Viktor Frankl: Man's Quest for Meaning

If ever you think your life is miserable and you start to get downhearted then I have a book I recommend you read "Man's Quest for Meaning" by Victor Frankl.

Frankl was born in Vienna in 1905 and even before the outbreak of World War 2 was an accomplished academic and psychotherapist.  He was also a Jew and, along with his entire family, was imprisoned in a concentration camp. Man's Quest for Meaning documents his personal experiences of Auschwitz and other camps.  Only he and his sister survived everyone else who mattered to him: his wife, parents, siblings and friends were killed.  A good summary of his life and work is provided by Dr. C. George Boeree here.

After the war, Frankl reestablished his career and produced this remarkable book which soon gained a substantial  readership and acclaim.

I remember my reluctance to read the book - I was afraid I would find it depressing, after all, life in a concentration camp what could be uplifting about that?  The opposite was the case, I was genuinely uplifted and this  is is precisely the point that comes through in the text.  If, even in the most forlorn circumstances, in the depths of hopelessness and the most inhumane conditions, if even there and then, people seek to bring meaning into their lives, they strive to build things, to organize, establish relationships and cling to ideas - this is surely an uplifting insight on our very existence.
 
Recently I found this web clip of Frankl - watch and listen to what he says here and read the book.  You'll find it difficult to moan about our own trivial challenges in the future.

Dachau

This is Dachau - the first concentrati on campt built by the Nazis.

Be careful not to become smug when you visit this place - we are all convinced that such a place could never exist again and that there is no way that 'normal' people would be convinced to co-operate if it was attempted.

I spent some time in Munich when I was in my twenties (circa 1980) - I had a fantastic time and made many good friends. Although I knew about Dachau I never went to visit. My wife, Maire gave me a wonderful present of a trip back to Munich for the May weekend and this is how I came to take the picture of the square in Dachau KZ.

Look closely and you will see that it is pelting rain.

There was a great crack of thunder and lightening - it struck quite close and left a strong lingering smell of ozone - all of this served to magnify the sense of unease at visiting this place.

Much has been said about these places - I feel that everyone should take time to reflect on how evil can come about and be sustained.

Dachau is a medieval town and the guide books emphasise that it was always a nice place to visit.

I was struck by the ordinariness of the place - including the camp.

Look at this picture of the gatehouse - it's not very big and it is reasonably well designed - when you read about what went on here it is difficult to believe that this same building was used to subdue, torture and murder people. "In this room on the second floor was the Gestapo interrogation room".

What unspeakable stories are locked within these walls.


Even here - people sought to be competent and fulfilled.


These pictures show the library at Dachau and the work of an artist interned here.