I continue reading books about the experience (though calling it “life” is impossible) in Nazi death camps. This time, I’ve taken up a short but well-known book by world-renowned psychologist Viktor Frankl. When he was sent to a concentration camp, he tried to hide the manuscript of his book, but he couldn’t save it. So, he began gathering insights and “writing” the book in his mind and secretly on scraps of paper, as a way to hold onto sanity amidst the horrors of the camp and to find something to cling to—something to survive for.
When he was finally liberated, he quickly recorded all he had reflected on during those horrific years in the form of a book, which he initially didn’t even want to publish under his real name, though he was eventually persuaded otherwise. In 1946, the book was published as Man’s Search for Meaning.
Although Viktor Frankl lived many more years, passing away in 1997 at the age of 92, this book is considered one of his greatest works.
As I mentioned, the book is quite short. In the summary and by reviewers, it is presented almost as a scientific work, with many people praising it to the skies, claiming that it completely changed their outlook on life… However, to me, it felt less like a scientific work and more like notes and observations about himself and other camp prisoners. And not even particularly structured, which one might expect from a scientific piece.
In these notes, Frankl presents in chronological order what happened to him, how he tried to change his perception of events, and how he strove to help others keep the desire to stay alive.
The author’s initial idea is that “you can survive if you have something to live for.” In other words, an important goal. For the sake of this goal, you can detach from the horrors around you and even from your own “non-life,” where Death could meet you at any moment. However, a bit later in the book, he arrives at a slightly different interpretation: “if you meditate, if you think about love for your loved ones.” This is not quite the same as simply having a goal.
In the end, he found in himself the image of his wife, whom he loved with all his heart. His wife had died almost immediately upon arrival at the camp, but Frankl did not know this. Her image and his love for her allowed him to keep going. Later, he says that even if he had known she was already dead, it would not have changed his feelings, her image in his memory, or his love. And these thoughts of his wife (not a goal) helped him survive the horrors. He lived for her memory.
It’s impossible to evaluate the work and scientific value of such a book. After all, it helped the author survive, and he saved many others. However, if you try to step back and assess the book objectively, it is still the notes and reflections of a person. Yes, a professional in his field. But I would sooner call it a psychologist’s diary than a scientific work. Perhaps part of the fault lies with those who wrote the summaries. But as a standalone piece, the book seemed less compelling to me than I had anticipated.
My rating: 3/5
