On the meaning of life

You hold in your hands a new edition of three of Viktor Frankl's 1946 lectures, which have enormous power and are surprisingly up-to-date, and which summarize the entire thought of this great physician and psychotherapist. Their purpose is to show that life has a meaning despite everything – in spite of poverty, death, suffering, illness, fate – and it's possible to say yes to it.

Many people around the world are disheartened by the realization that material prosperity alone is not what gives meaning to their lives. Viktor Frankl says that it is life itself that asks us the questions we are to answer. And only when we answer them do we have the opportunity to fulfill the meaning of life.

Frankl develops his basic belief that to be human is to be able to choose how we will react in different situations, how we will approach them. This is evidenced by his own painful experiences with loss, hunger and fear of death, in which he was able to find hope, friendship and meaningful experiences in spite of everything.

V ­ every crisis is also an opportunity – a­ to prove your own humanity.