Auckland Deep Thinkers Sunday Lunch Book Club: "Man's Search For Meaning""

A new venue and a new style for the new season. Let's get together once a month to discuss a book that has relevance in today's world.

This month's book is "Man's Search For Meaning" by Viktor Frankl

The book chronicles Frankl's experiences as a prisoner in Nazi concentration camps during World War II, and describing his psychotherapeutic method, which involved identifying a purpose to each person's life through one of three ways:

• the completion of tasks,
• caring for another person, or
• finding meaning by facing suffering with dignity.

Frankl observed that among the fellow inmates in the concentration camp, those who survived were able to connect with a purpose in life to feel positive about and who then immersed themselves in imagining that purpose in their own way, such as conversing with a loved one.

Points for discussion:

1. Is meaning the primary human drive?
   Frankl argues that the search for meaning—not pleasure or power—is the central human motivation. Can meaning truly override survival instincts, pleasure-seeking, or status ambition?
2. Can suffering be meaningful?
   Frankl suggests that suffering, when unavoidable, can be transformed into purpose. Is this empowering or dangerously romanticizing trauma?
3. Do humans always retain freedom of choice
   Even in extreme conditions, Frankl insists we can choose our attitude. Is this universally true, or does it overlook psychological and systemic constraints?
4. Responsibility vs. Freedom
5. Frankl believed that freedom must be paired with responsibility to avoid nihilism. How should societies balance individual liberty with collective duty?

CUSTOMS:
You must register and be on the “Attendees - Going” list to attend.
Please bring $2 to cover Meetup costs.

RSVP POLICY:
RSVPs and cancellations will be accepted up until 6 hours before the start of the meetup so that people who feel unwell on the day have time to change their RSVP and allow someone else to attend.

Please only click 'attend' if you are going to come, and remember to change your RSVP if you need to change plans.

No-shows will be removed from the group; i.e. being registered to attend and not attending OR cancelling your attendance after 11:00am on the day will be considered a 'No Show'.
This RSVP policy has become necessary due to the high number of last-minute withdrawals and non-attendance. This unfairly causes people on the Waiting List to miss out. Thanks for your cooperation.