This book is reality-based and deals with the writer's life (Viktor Frankl) when he was living in a Nazi concentration camp and his psychotherapeutic procedure of logotherapy. Nazi German arrested Frankl and his whole family in 1942 because they were Jewish, and they suffered a lot. In his book, he narrated the lifestyle he spent there and explained the life and suffering of residents in that camp and how they are being mentally affected. He describes his experience so that they can be evidence for his psychological theories. Through his observation, he explained the three mental stages typical prisoners go through; the new arrivals were shocked after arriving, became impassive, and got blunt. There are two sections of the book. Both are so impressive to read because they talk about author’s biography and his personal experiences.
The first section of the book talks about the experiences in the camp. It analyzes what happened to the apathetic pensioners and how Frankl managed to be active and avoid the apathy. According to Frankl, there should have to be a meaning in life for which a person can survive anywhere. And with any type of struggle. The experiences positively changed Frankl'sFrankl's life in the camp because Frankl used his struggle as an opportunity to make a good person. Instead of suffering and getting lazy, he accepted the suffering as a challenge for his life and used those suffering for a greater purpose. Though there is destiny, and it will take you anywhere, Frankl does not accept that he thinks there is always a man who can change his future. Wherever you are, you can choose a path for yourself. In the worst situation, you can enlighten your destiny by changing it positively.
Frankl gives three best ways to find meaning in life, and that is by working hard, by doing love, and by suffering. These three ways are fundamental to finding purpose in life and for which we wait a day to start. He found his meaning in life when he was in the camp. He looked for the potential by which he could change his life, and he did. His first motivation was that he wanted to do something after leaving the camp in three years. He tried to elaborate and rewrite his document of logotherapy, but unfortunately, his composition was taken from him by Nazis after he came to the camp in Auschwitz. He also believed in love because of his wife. His wife was accommodating and was always there for him in every difficult situation. By using the three ways; work, love, and suffering he kept himself motivated to live and considered he responsible for what happened to him. He talked about human behavior and that humans will not understand the meaning of life unless and until they go through suffering. We must make every moment memorable for us so that we can live our lives and wish to spend life on earth. Everybody has given some superpowers, and he can use that at any time. An individual is responsible for what he has and what he hasn't.
The second section of the book talks about his ideas of logotherapy. Here he explains that a man's will can be aggravated if he doesn't find a positive meaning in life and which will lead a person to neogenic neuroses. It means that if a man didn't see the meaning of his life, he will be distracted and depressed, which will develop specific mental issues. Frankl proclaims that everybody has to be in a state where there should be a worry between what has been achieved and what can be achieved. Frankl considered it a mental health issue, and we need to view it. To overcome this issue, Frankl suggests that humans have to set goals for their lives and work on them instead of overthinking them. Logotherapy helps people live prosperous life by giving them an idea of setting a goal and working on it for accomplishment.
In the ending statement of his book, he mentions that humans can do anything they want. They invented gas chambers in Auschwitz, and even they entered inside it. He thinks that humans can even do bad things if they wish to; they can do anything. They have to take a step and start working on that. After some time, they will get what they expected. Humans can change their behavior and living standards too. The Poor can be rich by doing hard work, and the rich can be poor by being lazy. There is always a possibility for a change; it is in the human hand what strategy they will apply for themselves. Frankl argues that the basis for positive change is to say "yes" to everything. Things will automatically change by your own will.