MAN SEARCH FOR MEANING: MY READING AND REACTION

Man Search for Meaning: My Reading and Reaction



Man Search for Meaning: My Reading and Reaction

Introduction

Man's Search for Meaning introduces readers not only to Viktor E. Frankl's (1997) experiences as a prisoner within the Nazi concentration camp system but also to the fundamentals of logotherapy, a branch of existential analysis that he founded. Frankl (1997) begins with "Experiences in a Concentration Camp," a gentle description of daily life and death within the concentration camp. Frankl's (1997) theoretical analyses are interwoven into the context of this narrative, which is presented chronologically and in the first person. The latter two sections of the book are principally theoretical. "Logotherapy in a Nutshell" is divided on the bases of explication of terms and therapeutic processes. This is followed by "The Case for a Tragic Optimism," an update of his theory that includes the idea of an optimistic future built from a tragic past.

Discussion

Many may elect to read about Frankl's (1997) experiences in the concentration camps but then not follow up by reading the latter two parts of the book. The essence of Frankl's (1997) analysis of life in the camps, however, can be better understood, internalized, and valued if one reads his more theoretical chapters. It is important to remember that the basic framework for Frankl's (1997) ideas were well established prior to his deportation and internment. His perceptions of logotherapy and the search by individuals for meaning provide a context for his Holocaust experiences. In fact many may find it useful to read the latter two sections of the book prior to reading about Frankl's (1997) experiences in the camps.

While most of his family perished during the Holocaust, Frankl (1997) survived imprisonment in four concentration camps: Theresienstadt, Auschwitz, and two satellite camps of Dachau. In Man's Search for Meaning he presents an intimate glimpse into his camp experiences. His narrative is laden with descriptions of his fears, frustrations, and thoughts as he and others survived the camps. While he doesn't focus on the gruesome, it is ever-present. Instead he focuses on the everyday experiences, such as the incessant thoughts of food, the various work details, and relations with other victims as well as those in positions of power, such as the kapos and SS. He also discusses why others, when meaning for life and survival was lost, often slipped into a path toward death.

Frankl's (1997) existential approach ...