Psychology

Yes to Life: In Spite of Everything

Yes to Life: In Spite of Everything

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  • Create Date：2021-09-30 06:51:34
  • Update Date：2025-09-06
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  • Author：Viktor E. Frankl
  • ISBN：080700569X
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Summary

Find hope even in these dark times with this rediscovered masterpiece， a companion to his international bestseller Man's Search for Meaning。

Eleven months after he was liberated from the Nazi concentration camps， Viktor E。 Frankl held a series of public lectures in Vienna。 The psychiatrist， who would soon become world famous， explained his central thoughts on meaning， resilience， and the importance of embracing life even in the face of great adversity。

Published here for the very first time in English， Frankl's words resonate as strongly today--as the world faces a coronavirus pandemic， social isolation， and great economic uncertainty--as they did in 1946。 He offers an insightful exploration of the maxim "Live as if you were living for the second time，" and he unfolds his basic conviction that every crisis contains opportunity。 Despite the unspeakable horrors of the camps， Frankl learned from the strength of his fellow inmates that it is always possible to "say yes to life"--a profound and timeless lesson for us all。

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Reviews

Jana ，

I recommend reading Man's Search for Meaning instead of Yes to Life。 It's more coherent and contains more information about Frankl's life in concentration camps as well as logotherapy。 I recommend reading Man's Search for Meaning instead of Yes to Life。 It's more coherent and contains more information about Frankl's life in concentration camps as well as logotherapy。 。。。more

Cyborg ，

A good text on positive psychology and finding meaning in life。 I listened to the audio book which was read by a stately British dude。

George Osborn ，

An interesting thought-provoking book primarily on the value and meaning of life backed up by pertinacious and thought-provoking examples of human perseverance often in the face of depressed fates。 As well as how people experienced and chose to act/experience the concentration camps split into three stages for the reader。An enjoyable and satisfying read that will change your views on the responsibility you have just by being。

Chip ，

I realize， eighteen months into the COVID pandemic， that my experience is nothing like Mr Frankl's。 I wouldn't even begin to attempt to compare the two， but it was from a sense of questioning why things are the way they are today that brought me to this book。 I quickly discovered this is not a speedy read。 It is dense with meaning， a lot of it implied in the context of his examples， even as the author spells out what he's saying。 Also keep in mind that Viktor Frankl was a practicing psychiatrist I realize， eighteen months into the COVID pandemic， that my experience is nothing like Mr Frankl's。 I wouldn't even begin to attempt to compare the two， but it was from a sense of questioning why things are the way they are today that brought me to this book。 I quickly discovered this is not a speedy read。 It is dense with meaning， a lot of it implied in the context of his examples， even as the author spells out what he's saying。 Also keep in mind that Viktor Frankl was a practicing psychiatrist （which confuses me as to why he isn't called "Dr Frankl"？） This book was adapted from the transcript of a series of public "talks" （more like a lecture than a seminar） that presume a certain level of education among the audience。 It is a challenging read for most of us， but well worth it。 As soon as I finished this book I wanted to re-read it， especially the first third， through the lens of what I had just read in the final third。 I didn't really grasp the structure behind what he was trying to say until the last third， and I feel like I missed something early。 Did Dr Frankl answer my pandemic-related questions？ No， but that isn't his fault， the circumstances of his story are different in many ways from today's。 What he brought forward， however， are many ways in which today's circumstances are the same as they were in the hell he survived， and I find that frightening。 Even so， his message is literally "say 'yes' to life， no matter what。" It sounds simple， but it's the distillation of everything he experienced。 It sounds strange to even feel the need to state something so obvious， but today， when a significant percentage of my fellow citizens *choose* to ingest horse dewormer to ward off a virus that can be stopped with a free （and widely available） vaccine。。。 I'm left feeling like a lot of people aren't saying "yes to life。" They're saying "yes to the opposite of life"。 My questions centered around how to deal with these people， and how did Dr Frankl deal with them in his time？ He helped them say "yes to life。" I feel powerless to do the same。 All I can do is motor on with my life and， when given the opportunity， try to get everyone else I can to also "say yes to life。" So now as I think on it， I suppose Dr Frankl *did* give me the answer to my question: how do you save the lives of people who don't want to be saved？ You get them to see that they want to live， you get them to "say yes to life" and the rest will take care of itself。 I'm an optomist， and I have no trouble saying 'yes' to life， but holy cow we've got a lot of work to do。 。。。more

