Prisoners of Our Thoughts

Viktor Frankl's Principles for Discovering Meaning in Life and Work

By: Alex Pattakos, Elaine Dundon

Narrated by: Jeff Hoyt

World-renowned psychiatrist Viktor Frankl's Man's Search for Meaning was named by the Library of Congress as one of the 10 most influential books of the 20th century. Dr. Frankl's story of finding a reason to live in the most horrible circumstance imaginable - Nazi concentration camps - continues to inspire millions.

Drawing on the entire body of Frankl's work, Alex Pattakos and Elaine Dundon elaborate seven core principles and demonstrate how they can be applied to everyday life and work in the 21st century. These principles include the ultimate freedom to choose our attitude no matter the situation - the idea most closely associated with Frankl - but his ageless wisdom goes well beyond this. The third edition is revised and updated throughout and includes four new chapters: looking at meaning in a holistic, integrated way; envisioning what a meaning-centered world would look like; and exploring Frankl's legacy in the 21st century. Prisoners of Our Thoughts opens up new opportunities for finding personal meaning through living an authentic life.

©2017 Alex Pattakos, PhD, and Elaine Dundon (P)2017 Alex Pattakos, PhD, and Elaine Dundon

Winkel knows best!

Another one floor those who struggle with great stress, anxiety, and are trying to figure adulthood out!

Good companion to Man's Search for Meaning

Does a good job of of making Frankl's accessible and applicable to everyday life. A bit repetitive, but nonetheless substantial. I'd recommend reading after Man's Search for Meaning to clarify and reinforce what Frankl presents in that masterpiece.

A “must read”

This is one of the most profoundly influential books I’ve read in the past year. I have long been a fan of Frankl’s work, and this book inspires the reader to put Frankl’s concepts into practice.

disappointing

I mistook this for a writing by Viktor Frankl. It is a review of his philosophy punctuated with snippits of his life. I did not care for the examples he chose to illustrate his points. It seems the author took his inspiration from media accounts of courage in the face of adversity. I was hoping for something more inspirational to recommend to a friend who has difficulty with his internal narrative. The title is great.

I’d rather read the original work.

This book is pitched as a guide for applying principles of Victor Fankl’s “Man’s Search got Meaning,” to business environments. However, only one chapter clearly does so. The remainder of the book left me wishing I had spent my credit on the Victor Frankl’s work than this analysis and application of it. There are some somewhat helpful applications, but overall poorly executed.