Book riview of Man's search for meaning

       Recently, I read an international bestseller book, Man’s Search for Meaning, by Austrian writer Viktor E. Frankl. Frankl was a neurologist, psychiatrist, philosopher, and author. He was of Jewish heritage and is renowned for this book, though he published 39 others. Man’s Search for Meaning has been translated into numerous languages.I read Gujrati version. 

            In this book, Frankl describes the harrowing experiences of prisoners during the Second World War in the Nazi Auschwitz concentration camp. Frankl himself was a prisoner in the camp. The camp, designed for 200 people, was overcrowded with 1,500 prisoners. The prisoners were stripped of their identities and referred to by numbers instead of names.

Problems Faced by Prisoners:

1. Mental Trauma

2. Physical Torture

3. Nightmares

4. Unhealthy and Limited Food

5. Improper Footwear

6. Shaved Heads

7. Extreme Cold

8. Overcrowded and Unhygienic Living Conditions

9. No Outside Contact

10. Beatings and Misbehavior

11. Rebukes from SS Officers

12. Illness Without Proper Treatment

Prisoners’ Basic Desires:

The prisoners’ thoughts revolved around survival and securing more food. Their small hopes included:

Staying alive.

Getting better food or a larger portion.

Working under a kind supervisor (SS officer).

Sleeping.

Being served food by a friend to receive extra portions.

Standing in the middle of a crowd to avoid harsh winds.

Meeting family members or staying with friends.

Spending more time around bonfires for warmth.

Sitting by the window during transportation.

Looking healthy and fit, as weak prisoners were sent to gas chambers.

"જેની પાસે જીવવાનું કારણ હોય છે 

તેમને કોઈ પણ રીતે જીવવું પડે એ જીવી શકેછે" 

                                                   -Nietzsche

Psychological Stages of Prisoners:

Frankl describes three stages of a prisoner’s mindset:

1. Suicidal Tendencies:

Most prisoners initially thought about ending their lives.

Smoking was considered a sign of hopelessness.

The phrase "going to the fence" became synonymous with suicide.

2. Despondency:

Prisoners who didn’t succumb to suicide became despondent.

Many attempted to escape but were often caught and executed.

3. Post-Camp Mindset:

After liberation, prisoners exhibited erratic behavior, often mirroring the brutality of SS officers.

Some tortured others or destroyed property, as if releasing pent-up emotions like a compressed spring suddenly let loose.

Finding Meaning in Life:

Frankl emphasizes that meaning in life can be found even in suffering. He proposes that enduring pain with purpose can lead to personal growth.

 જે મને મારી નથી શકતું તે મને વધુ શક્તિશાળી બનાવે છે                                                            -Nietzsche