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First published in 1946, Man's Search for Meaning is a rather dry and academic exercise by a professorial psychologist. It is also a remarkable piece of survival literature. The author, Viktor E. Frankl, entered the process of writing the book with a very specific message about a very specific idea, the idea that man derives his will to live and his power to live with dignity and grace by his desire to make his life meaningful. In the process of finishing my own book, 'about art', which has much to do with the search for meaning, this book captured my attention. The first half consists of his observations of human behavior in the extreme conditions of the concentration camps of Nazi Germany where he was a prisoner. Having been written so soon after the actual experiences, they are the compelling portion of the book. They are told with a frightening rigor and lack of sentimentality. The second half is a treatise on his psychological theory, the first draft of which he had already begun before entering the camps. (It was hidden beneath his coat upon entry into the first camp!) The book is an artifact of a period of time in which psychologists argued vehemently about the nature of the conscious and unconscious mind. My understanding is, Mr. Frankl went on to write many more books and become an influential and controversial figure in modern psychology. The technical jargon of the science of psychology is not my cup of tea. The specificity with which he presents his argument I found off-putting. But that is just me, a reflection of my personal tastes and interests. Despite its academic nature, I found it a thought provoking book.

2022-10-21 05:43