Holocaust survivor Viktor E. Frankl's 'The Will to Meaning: Foundations and Applications of Logotherapy' delves into the philosophy of Logotherapy, emphasizing the importance of finding meaning in life. Through a compilation of speeches, Frankl discusses his experiences in the Nazi death camps and the noble acts he witnessed during that time, which led him to develop the concept of the Will to Meaning. The book explores how individuals can combat existential vacuum and find purpose in their lives through engaging in meaningful actions and connecting with a divine purpose, as well as providing insights on overcoming issues like anxiety and depression.

Writing/Prose:

The writing style is thoughtful and philosophical with technical elements, making it occasionally challenging for casual readers.

Plot/Storyline:

The narrative focuses on the discovery of meaning through suffering, illustrated by real-life experiences from the Holocaust.

Setting:

The settings include historical concentration camps and modern therapeutic environments.

Pacing:

The pacing alternates, with both intense reflections on suffering and deeper theoretical discussions.

The metaclinical implications of psychotherapy refer mainly to its concept of man and philosophy of life. There is no psychotherapy without a theory of man and a philosophy of life underlying it. Witt...

Genres:

psychology

philosophy

self help

Topics:

Notes:

Viktor Frankl survived four Nazi death camps during World War II.

He developed the concept of 'Will to Meaning' based on his observations of others in dire situations.

Frankl believed that finding purpose in suffering can lead to survival.

He argued that people often find meaning in selfless acts, even when close to death.

Frankl's experiences during the Holocaust reshaped his views and practices in psychiatry.

He introduced logotherapy, which focuses on the search for life's meaning as a core human motivation.

His work provides insights into overcoming anxiety and depression through meaning.

Frankl's parents wanted him to flee to the US, but he chose to stay with them just before their deportation.

The central theme of Frankl's work is that life has meaning, regardless of circumstances.

His teachings suggest that people suffering from a lack of meaning are at risk for existential crises and depression.

Many readers found 'The Will to Meaning' a more challenging read than Frankl's earlier work, 'Man’s Search for Meaning,' due to its technical vocabulary.

Frankl's insights into psychology and survival behaviors remain influential in therapy and counseling today.

Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings

Content warnings include discussions of trauma, suffering, and death due to the Holocaust.

From The Publisher:

From the author of Man's Search for Meaning, one of the most influential works of psychiatric literature since Freud.

Holocaust survivor Viktor E. Frankl is known as the founder of logotherapy, a mode of psychotherapy based on man's motivation to search for meaning in his life. The author discusses his ideas in the context of other prominent psychotherapies and describes the techniques he uses with his patients to combat the "existential vacuum."

Originally published in 1969 and compiling Frankl's speeches on logotherapy, The Will to Meaning is regarded as a seminal work of meaning-centered therapy. This new and carefully re-edited version is the first since 1988.

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About the Author:

Viktor E. Frankl (1905-1997) was Professor of Neurology and Psychiatry at the University of Vienna. During World War II, he spent three years in Auschwitz, Dachau, and other concentration camps. He was the founder of the Third Viennese School of Psychotherapy-the school of logotherapy-and President of the Austrian Medical Society of Psychotherapy. His twenty-nine books have been translated into twenty-one languages.

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The Will to Meaning: Foundations and Applications of Logotherapy

Viktor E. Frankl

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