Viktor E. Frankl (1905-1997) Austrian psychiatrist. 3. Founder of the Viennese school and Logotherapy, and one of the most important names in existential therapy. Frankl is the most striking name in the field after Freud and Adler. His other works are The Unconscious God, The Will to Meaning and Psychotherapy, and Existentialism. He created his own psychotherapy method, adopting the Freudian approach, with the principle that if you have a purpose to hold on to life, you will live. He survived the 4 concentration camps he was closed during World War II and lost his mother, father, brother, and wife in the concentration camps.

Man's Search for Meaning is a reference book that has been translated into over 30 languages ​​and has sold more than 15 million copies.

The author describes his experiences in the concentration camps with his own psychiatric teaching. Throughout the book, he tries to explain the process that will help us discover meaning in the harsh conditions of existence. “What makes a human be a human?” answers the question.

In the first part, he describes his experiences while being imprisoned in Auschwitz concentration camp, and the psychology of the guards. And Logo is advancing therapy. This theory, which he created entirely from his real experiences; was developed with inspiration from the concentration camp, which is a small prototype of our world, which is full of both physical and mental pain, where we can only control ourselves and where we are sometimes unprotected against outsiders. It is a book that I can recommend to anyone who wants to witness how a person clings to life by preserving and even glorifying his whole being, and perceiving the camp in which he lives as a part of his existence, under terrible conditions that we cannot even imagine.

I would like to share the places I liked while reading the book.

“Humor was another weapon of the soul in its battle for self-preservation. It is well known that humor, even for just a few seconds, gives one more distance and skill than anything else to rise above any situation.” (p.55)

“We sheep were only thinking of 2 things: avoiding bad dogs and getting some food.” (p.62)

“Camp residents were afraid to make decisions, to take initiative no matter what. This was due to a strong feeling that destiny rules and one should not try to influence one's destiny, but rather let it weave its webs.” (p.68)

“A famous research psychologist said that life in a concentration camp can be called a temporary existence. We can expand it to – temporary existence with no boundaries.” (p.81)

“It is true that the elderly do not have opportunities and possibilities for the future, but they have more than that. Instead of future possibilities, they have past realities, that is, the potentials they fulfill, the meanings they fill, and the values ​​they bring to life. No one and nothing can tear them out of the past.” (p.152)