Adam Gossman ，

I thank God this book has been translated into English。 Praise God。

Suzie Grogan ，

Extraordinary， and a book I have learned much from。

Nellie ，

This book offers great hope in these troubling times。It is divided into 3 chapters。 The second chapter desks with suffering。 The last chapter deals with the concentration camp experience。This book was published first in german。 It was recently discovered in an archive and translated to English。

Julie Joseph ，

If you loved “Man’s Search for Meaning” the you will love “Yes to Life。” This book was my companion over the Jewish New Year and the Fast for Atonement。 I felt throughout these ten days， Yes to Life！” How inspiring to read Frankel’s post war lectures where he “chooses” to live life optimistically。 He also discusses suicide prevention and the Nazi Euthanasia Program。 He argued against both， in favor of living life meaningfully。 I’m grateful to his words and the timing for me to read it was perfec If you loved “Man’s Search for Meaning” the you will love “Yes to Life。” This book was my companion over the Jewish New Year and the Fast for Atonement。 I felt throughout these ten days， Yes to Life！” How inspiring to read Frankel’s post war lectures where he “chooses” to live life optimistically。 He also discusses suicide prevention and the Nazi Euthanasia Program。 He argued against both， in favor of living life meaningfully。 I’m grateful to his words and the timing for me to read it was perfect。 I can now say optimistically that I look forward to living meaningfully this year。 I hope this book can provide meaning and comfort for those who are searching for it。 。。。more

Jessie Lee ，

Wow - this English publication was timely。 I can be dramatic - the following observation is not dramatic:These lectures will leave you awed and speechless。 They will make you think and feel on a level that you have perhaps previously not experienced。 These words will draw you so close to your own humanity and will change your life forever。 Thank you to Mr Frankl for refusing to relinquish his life and the meaning of it。 I am thankful his words have been cherished， preserved， and made available f Wow - this English publication was timely。 I can be dramatic - the following observation is not dramatic:These lectures will leave you awed and speechless。 They will make you think and feel on a level that you have perhaps previously not experienced。 These words will draw you so close to your own humanity and will change your life forever。 Thank you to Mr Frankl for refusing to relinquish his life and the meaning of it。 I am thankful his words have been cherished， preserved， and made available for my consumption。 His words and ideas will live on through my actions， and the actions of others who read this book。 。。。more

Boris Pavlov ，

This short book gives a great perspective on live a concentration camp survivors。 Not very insightful as a self-help book tho。 3/5 because it claims to be one

Mitri ，

Cara kita merespon kesedihan maupun kesenangan adalah pilihan yang akan mengantarkan pada nasib kita masing-masing。https://mitrikomalasari。wordpress。com。。。 Cara kita merespon kesedihan maupun kesenangan adalah pilihan yang akan mengantarkan pada nasib kita masing-masing。https://mitrikomalasari。wordpress。com。。。 。。。more

Omar ，

Interesting lectures which put the theory behind the experiences from Man in search of meaning。 It joins the dots of those topics covered in the first book。

Ray ，

Picked this up because I read Man's Search for Meaning。 This was a great supplement。 Frankl elaborates on similar themes of the value of life， motivation to live， suffering， suicide， mentally disabled， etc。 Although written a bit more theoretically （with some real-life experiences）， it was insightful。 I had to read some lines over a few times to try to understand what was being said。Quick short read with the foreward being written more recently and including some topics relevant to today。 For th Picked this up because I read Man's Search for Meaning。 This was a great supplement。 Frankl elaborates on similar themes of the value of life， motivation to live， suffering， suicide， mentally disabled， etc。 Although written a bit more theoretically （with some real-life experiences）， it was insightful。 I had to read some lines over a few times to try to understand what was being said。Quick short read with the foreward being written more recently and including some topics relevant to today。 For the amount of info/perspective packed into such a short book， recommended to anyone！ 。。。more

Lori ，

Amazing book！ Makes life’s problem seem small in comparison。 Attitude is EVERYTHING！

