Man’s Search for Meaning is a book that will rip your heart out and put it back in right side up. The harrowing tales and psychology of a survivor of four concentration camps in World War II, this book shows the power of the human condition at the limits of its abilities. Victor Frankl along with other survivors showed the absolute strength of humanity that can exist in a world almost devoid of meaning. Frankl would go on to create the psychological school of Logotherapy with a focus on man’s quest for meaning in the world as his highest aim. Another stoic genius, Frankl offers hope to anyone suffering in life to know that they can persevere.

Frankl’s description of his disturbing time during the Holocaust, and how he kept himself mentally strong, serve as a reminder to each of us. We are all capable of enduring through trials if we are willing to only grasp on to our own worth. The evilness of the men around him was apparent to everyone, but he did not hold grudges. Most prisoners lost their will to live, and became like animals shepherded by the SS. But a few were honorable to their last days, kind and giving.

They may have been few in number, but they offer sufficient proof that everything can be taken from a man but one thing; the last of the human freedoms – to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one’s own way (p.66)

When someone realizes that life is not going to be all peaches and cream and easy, they often lose hope. This is the wrong attitude to have. Facing the challenges and the obstacles in your life makes one a stronger person. “Such people forget that often it is just such an exceptionally difficult external situation which gives man the opportunity to grow spiritually beyond himself (p.72.)” Assuredly what ever you are facing is not as terrible as a concentration camp. The possibility of death does not surround you at all times. Therefore, rise above these obstacles you have placed on yourself. Use them to make yourself better. “Woe is me” is no way to go through life. That is a loser’s mentality. Things will only get better if you get better. “ Suffering is an ineradicable part of life, even as fate and death. Without suffering and death human life cannot be complete (p.67.)”

What is important as well to hear from Frankl is that even under the rule of SS, not everyone was evil. Some guards had humanity. Some prisoners had evil in them, as they were raised above their peers and put in charge of corralling them.

From all this we may learn that there are two races of men in this world, but only these two – the “race” of the decent man and the “race” of the indecent man. Both are found everywhere; they penetrate into all groups of society. No group consists entirely of decent or indecent people. In this sense, no group is of “pure race” – and therefore one occasionally found a decent fellow among the camp guards (p.86.)

The horribleness that Frankl and others endured is a warning of man’s fallibility, man’s cruelty, and man’s wrath. We know what man is capable of doing now and we should be ashamed for ourselves. But we can be better. In fact we always have the choice to be better. Frankl proved it to us.

Under the influence of a world which no longer recognized the value of human life and human dignity, which had robbed man of his will and had made him an object to be exterminated (having planned, however, to make full use of him first – to the last ounce of his physical resources) –under this influence the personal ego finally suffered a loss of values. If the man in the concentration camp did not struggle against this in a last effort to save his self-respect, he lost the feeling of being an individual, a being with a mind, with inner freedom and personal value. He thought of himself then as only a part of an enormous mass of people; his existence descended to the level of animal life (p.50)

This book is short and powerful in its message. Man can stand up to any foe, obstacle, or circumstance as long as one is able to remain free. Free on the inside where it counts. Free to be human, free to make choices. “Man is not fully conditioned and determined but rather determines himself whether he gives in to conditions, or stands up to them (p.131.)”

Many of my own sorrows and troubles now pale in comparison to the struggles this man and many others faced. He has given me the courage to face life as well as I can; to not give up what makes me, me. We must all search for a meaning in our life to persevere and accomplish. Without this we are no better than wild animals. In the oft quoted words of Nietzsche “ He who has a why to live for can bear almost any how.”

Man’s Search for Meaning

The Epic of Gilgamesh is a story that no one has ever heard of. That is unfortunate. Quite possibly the first great piece of literature, this 4,000 year old epic poem predates Homer’s Iliad by at least a thousand years .

Archaeologists discovered this piece of prose carved on tablets in Mesopotamia. The story is incomplete, as some tablets have been destroyed or lost to the ravages of time, but what remains is beautiful in its simplicity.

Evidence suggests that Gilgamesh, the king of Uruk, actually existed. Although some of the tales of his exploits in the epic are mythological, he nevertheless appears to have accomplished a great deal in his lifetime. Even with all of the strengths and powers of Gilgamesh, his driving force was the force that drives all men, the hope for immortality.

This book is short, easy to read, and powerful. Gilgamesh’s life is a testament to the inner drive of man. Nothing stood in Gilgamesh’s way. Two-thirds god, and one-third man, he built temples and cities for his people that were so sturdy, they marveled on them for centuries. He slayed monsters, and he took no prisoners. With an insatiable appetite for glory, women, and immortality, Gilgamesh was prototypical man.

The story centers on Gilgamesh’s friendship with Enkidu, another man from the gods. The two were the strongest men the world had ever seen. They travelled the world and slayed monsters together. Gilgamesh was always pushing his frightened friend forward.

Where is the man who can clamber to heaven? Only the gods live [forever] with glorious Shamash, but as for men, our days are numbered, our occupations are a breath of wind. How is this, already you are afraid. I will go first although I am your lord, and you may safely call out, “Forward, there is nothing to fear (p. 71.)

After many adventures together and many victories, the gods punish Gilgamesh for challenging their supremacy. Enkidu is killed, tearing Gilgamesh apart. He spends the remainder of his life on a rampage through the world attempting to find immortality for himself and for his people. Although previously he had acknowledged his own mortality, “Indeed I know it is so, for whoever is tallest among men cannot reach the heavens, and the greatest cannot encompass the earth (p.72.)”

This search for immortality pits Gilgamesh against many of the Gods. They lead him on his way while warning him that he will never find what he seeks. After many trials, Gilgamesh is told the key to immortality is a plant at the bottom of the ocean. He ties stones to his feet, jumps in the water, brings the thorny plant up from the deep and is exalted for his success. However, he does not eat the plant immediately, as he wants to bring it back to his kingdom to share with his people. A snake, sensing the plant’s power, steals and eats it, and is thus able to slough its skin and regenerate. Snakes became immortal and Gilgamesh loses the gift of immortality.

Eventually Gilgamesh dies, as all men do. Although Gilgamesh did not achieve the everlasting life he so desperately wanted, he achieved a measure of immortality nonetheless. Heralded by his people as the greatest of rulers, tales of his exploits are still being told thousands of years later, and his position as the oldest man to appear in literature remains safe.

As there is no older piece of literature than the Epic of Gilgamesh, there is no older source of wisdom. Read this book to expand your horizons. Read this book because you can do it in an afternoon. Read this book to celebrate man’s immortality.