A review by tctimlin
Man's Search for Meaning by Viktor E. Frankl

challenging dark hopeful informative reflective fast-paced

3.0

Part One, where Frankl describes his concentration camp experiences is moving and devastating.  Part Two, where he describes his therapeutic philosophy, is dry and frustrating (I am not at all convinced that just flipping the script for a depressed or ill person is going to magically solve their issues).  He ignores biology in favor of just mentally changing one’s attitude.  The Afterword actually does a better job of explaining his philosophy and showing the optimism behind Frankl’s approach.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Physical abuse, Suicide, Grief, Antisemitism, Bullying, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Religious bigotry, Torture, Hate crime, Medical trauma, Mental illness, and War