Debbie Jacob ，

A wonderful book about how we find meaning in life， deal with depression and suffering。 It is an uplifting， enjoyable read。

Marie ，

If we can't change our fate， at least we can accept it and possibly undergo inner growth even in the midst of troubles。There are three ways people find fulfillment in their lives:creating a workappreciating nature， art and loving peopleadapting and reacting to unavoidable limits on their life possibilities If we can't change our fate， at least we can accept it and possibly undergo inner growth even in the midst of troubles。There are three ways people find fulfillment in their lives:creating a workappreciating nature， art and loving peopleadapting and reacting to unavoidable limits on their life possibilities 。。。more

Leo ，

This is a very short book and I was trying to read is slowly to keep Viktor's words in my head for longer。 It's not a book that you can re-tell someone， it's a book-experience and the words have to come out of the mouth of someone who has seen absolutely the worst and， despite all that， keeps saying yes to life。The book is full of bold claims by modern standards - that suffering has meaning， that responsibility not only matters but defines a person， that the way you die can send ripples through This is a very short book and I was trying to read is slowly to keep Viktor's words in my head for longer。 It's not a book that you can re-tell someone， it's a book-experience and the words have to come out of the mouth of someone who has seen absolutely the worst and， despite all that， keeps saying yes to life。The book is full of bold claims by modern standards - that suffering has meaning， that responsibility not only matters but defines a person， that the way you die can send ripples through the world if you have enough heart and courage， that some things can't be taken away from a person regardless of circumstances。It seems to me that if one intends to talk about meaning， there's no way escape from addressing the darkest side of human experience。 If meaning exists， it has to exist in a concentration camp or hospice。 It' s also interesting to read about the crisis of meaningless and suicide "epidemic" in the 50s。 That likely only got worse with time。I like this collection of lectures even more than the "Man's search for meaning"。 It's not as polished， which makes it more personal。Definitely going to re-read it many times。 。。。more

Juan Quintero ，

Not that appealing as the other ones！A good book with good insights。 However， didn’t catch me as good as Search for meaning and ultimate meaning。 This is a good one but not a “must read” from the great Viktor Frank。

Radu Giurgiu ，

Viktor Frankl's 'Man search for meaning' was one of my most influential books。 When I have heard about his lectures published in 'Yes to Life'， I thought would be a great revisit to his inspiring way of dealing with the most horrible adversities in the Nazi concentration camps。 The first two chapters have a more academic touch while the third was closer to the style from his most known book。I think is a great quick read to be reminded of how to put life and suffering in context and find meaning Viktor Frankl's 'Man search for meaning' was one of my most influential books。 When I have heard about his lectures published in 'Yes to Life'， I thought would be a great revisit to his inspiring way of dealing with the most horrible adversities in the Nazi concentration camps。 The first two chapters have a more academic touch while the third was closer to the style from his most known book。I think is a great quick read to be reminded of how to put life and suffering in context and find meaning in every day， but I would encourage readers to first take 'Man's search for meaning' and use 'Yes to life' as a quick revisit to Frankl's wisdom。 。。。more

Lisa W ，

I appreciate the succinct and compact composition of this unabridged audio book。 As much as I loved Frankl's earlier book， Man's Search for Meaning， this one extracts the essence of Frankl's Logotherapy （the power of meaning and purpose in life）。 He provides valuable ideas and interventions geared towards Solution Focused therapy。 I continue to be touched， moved and inspired by Frankl， on ever deeper and more meaningful levels💙 I appreciate the succinct and compact composition of this unabridged audio book。 As much as I loved Frankl's earlier book， Man's Search for Meaning， this one extracts the essence of Frankl's Logotherapy （the power of meaning and purpose in life）。 He provides valuable ideas and interventions geared towards Solution Focused therapy。 I continue to be touched， moved and inspired by Frankl， on ever deeper and more meaningful levels💙 。。。more

