Listen free for 30 days

  • Man's Search for Meaning

  • Written by: Viktor E. Frankl
  • Narrated by: Simon Vance
  • Length: 4 hrs and 44 mins
  • 4.8 out of 5 stars (2,633 ratings)

Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
Premium Plus auto-renews for $14.95/mo + applicable taxes after 30 days. Cancel anytime.
Man's Search for Meaning cover art

Man's Search for Meaning

Written by: Viktor E. Frankl
Narrated by: Simon Vance
Try for $0.00

$14.95 per month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy Now for $17.51

Buy Now for $17.51

Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Tax where applicable.

Publisher's Summary

Man’s Search for Meaning is the chilling yet inspirational story of Viktor Frankl’s struggle to hold on to hope during the unspeakable horrors of his years as a prisoner in Nazi concentration camps. Between 1942 and 1945 Frankl labored in four different camps, including Auschwitz, while his parents, brother, and pregnant wife perished. Based on his own experience and the experiences of those he treated in his practice, Frankl argues that we cannot avoid suffering, but we can choose how to cope with it, find meaning in it, and move forward with renewed purpose.  

Through every waking moment of his ordeal, Frankl’s training as a psychiatrist lent him a remarkable perspective on the psychology of survival. As a result of these experiences, Dr. Frankl developed a revolutionary approach to psychotherapy known as logotherapy. At the core of his theory is the belief that man’s primary motivational force is his search for meaning. Frankl’s assertion that “the will to meaning” is the basic motivation for human life has forever changed the way we understand our humanity in the face of suffering.  

Frankl’s riveting memoir was named one of the 10 Most Influential Books in America after a 1991 survey by the Library of Congress and Book of the Month Club. This revised and updated version includes a new postscript: “The Case for a Tragic Optimism”.

©1959, 1962, 1984 Viktor E. Frankl (P)1995 Blackstone Audiobooks

What the critics say

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

Editorial Review

Through his experiences in a concentration camp, Vienna-born Viktor Frankl unpacks logotherapy in a nutshell, offering listeners a new way to give life meaning.

As a coping mechanism for dealing with the trauma of Nazi concentration camps in Auschwitz, Austrian psychiatrist Viktor E. Frankl learnt to focus on a continual search for meaning in order to make sense of the chaos and pain around him, and find strength through the very essence of human existence. Through this practice, he developed logotherapy, which in turn provided the inspiration and foundation for his renowned book, Man's Search for Meaning. Viktor Frankl presents this work of psychotherapy, which addresses mental health and our relationship with the meaning of life. By focusing on a sense of purpose and meaning in everything, he believes that human beings can lead a meaningful life and find the inner purpose in all people and all things.

As a World War II Holocaust survivor, Dr. Frankl saw tragedy and hardship. What’s more, he experienced the true meaning of a sacrifice in his own life. This suffering forced him to find his own way of coping, and eventually led to the theory of logotherapy and finding the will to meaning. A revolutionary work of psychology, this book and its practices have been widely praised and accepted across the literary, psychiatry and science worlds. One of the most influential books on psychoanalysis, Man's Search for Meaning has become one of the forerunners of the study of existential analysis and human freedoms.

This audiobook adaptation has been translated to English and narrated by Simon Vance. Vance is an experienced and decorated reader, who has won a number of Audie Awards for lending his voice to great books. He brings a clarity and serious tone to this title, delivering this insightful content with ease.

Featured Article: Get Motivated with These Life Changing Audiobooks


Whether you’re looking to learn new skills and implement better habits or get fit and focused, these audiobooks will tap into your motivation and get you making plans to level up your life. Find your new favourite book from our list of inspirational titles that speak to listeners of all ages, backgrounds, and ambitions in audio format. The best time to start is now—so add these powerful and poignant titles to your listening library on Audible.

What listeners say about Man's Search for Meaning

Average Customer Ratings
Overall
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    2,124
  • 4 Stars
    396
  • 3 Stars
    91
  • 2 Stars
    13
  • 1 Stars
    9
Performance
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    1,694
  • 4 Stars
    320
  • 3 Stars
    88
  • 2 Stars
    11
  • 1 Stars
    6
Story
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    1,785
  • 4 Stars
    246
  • 3 Stars
    59
  • 2 Stars
    15
  • 1 Stars
    6

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

True soul of humanity

Page after page of the distilled soul of humanity.

Dripping with the reality of true human essence.

Reading this book, you can not help but liberate your understanding of potential for the greatness of the human spirit; standing against adversity, pushing again darkness, and in simple common sense way, making a humble effort which makes a difference, finding meaning not only for yourself, but others.

Victor Frankl, I am deeply grateful for your remarkable life, a voice from the past, so relevant to today.

I am indebted to your insights, to your courage, to your work of perseverance, and for this book which is a triumph of the human spirit.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

8 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Everyone should read this book before they die.

Frankl's work changed psychiatry. He would ultimately inspire generations of physicians and psychologists alike to focus on meaning through human experience.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

8 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars
  • tox
  • 2020-06-23

A sad but introspective analysis

I love and loathe how men can take the human mind and condense it to such simplicity as cause = affect, it always seems to lead to a feeling loss of control over one's fate or mental being.
Equally a good psychology book should leave you ravished for mental resource and fortitude, then when placed in ones library shelf, it acts as a perverted statue that you can gaze on and say " I got through that and was only a little scarred" .
To that end it's a fantastic read if you enjoy the act of mental masochism.
I do recommend this book, and even think it should be nominated or investigated as a required reading in high school, but only for those who desire to expand their minds and are willing to pay the mentioned mental tax.
"I got through that just barely and was only scared and scarred a little"

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

7 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Incredibly Interesting

This book was so interesting, it really makes you think. The conclusions that Mr. Fankl drew from his experiences have changed the way that I look at things. #Audible1

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

6 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Why is this not a standard school text?

In our age of grasping for meaning, while simultaneously excising faith from our lives, we have a great need for the legacy of Dr Frankl. So too do we need the reminder that inhumanity did not end with the closing of Auschwitz. There are decent people and there are the indecent people, and this is not confined to any particular time or place.
Meaning exists, we have but to take responsibility for it.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Powerful

Amazing book, that everyone should read, going through hard times or not, its a must read.
This is giving me another perspective of my life and the situation I’m in that I cannot change.
Im so happy i found this book at the right time, it was the time where some really dark thoughts started manifesting, and this masterpiece gives me such a great perspective on suffering and life in general.
Thank you Dr. Frankl, your work and help is very appreciated 🙏🏽

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Meaningful and rich

This book should be a basic read for anyone who is capable of breathing. I am thankful for having read and having access to this book..

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Eye opening

It made me reflect on my very privileged life and my pettiness when things don’t go my way. It was painful to hear of the unneeded and cruel suffering that was enforced and the importance of speaking out. The endurance and strength of others was
incredible and unimaginable. It makes me want re prioritize what I give importance and attention to. It makes me want to see the value in life, my own and others where I can contribute.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Fascinating book

I quite enjoyed this book, the first half is a psychological account of the experience of a Jewish prisoner during the war.
The second half is a brief explanation of the basis of Logotherapy, a school of psychology that to me is very appealing.
The narration is divine !

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Incredible strength

Respect and amazing strength and courage. Thank you to Dr Frankl for being able to tell his story story.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!