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Recollections: An Autobiography

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"Recollections" is episodic, much like sharing a cup of coffee with a casual acquaintance and trying to divine their life story from those conversations. Dr. Viktor Frankl's "Man's Search for Meaning" is a landmark book for many seekers--including me--and I jumped at the chance to read this so-called autobiography of a giant in the field of diagnosing modern society's malaise. The book is a pleasant read, with Dr. Frankl's humor guiding the narrative. There's not much in the way of how Dr. Frankl coped with returning from concentration camps to find every member of his family--including his young wife--dead. The late Dr. Frankl's narrative is light and episodic, like afternoon conversations instead of Freudian analysis.

Viktor Frankl has presented us with snap shots of the key events in his life. These recollections were never intended for publication but through the encouragement of his publisher this slim volume was made available for readers. Thus begins our journey in looking at the life of the founder of Logotherapy and the author of "Man's Search for Meaning."

Frankl's life is filled with interesting portraits. We learn of his mother's patrician background and the fact that she was descended from a family of prominent rabbis. His father was a struggling student and was director of the government's Ministry of Social Services.

We get to see this inquisitive young man as he is impacted by Freud, Hirschmann, Schilder and Adler as he begins to step int the field of psychoanalysis. Through his philosophical questionings and debates with these giants in the field we find Frankl developing his own methodology. March of 1938 became a turing point for the young man as his country is invaded by the Nazis and he is placed in a concentration camp. From that experience wee see a new personality arising who meets the psychological, emotional and spiritual tensions in his life with utmost grace.We see a man who has the opportunity to leave Austria and avoid the concentration camps but he elects to stay and care for his parents.

Unfortunately this memoir is not a full autobiography of Frankl. You receive sketches of his life and end up wanting more. Read in conjunction with Man's Search for Meaning, the reader can gain further insight on this great personality. I believe this book serves as a supplemental text for the author's Man Search for Meaning." Hopefully a full scale biographical work will come out on Frankl. Until then, this slender volume will whet your appetite to learn more about this great man.

Frankl's autobiography offers a intimate look into the life of one of the giants of our times. A worthwhile book.

I read Viktor E. Frankl's "Man's Search For Meaning" and
needed to know more about the author. Thus the reason
for selecting "Recollections". It gave me a better insight into this great man.

Viktor Frankl has lived a life that was squarely in the center of the storm. He saw the nightmare and had the gift of perspective to be able to relate it to others. Like "Man's Search for Meaning" this is a very easy book to read. There is no flowery prose - only content. Because of how bare bones the book is - the events described have more impact. The horrors of the concentration camps and the tragedies he faced are told in a very matter of fact, undramatic way. It is a must for people curious about evil and goodness in man.

Viktor E. Frankl
Viktor Frankl Recollections:
An Autobiography

(New York: Insight Books/Plenum, 1997) 143 pages
(ISBN: 0-306-45410-6; hardcover)
(Library of Congress call number: RC489.L6F698 1997)

Paperback edition has slightly different title:
Recollections: An Autobiography
(Perseus Book Group, 2000) 144 pages
(ISBN: 0738203556; paperback)
Translated by Joseph Fabry & Judith Fabry

This slim volume contains the whole scope of Viktor Frankl's life
--as told in short sections by Frankl himself.
It does not focus on his concentration-camp experiences,
which are discussed at length in other books.
Much about his family and his life before and after
the years of World War II.
Very readable and interesting.
The meaning of Frankl's life was to help others
to find meaning in their own lives.

If you are looking for the meaning of life,
search on-line for the following exact expression:
"Meaning in Life Bibliography".

James Leonard Park, existential philosopher.

Recollections provides rare insight into the emotions of a brilliant psychiatrist, Viktor Frankl, during his imprisonment in some of Hitler's worst death camps. The power to choose one's attitude toward a given set of circumstances is paramount. The book is filled with personal anecdotes from the lives of historical figures in the history of psychology, like Adler and Freud, as well as discussing the roots of Frankl's own form of psychotherapy, Logotherapy, a therapy of meaning. Thoroughly readable and captivating while at the same time instructive. Should be helpful to anyone who is suffering.

Elizabeth Skoglund, author of Divine Recycling

Viktor Frankl is my hero and a truly amazing man. This is the story of his life written just before he died. He is a man who survived 4 concentration camps and not only lived to tell about it---developed psychological theory that is seen as positive. He believes we control our destiny, and who we are as people. I agree with him. An easy and delightful read.

A slim volume, but to those who seek to know about Frankl, most interesting. For the first time we learn of his childhood, youth and early career as a doctor in prewar Vienna.
There are tidbits of about his work philosophy, some of his drawings, new photos, anecdotes about Freud, Adler and others. For the first time, Frankl tells of his encounter with the infamous Dr. Mengele when he entered Auschwitz. In the "selection" process Mengele directed him to the gas chamber group. Frankl tells how he avoided his fate. Several poignant moments are described, such as his parting advice to his wife, Tilly .. his later discovery of a precious pendant he had given her ... how he learned that she had died shortly after the camp was liberated ... and several others. Near the end Frankl tells of how he was once asked to describe, in one sentence the meaning of his life. He challenged a group of students to guess the answer he gave. One finally suggested "The meaning of your life is to help others find the meaning of theirs." That was exactly right, the very words Frankl has used.

If you have read Man's Search for Meaning, this autobioraphical reflection from Frankl is very good. It is good to read about his life from his recollections. Doesn't take long to go through and I would suggest reading after Man's Search for Meaning. Frankl writes in such a way to make 'things' easy to relate to.