"Man's Search for Meaning" is a 1946 book by Viktor Frankl, an Austrian neurologist, psychiatrist, philosopher, and Holocaust survivor. The book falls under the genre of autobiography and psychotherapy. It chronicles Frankl's experiences as a prisoner in Nazi concentration camps during World War II. In the book, Frankl describes his psychotherapeutic method, called logotherapy, which involves identifying a purpose in life through completing tasks, caring for others, or finding meaning in suffering with dignity. Frankl argues that the primary human drive is not pleasure but the pursuit of what individuals find meaningful.
The book is divided into two parts: the first part describes Frankl's experiences in the concentration camps, and the second introduces logotherapy. Frankl observed that prisoners who survived were able to connect with a purpose that allowed them to feel positive about the future. According to Frankl, a prisoner's mindset affected their longevity. As of 2022, "Man's Search for Meaning" has sold over 16 million copies and has been printed in 52 languages. In 1991, a survey conducted by the Library of Congress and the Book-of-the-Month Club named "Man's Search for Meaning" as one of the ten most influential books in the United States. In 1991, Viktor Frankl received the Library of Congress's Living Legend Award for his contributions to literature, and the Rollo May Award from the American Humanist Association. As of March 2025, there is news of a movie adaptation in the works.