Manuel Rodriguez Acosta ，

Victor Frankl life story is one of admirable resilience。 To be so headstrong in the face of the atrocities he encountered is something to behold。 The fact that Frankl can so humbly talk about his experience and share it with others as if it were something any laymen could go through is just something else。 In Yes to Life， much as in Man's Search for Meaning， Frankl builds on his experience at Auschwitz。 Yes to Life: In Spite of Everything， is a testament to how we can find meaning in life even w Victor Frankl life story is one of admirable resilience。 To be so headstrong in the face of the atrocities he encountered is something to behold。 The fact that Frankl can so humbly talk about his experience and share it with others as if it were something any laymen could go through is just something else。 In Yes to Life， much as in Man's Search for Meaning， Frankl builds on his experience at Auschwitz。 Yes to Life: In Spite of Everything， is a testament to how we can find meaning in life even when we know nothing but despair。 In Frankl's words， suffering doesn't mean that your life is worth less than someone else's。 Au contraire， suffering is to him one of the three main components to find meaning in life。 The other two being action and love。 Personally， this resonated on a deep level with me。 Frankl is telling me， telling us， that our suffering has not been in vain。 That we can find solace in that suffering because it helps shape the life that we live。 As Frankl puts it: "if I step into my misfortune， I stand higher。" By no means is Frankl telling us to live a life of suffering。 Just that we should embrace this suffering as it adds an important layer of what it means to be alive in this crazy world that we live in。 。。。more

Greg ，

Not really a book but rather the transcripts of three separate speeches。 His book that he's most noted for， Man's Search for Meaning remains one of my favorite books。 If you want to read Frankl read that one。 I can't say this book adds anything new。 Not really a book but rather the transcripts of three separate speeches。 His book that he's most noted for， Man's Search for Meaning remains one of my favorite books。 If you want to read Frankl read that one。 I can't say this book adds anything new。 。。。more

Asia ，

Keep remembering what's worth living for。 There's meaning in the struggles and joys of life。 Keep remembering what's worth living for。 There's meaning in the struggles and joys of life。 。。。more

Anne Marie ，

Mr。 Frankl is such a treasure and resource。 This translation from lectures makes me want to change my answer when I've been asked if I could have a conversation with someone， living or dead， who would it be。。。 Mr。 Frankl is such a treasure and resource。 This translation from lectures makes me want to change my answer when I've been asked if I could have a conversation with someone， living or dead， who would it be。。。 。。。more

Megan Johnston ，

"Life is not something， it's the opportunity for something。" "Life is not something， it's the opportunity for something。" 。。。more

Meriem EBM （bookworm。chaos） ，

Just months after his liberation from Auschwitz （ for details， check his other book man's search for meaning） renowned psychiatrist Viktor Frankl delivered this remarkable series of talks。 This book is englobing three lectures， it shows you that people can still despite hardship and death （first lecture）， despite suffering from physical or mental illness （second lecture） or under the fate of concentration camp （third lecture） say Yes to Life in spite of everything。 "We gave life meaning through Just months after his liberation from Auschwitz （ for details， check his other book man's search for meaning） renowned psychiatrist Viktor Frankl delivered this remarkable series of talks。 This book is englobing three lectures， it shows you that people can still despite hardship and death （first lecture）， despite suffering from physical or mental illness （second lecture） or under the fate of concentration camp （third lecture） say Yes to Life in spite of everything。 "We gave life meaning through our actions but also through loving and finally through suffering" After the war， Frankl was devastated to learn that neither his parents nor his wife had made it out of the camps alive。 But he did have his work， and he buried himself in it， reconstructing and in time completing the manuscript the Nazis had seized， “Man’s Search for Meaning，” as well as composing， less than a year after being freed from his hellish incarceration， the three public lectures that make up “Yes to Life: In Spite of Everything。” It was a big YES TO LIFE shouted out loud。The fate Frankl confronted was the Holocaust。 Our fate today is wrapped up in the coronavirus pandemic。 Finding and sustaining meaning in the midst of crisis is not easy。 I wish you my friends to know about this strategy， this could help you to say Yes to LIFE。 Wishing you well and please take care of yourselves。 And remember "Life is not something， it is the opportunity for something！" 。。。more

