Weekly What’s the Meaning

Man's Search for Meaning by Viktor E. Frankl is a powerful book that explores the meaning of life. Frankl, a psychiatrist and Holocaust survivor, shares his experiences in concentration camps and introduces his theory of logotherapy, which emphasizes finding meaning in all aspects of life. He argues that the pursuit of meaning, rather than happiness, is what gives us resilience and inner strength. The book offers valuable insights for students, teaching them to appreciate the little things, navigate challenges, and find purpose and direction. It has had a profound impact on readers and continues to be influential today. The Podcast, where we explore a new book every week, that deals with different aspects and from various perspectives on the meaning of life. I'm Nari, your hostess, and in today's, our first episode, I want to begin with a classic, a powerful, brilliant book, and one of my personal favorites, Man's Search for Meaning by Viktor E. Frenkel. So who was Viktor Frenkel? How come his book is such a success even 80 years after being published? And what can we learn from it? Well, I'm sure most of us have thought about this question of the meaning of life at some point. But I think we encounter that question especially in our more difficult times, where we just fall into this dark rabbit hole of wondering what is our purpose in this world. To try and answer such a deep existential old question, I will humbly turn to great minds. And this week, I bring you the perspective of the originator of lobotherapy, a very well-known psychiatric energiologist. Have you ever heard of Viktor Frenkel? Viktor Frenkel was born in Vienna in 1905. He published his first article when he was 18, and by 22, he was already lecturing on the meaning of life. He married his first wife Tilly in 1941, and he was such a known psychiatrist at this point, he actually managed to issue a visa, and even though he was one of the very few Jewish people that had permission to leave Europe, he eventually decided to stay. He stayed because he couldn't bear the thought of leaving his parents behind. Unfortunately, soon later, in 1942, Frenkel and his family were forced to move to Theresienstadt concentration camp. Tragedy soon followed. He lost his father there, and then his brother and mother were also murdered by the Nazis in Auschwitz, and his wife also died in Bergen-Belsen camp. Eventually, he did survive the Holocaust, but when he returned to Vienna, he basically had nothing, and no one. So I find it quite astonishing that after all that has happened, he managed to focus on rewriting his manuscript about logotherapy. That's when he also wrote his book, Men Search for Meaning, and it took him only nine days. By the way, he initially devoted only one single chapter to his time in the concentration camps, but his publisher requested that he expand on his experiences. The book is divided into two parts. So the first part is about Frenkel's experiences in the concentration camps, and the second part introduced his theory of logotherapy, a new psychological approach that is based around the search for meaning in all aspects of life. Frenkel explores the idea that even in the face of extreme suffering, we can find meaning and purpose in our lives. One of the key concepts in the book is Frenkel's claim that life is not mainly about the pursuit of happiness, but rather the pursuit of meaning. He argues that finding meaning, even in the most challenging circumstances, can be the key to resilience and inner strength. Now, after reading his book, I have no doubt that this approach has definitely helped him with everything he went through. I want to highlight a few reasons why I believe every student should read this book. First of all, it offers a perspective on resilience and the human spirit that is both enlightening and humbling. It challenges us to reflect on our own lives and the meaning we assign to our experiences. Frenkel used the term existential vacuum to describe the void of meaninglessness that he was being experienced by so many people, especially students. Not only that, but the book Message for Meaning provides valuable insights for navigating challenges and dilemmas, which are all familiar aspects of a student's life. Frenkel's teachings can serve us as a guide for finding purpose and direction, especially during times of academic or personal struggle. For example, according to Frenkel, we need to sometimes just stop and appreciate the little things that can happen during the day, such as a little ray of sunshine during a cold day. Another example is with Frenkel's approach as students. Let's say, you know, when you don't study enough for a test, you can either just be pessimistic and say, oh, why should I even like go to class for this test, you know, or you can be positive and optimistic and still go to class and do your best. And who knows, maybe you'll pass this exam. In life, we often face pressures and uncertainties about the future. Frenkel's book encourages us to look beyond external circumstances and discover an inner compass that can guide us through life's complexities. In 1991, Message for Meaning was listed as one of the ten most influential books in the United States by the Library of Congress. Still today, decades later, it shows up consistently on Amazon's top hundred books list. To conclude, I chose Message for Meaning as Weekly What's the Meaning first episode because it is a profound and thought-provoking book. It has the potential to reshape your perspective on life. It's not just a book, it's a guide to finding meaning in the midst of challenges. It had a real profound, meaningful impact on me, and I am sure it will do the same for you. Thank you for joining me in this episode of Weekly What's the Meaning. I'm Noé, and I hope you consider picking up a copy of Message for Meaning. If you've already read it, I'd love to hear your thoughts. Until next time, happy reading! you