“Man’s Search for Meaning” is a monumental work from Holocaust survivor Viktor E. Frankl, in which he describes his time in Nazi concentration camps during World War II and introduces his therapeutic method called logotherapy.

Frankl’s primary point is that meaningful life is possible regardless of the circumstances, and our true power lies in the ability to choose our to hardships. He starts sharing his horrifying experiences in the concentration camps and how those bleak surroundings brought out the worst and the best in people. He stresses the ‘will to meaning,’ against popular psychological theories of his day, stating that humans are driven primarily by the quest for purpose and meaning, not power or pleasure.

In the second part of the book, Frankl introduces logotherapy and elaborates on it as a form of existential analysis. According to Frankl, life always has a meaning, whether in suffering, in creativity, or in love. Suffering is an inevitable part of life, and rather than striving for a life devoid of pain, one should seek to find meaning in it and learn from it.

Existential frustration can lead to neuroses. However, logotherapy proposes that we can treat this category of mental health problems by guiding patients to recognize and execute unique responsibilities that life poses to an individual. Therefore, it motivates individuals to persistently look forward in the face of despair.

In conclusion, “Man’s Search for Meaning” is an exploration of resilience in the face of overwhelming adversity and a concise introduction to Frankl’s psychotherapeutic method that aims for the pursuit of meaning as an antidote to despair and a pathway to mental health.