"Man's Search for Meaning" is written by Viktor E. Frankl, an Austrian psychiatrist and Holocaust survivor. The book is divided into two main sections: ### Part 1: Experiences in a Concentration Camp In the first part, Frankl recounts his harrowing experiences in Nazi concentration camps, particularly Auschwitz. Despite the unimaginable suffering and dehumanization, he observed that those with a sense of purpose or meaning were more likely to survive. He notes that people could still find meaning through small acts like sharing food or offering emotional support to others. ### Part 2: Logotherapy in a Nutshell The second part introduces Frankl's psychotherapeutic theory called logotherapy. Unlike traditional psychoanalysis, which focuses on the 'why' of human behavior, logotherapy centers on the 'what for'—the purpose or meaning that drives individuals. Frankl argues that the primary human drive is not pleasure, but the pursuit of what we find meaningful. ## Central Thesis The core argument of the book is that the primary human drive is the search for meaning. Frankl posits that life has potential meaning under any circumstances, even the most miserable ones. While we cannot control the suffering that life brings, we can control our attitude toward it. By finding meaning in suffering, one can endure it with dignity. Logotherapy serves as a tool to help individuals find that meaning and, consequently, a reason to continue living.