Describe a book that has influenced you.

The book I’d like to talk about is Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl. It’s not a typical self-help book; it’s part memoir, part psychology, and it really left a mark on me. I first read it about three years ago, during my final year at university, when I was feeling quite overwhelmed. I remember picking it up in the campus library one rainy afternoon, thinking I’d just skim a few pages, and I ended up staying there until it closed.

In terms of content, the first half of the book describes Frankl’s experiences in Nazi concentration camps during the Second World War. He talks very honestly about suffering, fear and loss, but in a remarkably calm and thoughtful way. The second half introduces his psychological approach, called logotherapy, which basically argues that humans can endure almost anything as long as they can find a sense of meaning or purpose. It’s not a long book, but it’s incredibly dense with insight.

This book has influenced me on several different levels. To start with, it completely changed my attitude towards problems. Whenever I face setbacks now, instead of just complaining or giving up, I pause and ask myself, “What can I learn from this?” or “How can I turn this into something meaningful?” That simple shift has made me more resilient and less easily discouraged.

It also affected my long-term goals. Before reading it, I was mainly focused on getting a well-paid job, but Frankl’s emphasis on purpose made me reconsider. I started volunteering, I chose a career path where I feel I can actually help people, and I try to prioritise experiences and relationships over status. In that sense, the book hasn’t just influenced what I think; it’s subtly reshaped how I live my everyday life.