Book Review – Man’s Search for Meaning: An Introduction to Logotherapy

By Tim Rushing

I feel compelled to admit prior to writing a review on any book that speaks to
the subject of psychoanalysis, a certain bias against this science. I am not
suggesting for a moment that there is no value in studying human behavior
and the underlying psychological components that drive such behavior.
Indeed, many books are written about criminal psychology that help to
analyze human behavior and how people get to the point where they can kill,
rob, set fire to buildings, and generally act in a reprobate manner.
Furthermore, from a law enforcement perspective, the analysis of behavior
can be used to decipher psychological and physiological reactions to
questioning so that more effective interrogation can take place.

My bias is more that many of the conclusions arrived at by the author of

theory is overreaching, as the data is interpreted by the collector’s own
biases and life experiences. This is not at all meant to diminish the work of
the author or negate their theories, rather than to state it drives my own
personal cautionary approach to embracing theory simply because someone
has advanced education degrees, extraordinary life experiences, or even a
combination of both. By virtue of the facts, Dr. Frankl certainly had all of the
above. I am only stating that as with any book, one must not become so
enamored with the pedigree of the author, they lose sight of the fact they
must still think critically and take an “eat the meat and spit out the bones”
approach to gleaning those things they can take from them into the real
world.

In the case of “Man’s Search for Meaning”, my eyebrows raised for the first
time in a premise not promoted by the book’s author, but rather in the
preface itself, written by former psychology professor Gordon W. Allport.
Allport states, “How could he (Frankl)—every possession lost, every value
destroyed, suffering from hunger, cold and brutality, hourly expecting
extermination—how could he find life worth preserving? A psychiatrist who
personally has faced such extremity is a psychiatrist worth listening to.” At
face value, this statement seems credible enough, but only because it seems
plausible enough. However, could it not also have been stated, “A
psychiatrist who personally has faced such extremity, is a psychiatrist whose
psyche had been so damaged, his conclusions must be so skewed as to not
be worth listening to.”

Now in confessing the above biases into the science of psychoanalysis, I

must admit there were several things I enjoyed about this book and I can use
in my line of work as a police supervisor. The first part of this book,
“Experiences in a Concentration Camp”, is poignant and compelling reading.
It would be difficult to not be profoundly moved by the numerous anecdotes
of human suffering, both at the personal level for Frankl, but at the
observation of the suffering of his fellow concentration camp inmates.
Perhaps the greatest relevance, both at a personal and professional level, I
can take from this portion of the book, is the premise that the integrity and
character is essentially ingrained in the individual, even when their status in
life is quickly taken from them. Similarly, Frankl notes that once acceptance
of the inmate’s plight occurred, they were generally content and “happy in
spite of everything.”

By comparison, Frankl discusses “Sunday Neurosis” later on in the second

part of his book when referring to people who commit suicide after
completing their busy week which create a distraction for them, but come to
realize a void in their lives when their week is over and they are left
contemplating the purpose of their lives, creating an “existential vacuum” of
discontent and anxiety which often leads to suicide. Once a law
enforcement professional, particularly a police supervisor or manager,
becomes aware of these situations, he or she can utilize this understanding
to either obtain help for subordinates who are living out their own personal
crises, or for the persons in the field who are dealing with their demons of
addiction, depression or aggressions.

While I would not proclaim “Man's Search” the panacea for depression or
other psychological maladies, I do believe there are definite principles that a
law enforcement leader can adopt in their personal and professional life to
create understanding of human character so that they are better equipped in
dealing with issues in their own lives, the lives of their subordinates, and the
lives of the citizens whom they are entrusted to protect.