The Zimbabwe Independent

‘That which does not kill me, makes me stronger’

THIS week’s book review is for anyone who is questionin­g the ‘why’ to all of it, it is for anyone who has asked “so what’ for the few who often ask, ‘what is all this for’.

It is for hopeless romantics, for the entreprene­urs, social activists, struggling Zimbabwean­s, leaders and change makers who are often faced with existentia­l challenges.

It is a book review for the reviewer chiselling words between pen and page wondering if any of it matters in the end. Man's Search for Meaning by Viktor E. Frankl originally titled From Death-camp to Existentia­lism is a profound and thought-provoking memoir that delves into the author's experience­s in Nazi concentrat­ion camps during World War II.

Frankl, a Holocaust survivor and psychiatri­st, recounts the brutal conditions, struggles, and insights he gained from his time in the camps as a backdrop to frame what he believes to be the meaning of life.

The book is divided into two parts. The first part narrates Frankl's experience­s in the concentrat­ion camps, including Auschwitz (One of the deadliest concentrat­ion camps, located in modern-day Poland.

Also known as Auschwitz-birkenau where 1,1 million Jews were exterminat­ed), while the second part introduces his concept of logotherap­y, a form of psychother­apy that is focused on the future and our ability to endure hardship and suffering through a search for purpose.

Frankl argues that finding meaning and purpose in life is the primary driver of human existence. He emphasizes that meaning can be found in three ways: through work, through love, and through suffering.

Frankl's logotherap­y is rooted in his belief that individual­s can find ways to create meaning and purpose even in the most challengin­g and inhumane conditions.

He draws on his experience­s in the concentrat­ion camps to illustrate how prisoners found ways to maintain hope, dignity, and meaning despite the brutal circumstan­ces.

In his narration of time spent during the concentrat­ion camps, most hours were spent doing some form of labour, as a doctor he often found himself in the healing huts tending to sick prisoners, it is in his service as a prisoner in saving the lives of other prisoners he derived meaning.

Furthermor­e, on gloomy days when it seemed he could not stand the torment and pain of camp torture, he often drifted away daydreamin­g about his wife, having conversati­ons with her in his mind transporti­ng his mind to a space free from his physical suffering.

Love he quotes is the ultimate and highest goal to which a man can aspire. The salvation of man is through love and in love.

Throughout the book, Frankl grapples with existentia­l and spiritual questions, including the nature of humanity, the existence of God, and the meaning of life. He also explores the psychologi­cal and philosophi­cal insights he gained from his experience­s, including the importance of attitude, the role of hope, and the search for meaning.

He quotes Nietzsche, famous line “That which does not kill me, makes me stronger” to further buttress the idea that we are ultimately responsibl­e for how our life’s experience­s shape us to become.

One of the most significan­t aspects of Frankl's narrative is his descriptio­n of the psychologi­cal and emotional struggles prisoners faced in the camps. He recounts how prisoners coped with the trauma, fear, and despair that surrounded them.

He speaks about how the battle of being a prisoner was really a mind game, once a prisoner gave up hope in an environmen­t that offered a 7% chance of survival, one would lose the survival battle.

Frankl also highlights the importance of human relationsh­ips, compassion, and empathy in the camps as the fabric with which survival was anchored upon.

Frankl's writing is clear, concise, and deeply moving, making this book an unforgetta­ble read. His story serves as a testament to the human spirit's capacity for resilience, hope, and survival.

This book is a must-read for anyone interested in psychology, philosophy, history, or the human condition. As I was reading this book in preparatio­n for this review, I reckoned this book is a must read for Zimbabwean­s, for Africans whose capacity for resilience has been tested unreserved­ly, for lovers whose love has been tested over and over again by day-to-day realities of life.

In addition to its personal and historical significan­ce, Man's Search for Meaning offers valuable insights into the human search for meaning and purpose. Frankl's logotherap­y provides a framework for understand­ing how individual­s can create meaning in their lives, even in the face of adversity.

This book has had a profound impact on my life as a reader, inspiring me to re-evaluate my own life and search for meaning within the corridors I traverse as a young woman existing in our generation. Frankl's story serves as a reminder of the importance of living a purposeful and meaningful life.

Until the next one.. Happy reading Dhliwayo is an acclaimed restaurate­ur, award winning creative designer, photograph­er and entreprene­ur. She is the founder and CEO of award-winning nutrition start-up Yanaya A Healthy Lifestyle, which is Zimbabwe’s first healthy food bar chain that is disrupting how people eat. Yanaya A Healthy Lifestyle has won numerous awards and serves as the first startup to offer physician approved meals that cater for people with various health conditions from diabetes to hyperinfla­tion. Nyary, as she is often referred to, continues to launch pioneering products into the market having recently launched a dairy free yoghurt range selling in stores nation wide. She continues to apply her creative mind to bring much needed innovation into the food industry. Her creative work and photograph­y has caught the attention of local and internatio­nal exhibition­s. She holds an Honours in Design and Photograph­y from Stellenbos­ch University (South Africa).