstances.
This book contains three lectures that dr. Frankl gave in 1946, only months after his liberation from Auschwitz. It contains both incredible insights into his own theory as well as a scholarly backbone for the later developments in the field of Logotherapy. Readers should be aware that this book is primarily an educational book, and not a memoir as 'Man's Search for Meaning' more is.
After the insightful introduction written by dr. Daniel Goleman, the book is divided into three parts:
- On the Meaning and Value of Life, part 1 (main focus on suicide)
- On the Meaning and Value of Life, part 2 (main focus on forced annihilation)
- Experimentum Crucis (main focus on concentration camps)
These lectures have never before been translated and published in English. Therefore, the book provides a unique contribution to the legacy of Viktor Frankl. Compact, scholarly, yet not too difficult in its language. Definitely a book that I would recommend to almost anyone and would definitely be coming back to many times again myself.
Quote (page 107)
Viktor Frankl, founder of the third Viennese school of Psychotherapy, already started working on his 'Meaning of Life' theory before the Holocaust. During his deportation to Auschwitz he lost his manuscript, but saw his theory come to live under the extraordinarily horrifying circumstances.
This book contains three lectures that dr. Frankl gave in 1946, only months after his liberation from Auschwitz. It contains both incredible insights into his own theory as well as a scholarly backbone for the later developments in the field of Logotherapy. Readers should be aware that this book is primarily an educational book, and not a memoir as 'Man's Search for Meaning' more is.
After the insightful introduction written by dr. Daniel Goleman, the book is divided into three parts:
- On the Meaning and Value of Life, part 1 (main focus on suicide)
- On the Meaning and Value of Life, part 2 (main focus on forced annihilation)
- Experimentum Crucis (main focus on concentration camps)
These lectures have never before been translated and published in English. Therefore, the book provides a unique contribution to the legacy of Viktor Frankl. Compact, scholarly, yet not too difficult in its language. Definitely a book that I would recommend to almost anyone and would definitely be coming back to many times again myself.
„Hat dieses ganze Leiden, dieses Sterben rund um uns, einen Sinn? Denn, wenn nicht, dann hätte es letztlich auch gar keinen Sinn, das Lager zu überleben. Denn ein Leben, dessen Sinn damit steht und fällt, daß man mit ihm davonkommt oder nicht, ein Leben also, dessen Sinn von Gnaden eines solchen Zufalls abhängt, solch ein Leben wäre nicht eigentlich wert, überhaupt gelebt zu werden.“
„Wer ein Warum zu leben hat, erträgt fast jedes Wie.“
„Wir haben den Menschen kennengelernt wie vielleicht bisher noch keine Generation. Was ist also der Mensch? Er ist das Wesen, das immer entscheidet, was es ist. Er ist das Wesen, das sie Gaskammern erfunden hat; aber zugleich ist er auch das Wesen, das in die Gaskammern gegangen ist aufrecht und ein Gebet auf den Lippen.“
„Wer ein Warum zu leben hat, erträgt fast jedes Wie.“
„Wir haben den Menschen kennengelernt wie vielleicht bisher noch keine Generation. Was ist also der Mensch? Er ist das Wesen, das immer entscheidet, was es ist. Er ist das Wesen, das sie Gaskammern erfunden hat; aber zugleich ist er auch das Wesen, das in die Gaskammern gegangen ist aufrecht und ein Gebet auf den Lippen.“
Not quite as "OMG.I.simply.cannot.stop.turning.pages" as [b:Man's Search for Meaning : An Introduction to Logotherapy|38560576|Man's Search for Meaning An Introduction to Logotherapy|Viktor E. Frankl|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1518615963l/38560576._SY75_.jpg|60176846] but gripping and powerful nonetheless!
Also an incredible introduction by [a:Daniel Goleman|829|Daniel Goleman|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1232135370p2/829.jpg] of [b:Emotional Intelligence: Why It Can Matter More Than IQ|26329|Emotional Intelligence Why It Can Matter More Than IQ|Daniel Goleman|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1388185411l/26329._SY75_.jpg|587647] fame. In it Goleman provides more nuanced context for the sheer magnitude of importance that [a:Viktor E. Frankl|2782|Viktor E. Frankl|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1542894524p2/2782.jpg] has had on the fields of existential philosophy & psychology.
tl;dr
Definitely read this book, but only after you've first read "Man's Search for Meaning"
Also an incredible introduction by [a:Daniel Goleman|829|Daniel Goleman|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1232135370p2/829.jpg] of [b:Emotional Intelligence: Why It Can Matter More Than IQ|26329|Emotional Intelligence Why It Can Matter More Than IQ|Daniel Goleman|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1388185411l/26329._SY75_.jpg|587647] fame. In it Goleman provides more nuanced context for the sheer magnitude of importance that [a:Viktor E. Frankl|2782|Viktor E. Frankl|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1542894524p2/2782.jpg] has had on the fields of existential philosophy & psychology.
tl;dr
Definitely read this book, but only after you've first read "Man's Search for Meaning"
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
I love Viktor Frankl's writing. I love the way he thinks, I love the way he can break things down to their essential parts and help me remember what's at the crux of my life. He's one of the handful of names that's on my list to read relatively regularly so I can continue to have perspective.
A good text on positive psychology and finding meaning in life. I listened to the audio book which was read by a stately British dude.
challenging
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Genocide, Hate crime, Mental illness, Racism, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Forced institutionalization, Xenophobia, Antisemitism, Religious bigotry, Murder, War