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Prisoners Of Our Thoughts: Viktor Frankl's Principles For Discovering Meaning In Life And Work (2008)

by Alex Pattakos(Favorite Author)

3.67 of 5 Votes: 3

ISBN

1576754065 (ISBN13: 9781576754061)

languge

English

genre

Nonfiction

publisher

Berrett-Koehler Publishers

review 1: My copy of this one is stamped "discarded" across the bottom of the pages... a no-longer-circulated library book I purchased at a discount. (For those of you reading this on my blog - check out the "Abebooks" icon at right. It will take you to a network of discount booksellers offering new and used books at super-low prices.) But taking this one out of circulation is a shame. It's a relatively young book, published in 2004, and it strikes an excellent balance between old-world philosophy and new-world quality of work life. Pattakos made it his life's work to make Viktor Frankl's life's work more accessible to more of us, and that is a wonderful service. Most exciting, Pattakos wrote Prisoners of Our Thoughts with an eye toward culling an understanding of finding meani... moreng at work from Frankl's extensive bibliography. What a fantastic idea. This book is worth the effort at reading it. Here's the big "Aha" for me: "meaning is also flexible. What makes sense for us at one time in our working lives might not make sense at another time. When we are awake to life's meaning inside us, we too can be flexible. If we are rooted in meaning, we can sway much more flexibly, be it in a breeze or a hurricane." Phew! To me, this means that the work I obsessed over 15 years ago, work I cannot imagine doing now, was not wasted. I was pursuing what I found meaningful then. What is meaningful to me now is different. I am truly blessed to have the opportunity to pursue my life's passions - plural - and as I am learning from Frankl and Pattakos, we all are, no matter our external circumstances.Now that I am through the book, I will go back and do some of the chapter-ending exercises. I may even use one or two of those to assist client groups working on their organizational mission or vision.
review 2: The thing that moved me the most about this book was the clarity it brought to some of Viktor Frankl's ideas. I am especially fond of the idea that life is full of meaning and purpose but it is up to the individual to create it for themselves. There are ways of rising above the human condition, not escaping it, but transcending it through liberation from poor values, perspectives and attitudes. Personal growth is a trail walked alone and yet we are all on it together. True inner freedom only comes from owning our decisions, being completely responsible for ourselves and our own growth and mishaps and not laying it at the feet of circumstance or others. All in all a good concise book, recommend it to anyone struggling with their own inner demons. less

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