MAN’S SEARCH FOR MEANING - Abridged

Summary

Man’s Search for Meaning is a book published in 1946 by Austrian psychiatrist Viktor Frankl. It is an autobiographical and psychological work in which the author recounts his experiences in Nazi concentration camps during World War II and the development of his theory of logotherapy.

Through his experience, Frankl argues that the primary driving force in human beings is not the pursuit of pleasure (as Freud claimed) nor the will to power (as Adler maintained), but the search for meaning in life.

The book is divided into three parts:

1. 
   Experiences in a Concentration Camp – where he recounts the horrors he lived through in Auschwitz and Dachau.


2. 
   Logotherapy in a Nutshell – where he explains the foundations of his psychological theory.


3. 
   Postscript 1984: The Case for Tragic Optimism – a reflection on the human attitude toward suffering.

Throughout the book, Frankl argues that even in the most extreme conditions, human beings can find a purpose that enables them to survive.

Man’s Search for Meaning is a deeply inspiring work that blends autobiography with existential psychology. Through his time in the concentration camps, Viktor Frankl shows that human beings can endure any suffering if they find a purpose in their lives. His theory of logotherapy offers a unique approach to confronting existential emptiness and suffering.

Frankl leaves us with a powerful lesson: the ultimate human freedom lies in our ability to choose our attitude in any given situation. While we may not always be able to change our circumstances, we can decide how to respond. And in that decision lies our dignity, our humanity, and our purpose.

Finally, his theory of logotherapy is not just a therapeutic tool, but a philosophy of life that invites us to reflect on our daily choices and the purpose we give to our existence.