A young readers’ edition of the best-selling classic about the Holocaust and finding meaning in suffering, with a photo insert, a glossary of terms, a chronology of Frankl’s life, and supplementary letters and speeches

The Library of Congress called it “one of the ten most influential books in America”; the New York Times pronounced it “an enduring work of survival literature”; and O, The Oprah Magazine praised it as “one of the most significant books of the twentieth century.” Man’s Search for Meaning has long riveted readers with its descriptions of life in Nazi death camps and its lessons for spiritual survival. This new young readers’ edition brings a beloved classic to a new generation of readers, offering a universal tribute to coping with suffering and finding one’s purpose. An abridged text of the original book (emphasizing Frankl’s personal story, while omitting some material on his psychological theory of logotherapy) is presented here, along with supplemental materials that vividly bring Frankl’s story to life, and a foreword by prominent young adult author John Boyne. Man’s Search for Meaning: A Young Readers’ Edition will help readers ages twelve to eighteen grasp Frankl’s enduring lessons on perseverance and strength with clarity and depth.
One of the ten most influential books in America. —Library of Congress/Book-of-the-Month Club "Survey of Lifetime Readers"

"An enduring work of survival literature." —The New York Times

"[Man's Search for Meaning] might well be prescribed for everyone who would understand our time." —Journal of Individual Psychology

"An inspiring document of an amazing man who was able to garner some good from an experience so abysmally bad… Highly recommended." —Library Journal

“This is a book I try to read every couple of years. It’s one of the most inspirational books ever written. What is the meaning of life? What do you have when you think you have nothing? Amazing and heartbreaking stories. This is a book that should be in everyone’s library.”
—Jimmy Fallon

“This is a book I reread a lot . . . it gives me hope . . . it gives me a sense of strength.”
—Anderson Cooper, Anderson Cooper 360/CNN
 
“One of the great books of our time.” —Harold S. Kushner, author of When Bad Things Happen to Good People

“One of the outstanding contributions to psychological thought in the last fifty years.”
—Carl R. Rogers (1959)
Viktor Emil Frankl, MD, PhD, was professor of neurology and psychiatry at the University of Vienna Medical School and visiting professor at Harvard and universities in Pittsburgh, San Diego, and Dallas. During World War II he spent three years in various concentration camps, including Theresienstadt, Auschwitz, and Dachau. Frankl founded the psychotherapeutic school of logotherapy, often called the “Third Viennese School” (after Freud’s psychoanalysis and Adler’s individual psychology). Throughout his life, he received twenty-nine honorary doctorates from universities in all parts of the world. Frankl authored thirty-nine books that have been published in forty languages.
Educator Guide for Man's Search for Meaning: Young Adult Edition

Classroom-based guides appropriate for schools and colleges provide pre-reading and classroom activities, discussion questions connected to the curriculum, further reading, and resources.

(Please note: the guide displayed here is the most recently uploaded version; while unlikely, any page citation discrepancies between the guide and book is likely due to pagination differences between a book’s different formats.)

Foreword by John Boyne

Preface to the 1992 Edition

EXPERIENCES IN A CONCENTRATION CAMP

Logotherapy in a Nutshell (Abridged)

Afterword by William J. Winslade

Selected Writings

Glossary

Chronology of Viktor Frankl’s Life and of the Holocaust

About

A young readers’ edition of the best-selling classic about the Holocaust and finding meaning in suffering, with a photo insert, a glossary of terms, a chronology of Frankl’s life, and supplementary letters and speeches

The Library of Congress called it “one of the ten most influential books in America”; the New York Times pronounced it “an enduring work of survival literature”; and O, The Oprah Magazine praised it as “one of the most significant books of the twentieth century.” Man’s Search for Meaning has long riveted readers with its descriptions of life in Nazi death camps and its lessons for spiritual survival. This new young readers’ edition brings a beloved classic to a new generation of readers, offering a universal tribute to coping with suffering and finding one’s purpose. An abridged text of the original book (emphasizing Frankl’s personal story, while omitting some material on his psychological theory of logotherapy) is presented here, along with supplemental materials that vividly bring Frankl’s story to life, and a foreword by prominent young adult author John Boyne. Man’s Search for Meaning: A Young Readers’ Edition will help readers ages twelve to eighteen grasp Frankl’s enduring lessons on perseverance and strength with clarity and depth.

Praise

One of the ten most influential books in America. —Library of Congress/Book-of-the-Month Club "Survey of Lifetime Readers"

"An enduring work of survival literature." —The New York Times

"[Man's Search for Meaning] might well be prescribed for everyone who would understand our time." —Journal of Individual Psychology

"An inspiring document of an amazing man who was able to garner some good from an experience so abysmally bad… Highly recommended." —Library Journal

“This is a book I try to read every couple of years. It’s one of the most inspirational books ever written. What is the meaning of life? What do you have when you think you have nothing? Amazing and heartbreaking stories. This is a book that should be in everyone’s library.”
—Jimmy Fallon

“This is a book I reread a lot . . . it gives me hope . . . it gives me a sense of strength.”
—Anderson Cooper, Anderson Cooper 360/CNN
 
“One of the great books of our time.” —Harold S. Kushner, author of When Bad Things Happen to Good People

“One of the outstanding contributions to psychological thought in the last fifty years.”
—Carl R. Rogers (1959)

Author

Viktor Emil Frankl, MD, PhD, was professor of neurology and psychiatry at the University of Vienna Medical School and visiting professor at Harvard and universities in Pittsburgh, San Diego, and Dallas. During World War II he spent three years in various concentration camps, including Theresienstadt, Auschwitz, and Dachau. Frankl founded the psychotherapeutic school of logotherapy, often called the “Third Viennese School” (after Freud’s psychoanalysis and Adler’s individual psychology). Throughout his life, he received twenty-nine honorary doctorates from universities in all parts of the world. Frankl authored thirty-nine books that have been published in forty languages.

Guides

Educator Guide for Man's Search for Meaning: Young Adult Edition

Classroom-based guides appropriate for schools and colleges provide pre-reading and classroom activities, discussion questions connected to the curriculum, further reading, and resources.

(Please note: the guide displayed here is the most recently uploaded version; while unlikely, any page citation discrepancies between the guide and book is likely due to pagination differences between a book’s different formats.)

Table of Contents

Foreword by John Boyne

Preface to the 1992 Edition

EXPERIENCES IN A CONCENTRATION CAMP

Logotherapy in a Nutshell (Abridged)

Afterword by William J. Winslade

Selected Writings

Glossary

Chronology of Viktor Frankl’s Life and of the Holocaust

Videos from the 2024 First-Year Experience® Conference are now available

We’re pleased to share videos from the 2024 First-Year Experience® Conference. Whether you weren’t able to join us at the conference or would simply like to hear the talks again, please take a moment to view the clips below.   Penguin Random House Author Breakfast Monday, February 19th, 7:15 – 8:45 am PST This event

Read more