Man's Search for Meaning

Man's Search for Meaning is Viktor Frankl's account of his experiences as a prisoner in Nazi concentration camps during World War II, combined with his psychological theory of logotherapy. The first half is a harrowing memoir of Auschwitz and other camps, where Frankl observed that those who maintained a sense of meaning and purpose were more likely to survive psychologically and physically. The second half outlines his therapeutic approach, which posits that the primary human drive is not pleasure (Freud) or power (Adler), but the search for meaning in life.

Frankl argues that meaning can be found in three ways: through creative work, through experiencing something or someone (love), and through the attitude one takes toward unavoidable suffering. The book became foundational to existential psychology and has sold millions of copies worldwide, influencing therapeutic practice, philosophy, and popular culture. Its central insight—that humans can endure almost any hardship if they perceive meaning in it—resonates across disciplines and remains relevant to discussions of resilience, mental health, and human purpose.