The Art of Manliness

Man's Search for Meaning, With Viktor Frankl's Grandson


Listen Later

I first read Man's Search for Meaning by the neurologist, psychologist, and philosopher Viktor Frankl in high school, and I have re-read it several times since. It's one of the books that's had the biggest impact on my life, so it was a real treat to speak with Alexander Vesely, Frankl's grandson, about his grandfather's ideas and legacy.

Today on the show, I talk to Alexander, who is a documentarian, and like his grandfather, a psychotherapist, about Frankl's life, his development of logotherapy, a type of meaning-centered therapy, and how that approach to the psyche was tested during Frankl's time in the concentration camps. We discuss why Frankl said that "everyone has their own Auschwitz," how a lack of existential meaning can create depression, the three ways to actualize meaning in your life, whether meaning is something that is objective or subjective, the freedom we have to choose our attitude in all circumstances, including suffering, and more.

Resources Related to the Podcast
  • Man's Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl
  • The Doctor and the Soul by Viktor Frankl
  • Viktor and I: The Life and Work of Viktor Frankl — Alexander's documentary about his grandfather
  • Living Logotherapy by Elisabeth Lukas and Heidi Schönfeld
  •  Logotherapy Online Academy
  • Viktor Frankl Institute 
  • Connect With Alexander Vesely
    • Alexander at the Viktor Frankl Institute
    • Alexander on LinkedIn
    • Alexander on IG
    • See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

      ...more
      View all episodesView all episodes
      Download on the App Store

      The Art of ManlinessBy The Art of Manliness

      • 4.7
      • 4.7
      • 4.7
      • 4.7
      • 4.7

      4.7

      14,077 ratings


      More shows like The Art of Manliness

      View all
      The Art of Charm by The Art of Charm

      The Art of Charm

      10,514 Listeners

      Order of Man by Ryan Michler

      Order of Man

      8,925 Listeners

      The Dad Edge Podcast by Larry Hagner

      The Dad Edge Podcast

      1,492 Listeners

      The Knowledge Project with Shane Parrish by Shane Parrish

      The Knowledge Project with Shane Parrish

      2,653 Listeners

      Jocko Podcast by Jocko DEFCOR Network

      Jocko Podcast

      30,745 Listeners

      Men in the Arena - Christian Men's Podcast by Jim Ramos

      Men in the Arena - Christian Men's Podcast

      375 Listeners

      The Jordan B. Peterson Podcast by Dr. Jordan B. Peterson

      The Jordan B. Peterson Podcast

      33,955 Listeners

      Stoic Coffee Break by Erick Cloward

      Stoic Coffee Break

      392 Listeners

      Modern Wisdom by Chris Williamson

      Modern Wisdom

      3,763 Listeners

      The Daily Stoic by Daily Stoic | Backyard Ventures

      The Daily Stoic

      4,790 Listeners

      The Dan John Podcast by Dan John

      The Dan John Podcast

      258 Listeners

      Shawn Ryan Show by Shawn Ryan

      Shawn Ryan Show

      42,468 Listeners

      All-In with Chamath, Jason, Sacks & Friedberg by All-In Podcast, LLC

      All-In with Chamath, Jason, Sacks & Friedberg

      9,216 Listeners

      Deep Questions with Cal Newport by Cal Newport

      Deep Questions with Cal Newport

      1,306 Listeners

      Huberman Lab by Scicomm Media

      Huberman Lab

      28,512 Listeners