Viktor E. Frankl's book "Man's Search for Meaning" might be the most influential book I've ever read.
I believe everyone should read this book at least once in their lifetime.
Here are some of my favorite Notes/Quotes:
1. Every human being has the freedom to change at any instant.
2. There is no general meaning to life. It's individual. Different for all of us.
3. But it not only differs from person to person but also from day to day, hour to hour, even minute to minute.
There's no general meaning of life but rather a specific meaning at a given moment.
4. To live is to suffer. To survive is to find some meaning in the suffering.
5. The last of human freedom: The ability to choose one's attitude in a given set of circumstances.
6. Don't aim at success. The more you aim at it, the more you'll miss it.
7. Happiness and success cannot be pursued. They must ensue and only do so as unintended side effects of personal dedication to a cause greater than oneself.
8. Live as if you were living for the second time already.
9. When we are no longer able to change a situation, we are challenged to change ourselves.
10. A human can get used to everything, but don't ask how...
11. Ultimately, man should not ask what the meaning of his life is, but rather must recognize that it is he who is asked.
Each man is questioned by life, and he can only answer to life by answering for his own life. To life, he can only respond by being responsible.
12. According to logotherapy, we can discover the meaning in life in three different ways:
(1) by creating a work or doing a deed
(2) by experiencing something or encountering someone
(3) by the attitude we take toward unavoidable suffering.
13. Everyone’s task/meaning in life is as unique as is his specific opportunity to implement it.
14. A man who becomes conscious of the responsibility he bears toward a human being who affectionately waits for him, or to an unfinished work, will never be able to throw away his life. He knows the ‘why’ for his existence, and will be able to bear almost any ‘how.'
Perhaps you've heard some of this at some point in your life.
But the story of Viktor E. Frankl, as a survivor of a concentration camp in WW2, gives this a different power than a book about stoicism...
I believe everyone should read this book at least once in their lifetime.
Here are some of my favorite Notes/Quotes:
1. Every human being has the freedom to change at any instant.
2. There is no general meaning to life. It's individual. Different for all of us.
3. But it not only differs from person to person but also from day to day, hour to hour, even minute to minute.
There's no general meaning of life but rather a specific meaning at a given moment.
4. To live is to suffer. To survive is to find some meaning in the suffering.
5. The last of human freedom: The ability to choose one's attitude in a given set of circumstances.
6. Don't aim at success. The more you aim at it, the more you'll miss it.
7. Happiness and success cannot be pursued. They must ensue and only do so as unintended side effects of personal dedication to a cause greater than oneself.
8. Live as if you were living for the second time already.
9. When we are no longer able to change a situation, we are challenged to change ourselves.
10. A human can get used to everything, but don't ask how...
11. Ultimately, man should not ask what the meaning of his life is, but rather must recognize that it is he who is asked.
Each man is questioned by life, and he can only answer to life by answering for his own life. To life, he can only respond by being responsible.
12. According to logotherapy, we can discover the meaning in life in three different ways:
(1) by creating a work or doing a deed
(2) by experiencing something or encountering someone
(3) by the attitude we take toward unavoidable suffering.
13. Everyone’s task/meaning in life is as unique as is his specific opportunity to implement it.
14. A man who becomes conscious of the responsibility he bears toward a human being who affectionately waits for him, or to an unfinished work, will never be able to throw away his life. He knows the ‘why’ for his existence, and will be able to bear almost any ‘how.'
Perhaps you've heard some of this at some point in your life.
But the story of Viktor E. Frankl, as a survivor of a concentration camp in WW2, gives this a different power than a book about stoicism...
If you want to read this book or get inspiration for other book ideas, here are some recommendations:
danielmnke.com
danielmnke.com
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