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  • Man's Search for Meaning

  • By: Viktor E. Frankl
  • Narrated by: Simon Vance
  • Length: 4 hrs and 44 mins
  • 4.7 out of 5 stars (3,670 ratings)

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Man's Search for Meaning

By: Viktor E. Frankl
Narrated by: Simon Vance
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Publisher's Summary

Man’s Search for Meaning is the chilling yet inspirational story of Viktor Frankl’s struggle to hold on to hope during the unspeakable horrors of his years as a prisoner in Nazi concentration camps. Between 1942 and 1945 Frankl labored in four different camps, including Auschwitz, while his parents, brother, and pregnant wife perished. Based on his own experience and the experiences of those he treated in his practice, Frankl argues that we cannot avoid suffering, but we can choose how to cope with it, find meaning in it, and move forward with renewed purpose.  

Through every waking moment of his ordeal, Frankl’s training as a psychiatrist lent him a remarkable perspective on the psychology of survival. As a result of these experiences, Dr. Frankl developed a revolutionary approach to psychotherapy known as logotherapy. At the core of his theory is the belief that man’s primary motivational force is his search for meaning. Frankl’s assertion that “the will to meaning” is the basic motivation for human life has forever changed the way we understand our humanity in the face of suffering.  

Frankl’s riveting memoir was named one of the 10 Most Influential Books in America after a 1991 survey by the Library of Congress and Book of the Month Club. This revised and updated version includes a new postscript: “The Case for a Tragic Optimism”.

©1959, 1962, 1984 Viktor E. Frankl (P)1995 Blackstone Audiobooks

Critic Reviews

"An enduring work of survival literature." (The New York Times)

What listeners say about Man's Search for Meaning

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

An unmissable masterpiece

This should be a compulsory read for every human being.

The account of his days in concentration camps is a pure recount of events, from the perspective of a human being as opposed to most literature on the subject that add a patina of impersonality. I felt his pain, but most of all I felt his hope and deep humanity.

I couldn't give a perfect score because the second part of this book is an academic dissertation on the subject of logo-therapy, that although interesting, felt a bit out of place.

Narration is great, clear and suited.

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17 people found this helpful

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    4 out of 5 stars

Intense in a very meaningful way.

This was 5 hrs of my life I shall hold dear, declaring that I felt truly alive and inspired by humanities potential to realising profound greatness.

Good narration, excellent content and griping insight.

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12 people found this helpful

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brilliant

What a great book I learned many great things including I should be more patient and more comfortable with suffering

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7 people found this helpful

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outstanding book exceptional narration

an exceptional story that is narrated very well. the life stories shared have shifted my paradigms abd forever changed the lens through which I see the world. highly recommended.

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7 people found this helpful

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Fantastic- meaning of life and why we are here

The last 2 chapers made me realise more about myself and my mindset towards my meaning of life.. everyone has a different meaning to life and its not just one meaning.. that meaning changes every moment of every situation xx

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4 people found this helpful

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  • Max
  • 20-01-2017

Fascinating

Frankl makes a compelling point throughout the book about finding meaning in your suffering. Frankl goes into detail about said point when he, in the first chapter, discusses his hellish experiences in a Nazi labor camp. In the second chapter, he goes into further detail by talking about his form psychotherapy, known as Logotherapy, where patients learn how they can find meaning in their suffering in order to live a more fulfilling life.
Although the second chapter does drag a little at times, 'Man’s Search for Meaning' is still a book that I highly recommend, especially if you ever find yourself going through many challenging situations in life.

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Extremely interesting

The narration was very well performed. The story was more shocking than any movie on Natzi concentration camps that I have seen. What they went through and the methods that Viktor Frankl has come up with certainly relate to our lives even now. A very powerful book. Thank you for life's work.

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4 people found this helpful

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Insight into humanity and triumph over suffering.

A must read in this age if we are to avoid the worst of human urges and foster societies based on selfless values.

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3 people found this helpful

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Perfect narration

Great book that will humble and illuminate you. Read beautifully and set out in a thoughtful and understandable way. Highly recommend not only the book, but the listening experience as well.

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3 people found this helpful

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Amazing story

Which parts of us numb, which survive and which traits become even stronger? How much are humans able to suffer? Viktor Frankl does not hold back in describing every aspect of the day to day reality in the concentration camp, talking about thoughts, dreams, pain, sickness, compassion, pleasures during times of unimaginable suffering and the permanent threat of death. An amazing and courageously told story.

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