Over 25 years ago a dear saint suggested that I add this volume to my reading line-up, which at the time represented at least a dozen books being read simultaneously. It was as I began the book that all the others then sat idle for a few days (except my Bible), until I read the book through to completion.
Frankl, having written from a place of great depth as the result of horrible suffering during the Nazi Holocaust, captured my attention immediately.
One of the more profound elements of the book for me, was that of his unusual revelation of the nature of the gift of humor–a gift divinely placed out our disposal in the darkest of times. Frankl coined this facet of his Logotherapy modality, “Paradoxical Intention.” I alluded to this topic in my own book. I have since encouraged 1000s of people within my care to find humor in the most unsuspecting places, and I have demonstrated such many times over, by ushering them into an untimely laugh in the midst of pouring their hearts out over the gruesome details of their personal suffering.
Finding the absurdities within our traumas is often a means by which to belittle them, thus reducing their impact, and ultimately overcoming them for good–one of the primary tenets of the concept of Paradoxical Intention. To the extreme contrary of course, laughing at everything is a form of denial. But we are not talking about laughing at everything here, we are rather talking about finding the means to laugh at the things which seek to eat us alive with grief, fear, depression, unrelenting sadness, and emotional numbness–the overcoming of trauma.
I have inserted below, an audio-link to the complete book; 4 hours and 44 minutes worth (“444”). If you so desire therefore, you may click on this link below and begin enjoying a jewel of a book. Simply write-down where you left-off time-wise, and you can resume at any point.
Your trench-mate,
David
PressOnward(at)yandex.com