Man's Search for Meaning

Origins

Frankl dictated the book in nine days in 1946. It first appeared as Ein Psychologe erlebt das Konzentrationslager (“A Psychologist Experiences the Concentration Camp”), later under the title …trotzdem Ja zum Leben sagen (“Saying Yes to Life in Spite of Everything”). In the USA it was published in 1959 as From Death-Camp to Existentialism, and from 1962 as Man's Search for Meaning.

Content

Part I describes the psychology of the camp prisoner in three phases: the shock of arrival, the apathy of camp life, and depersonalisation and bitterness after liberation. Frankl shows that those who had a “why” to live for - someone waiting for them or a work to complete - had a better chance of survival.

Part II is a concise introduction to logotherapy. Later editions added a postscript on tragic optimism.

Significance

In 1991 the US Library of Congress listed it among the ten most influential books in America. It has sold over 10 million copies in dozens of languages.

Polish editions

In Poland the book has appeared under titles including “Psycholog w obozie koncentracyjnym” and “Człowiek w poszukiwaniu sensu” (Czarna Owca).