Man's Search for MeaningRecommendations
About the book
"Man's Search for Meaning" by Viktor E. Frankl is a profound exploration of the human spirit and the quest for purpose. Drawing from his harrowing experiences in Nazi concentration camps, Frankl illustrates how finding meaning in life can be a powerful motivator, even in the darkest of times. The book delves into existential questions, encouraging readers to reflect on their own lives and the significance they attach to their experiences. Frankl emphasizes that while suffering is inevitable, how we perceive and respond to it defines our existence. This book is not just for those interested in psychology or philosophy; it resonates with anyone seeking to understand their purpose and navigate life's challenges with resilience.The book has garnered recommendations from a diverse group of influential figures, including leaders, actors, and business moguls. Individuals like Kobe Bryant and Nelson Mandela, along with notable entrepreneurs such as Larry Page and Mark Zuckerberg, highlight the book's universal appeal across various fields. This cross-section of recommenders suggests that "Man's Search for Meaning" speaks to a wide audience, resonating with those who strive for personal growth and understanding. The insights shared by these prominent figures emphasize the book's relevance in today's world, where many seek clarity and direction in their lives.
Psychiatrist Viktor Frankl's memoir has riveted generations of readers with its descriptions of life in Nazi death camps and its lessons for spiritual survival. Between 1942 and 1945 Frankl labored in four different camps, including Auschwitz, while his parents, brother, and pregnant wife perished. Based on his own experience and the experiences of others he treated later in his practice, Frankl argues that we cannot avoid suffering but we can choose how to cope with it, find meaning in it, and move forward with renewed purpose. Frankl's theory-known as logotherapy, from the Greek word logos ("meaning")-holds that our primary drive in life is not pleasure, as Freud maintained, but the discovery and pursuit of what we personally find meaningful.
At the time of Frankl's death in 1997, Man's Search for Meaning had sold more than 10 million copies in twenty-four languages. A 1991 reader survey for the Library of Congress that asked readers to name a "book that made a difference in your life" found Man's Search for Meaning among the ten most influential books in America.
Beacon Press, the original English-language publisher of Man's Search for Meaning, is issuing this new paperback edition with a new Foreword, biographical Afterword, and classroom materials to reach new generations of readers.
People recommending Man's Search for Meaning
What readers say about ‘Man's Search for Meaning’
Naval Ravikant on Man's Search for Meaning
"Wow it's dark."
Jocko Willink on Man's Search for Meaning
Jocko Willink covered this book in "Jocko Podcast" Ep. 78
Ev Williams on Man's Search for Meaning
On the "books read" section of Ev Williams' GoodReads profile.
Sam Altman on Man's Search for Meaning
This book was on Sam Altman's bookshelf.
Shane Parrish on Man's Search for Meaning
"As hard as you think your life is, it pales in comparison to Auschwitz."
Daniel Pink on Man's Search for Meaning
"A hugely important book for me."
PewDiePie on Man's Search for Meaning
"A great tool to help people. [...] In case something really bad happens, I feel like, from reading this book, I'm better equipped to handle it."
Maria Popova on Man's Search for Meaning
"A meditation on what the gruesome experience of Auschwitz taught [the author] about the primary purpose of life: the quest for meaning, which sustained those who survived."
Chip Conley on Man's Search for Meaning
"If I were to take the meaning of [this book], and turn it into an equation, it would be despair equals suffering minus meaning."
Chelsea Handler on Man's Search for Meaning
"One of those beautiful accounts of a terrible time in our history. His calm and sagaciousness, while witnessing one horror after another played out during his time in three separate concentration camps, is awe inspiring."
Michael Gervais on Man's Search for Meaning
"Outlines methods to discover deep meaning and purpose in life."
Ryan Holiday on Man's Search for Meaning
"Looks at how we find purpose by dedicating ourselves to a cause, learning to love and finding a meaning to our suffering."
Simon Sinek on Man's Search for Meaning
"Single most important book you can read."
Esther Perel on Man's Search for Meaning
"The book I’ve probably gifted the most is [this book], since I’m 16."
Bryan Johnson on Man's Search for Meaning
"His basic point is no matter the conditions we surround ourselves in, we can author our life."
Dave Elitch on Man's Search for Meaning
Dave Elitch mentioned this book on "The Tim Ferriss Show" podcast.
Lex Fridman on Man's Search for Meaning
"I reread [this book] quite often."
David Blaine on Man's Search for Meaning
"One of my favorite books."
Jim Kwik on Man's Search for Meaning
"Illustrates that it’s not our circumstances but the decisions we make that diminish or develop us."
Turia Pitt on Man's Search for Meaning
"[If people are] doing a bit of soul searching, hands down [I give them this book]."
Tom Bilyeu on Man's Search for Meaning
Tom Bilyeu recommended this book on his website.
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