Susanne ，

Love this。 Just 9 months after being released from a concentration camp， Victor Frankl started giving lectures and writing articles upholding life。 Essentially， we find meaning in these ways:1。 Building a legacy--as in music， art， writing， （a business）， that lives beyond us2。 Connection through love3。 Immersion in art， nature， music to the extent of transcendence。Added 8/9: I'm still thinking about this。4。 Frankl talks about when confronted with a fate， which we can't control or decide， we can c Love this。 Just 9 months after being released from a concentration camp， Victor Frankl started giving lectures and writing articles upholding life。 Essentially， we find meaning in these ways:1。 Building a legacy--as in music， art， writing， （a business）， that lives beyond us2。 Connection through love3。 Immersion in art， nature， music to the extent of transcendence。Added 8/9: I'm still thinking about this。4。 Frankl talks about when confronted with a fate， which we can't control or decide， we can choose how to respond。5。 He talks about purposeful suffering。 That is， people should avoid suffering， but if they can't， finding the purpose。 He gives the example， in MAN'S SEARCH FOR MEANING， of a widower unable to live wholly without his spouse。 Frankl asks， "What if your wife pre-deceased you？" The man said she couldn't cope without him。 In this way， the man's life alone， is sparing his wife the pain of living without him。 I didn't phrase this well but the thought has stayed with me。6。 Another point that stays with me， in a haunting way， is that we are mortal。 Rather than this being bleak， the idea of being finite is a spur to action。 In other words， if we were immortal， there would be no urgency。 。。。more

Betsy Jordan ，

Extraordinary ！！！！！！ Impeccable， truthful insight and reality。 Everyone should read this book and others from Dr。 Frankly。 You learn to appreciate your life and the privilege of your existence， no matter your circumstances。 Extraordinary ！！！！！！ Impeccable， truthful insight and reality。 Everyone should read this book and others from Dr。 Frankl。 You learn to appreciate your life and the privilege of your existence， no matter your circumstances。

Janne Lissa， MD ，

''So shouldn't we all be able to achieve it today in， after all， incomparably milder circumstances？ To say yes to life is not only meaningful under all circumstances - because life itself is = but it is also possible under all circumstances。'' Quote （page 107）Viktor Frankl， founder of the third Viennese school of Psychotherapy， already started working on his 'Meaning of Life' theory before the Holocaust。 During his deportation to Auschwitz he lost his manuscript， but saw his theory come to live ''So shouldn't we all be able to achieve it today in， after all， incomparably milder circumstances？ To say yes to life is not only meaningful under all circumstances - because life itself is = but it is also possible under all circumstances。'' Quote （page 107）Viktor Frankl， founder of the third Viennese school of Psychotherapy， already started working on his 'Meaning of Life' theory before the Holocaust。 During his deportation to Auschwitz he lost his manuscript， but saw his theory come to live under the extraordinarily horrifying circumstances。 This book contains three lectures that dr。 Frankl gave in 1946， only months after his liberation from Auschwitz。 It contains both incredible insights into his own theory as well as a scholarly backbone for the later developments in the field of Logotherapy。 Readers should be aware that this book is primarily an educational book， and not a memoir as 'Man's Search for Meaning' more is。 After the insightful introduction written by dr。 Daniel Goleman， the book is divided into three parts:- On the Meaning and Value of Life， part 1 （main focus on suicide）- On the Meaning and Value of Life， part 2 （main focus on forced annihilation）- Experimentum Crucis （main focus on concentration camps）These lectures have never before been translated and published in English。 Therefore， the book provides a unique contribution to the legacy of Viktor Frankl。 Compact， scholarly， yet not too difficult in its language。 Definitely a book that I would recommend to almost anyone and would definitely be coming back to many times again myself。 。。。more

Will Ford ，

Nothing could ever live up to Man's Search for Meaning。 Nothing could ever live up to Man's Search for Meaning。 。。。more

Reference

google book https://www.google.com/search?tbm=bks&q=Yes to Life: In Spite of Everything

hathitrust digital library https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/ls?q1=Yes to Life: In Spite of Everything&field1=ocr&a=srchls&ft=ft&lmt=ft

The British Library https://bll01.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/discovery/search?query=any,contains,Yes to Life: In Spite of Everything&tab=LibraryCatalog&search_scope=Not_BL_Suppress&vid=44BL_INST:BLL01&lang=en&offset=0