Quick Reviews #3: Police Books

Title

"Man's Search for Meaning"

Photo Credit: AP Markus Schreiber

Author

Viktor Frankl, Austrian neurologist, psychiatrist, and holocaust survivor.

Date of Publication

1946.

Once Sentence Summary

An Austrian neuroscientist develops logotherapy in practice as a concentration camp prisoner, exploring meaning as a central imperative to one's humanity.

Best Points

Perhaps many would agree that discovering some kind meaning or purpose to one's life is important; this idea has been omnipresent in all forms of human expression for millennia. Still more may appreciate seeing any theories on this in actual practice. If someone who is enduring the worst suffering imaginable can find meaning, purpose and a positive will to live, maybe we all can. This book shows in a very vivid way how one may never succumb to the external conditions no matter how grave, and truly realize nothing can imprison your spirit.

Worst Points

The weight of the book is not evenly-distributed. Whereas Mr. Frankl's journey flows easily through the first half, the writing suddenly thickens with the psychotherapy, such that it starts to read like an academic study. You slide down the first half, and dig your way through to the end.

Key Take-Aways Specific to LEO's

As peace officers, we must maintain an integral ability to see the purpose and meaning in our actions amidst the waves of externalities. This way, we can resist acting impulsively or arbitrarily, and remain optimistic.

Must Read for Cops? Yes / No

Not only would I recommend this book work for LEOs, I would recommend this for everyone. There are points are so profoundly explored by Mr. Frankl, I can't do them justice here. But some, for example, can be applied in our responses to suicidal persons; having read this book, I will navigate my dialogues differently with people threatening suicide, with a new understanding of one's need for meaning as a unifying value.

Enjoyable? Yes / No

YES. Sometimes while reading, I'll highlight an insightful line. Upon finishing this book, about half of the pages are fluorescent yellow. And, one may shy away from this book, thinking it is merely a grim description of life and death in the concentration camps, with a glib reminder that "It could always be worse". It's not that, and I can all but guarantee you'll be very glad you gave it a chance.

Have you read this book? Please leave some comments!

-Marcus

For an introduction to this series [with full disclaimer], click here. Stay tuned for the next review!