Yes to Life: In Spite of Everything
By: Viktor E. Frankl / Introduction By: Daniel Goleman / Narrated By: David Rintoul
Length: 3 hrs and 4 mins
Much to my shame, I fell asleep a couple of times but was then whacked sensible by extraordinary affirmations
I know I know
I think it’s just that I shoulda gotten more sleep before I started the barely 3 hours of this audiobook; truly, I’d not slept well, and truly, it wasn’t narrator David Rintoul’s fault. Rather, I was thrilled that a European narrator was found to do the honors here (Altho’ I believe in the introduction, Rintoul put on a questionable American accent… Seriously, y’all need to take lessons from Helen Taylor on rhotic “R”s — either that, or just don’t attempt it).
I also think that p’raps it’s the fact that Yes to Life is three lectures given less than a year out from Frankl’s imprisonment in a labor/concentration camp. Astounding, yes? Yes indeed, HOWEVER, verrrrry professorial in tone/writing, and I must confess that I slept through an extrAORdinary amount of my classes in college; I’m kinda sorta simply built to doze through those.
Then too, this is well and truly a slim volume that yeh yeh yeh tackles inCREDibly weighty subjects. Suicide? You betcha? Euthanasia, as in murdering those not worthy of life, NOT as in a person considering dignity in death from terminal illness? Oh my yes. Finding strength in crises? Dude, yup!
I s’pose the avid Holocaust aficionado in me was expecting more grit.
I know I know
I’m quite possibly the only git who does NOT think suicide and murder are gritty enough.
…I throw myself upon the mercy of the court…
I mean, it’s really rather amazing that in these scholarly treatises he uses examples from people/cases he knew from his practice prior to Life Changing Imprisonment.
But I’m just gonna go out on a limb here and say that this is the absoLUTe best when Frankl extrapolates lessons from his time in the camps. That he could lose everything upon entering the camps. His family is taken first, his clothes next (And sewn within his clothing is a book he’s been writing and didn’t want to lose—So there’s even that!), and finally even all his hair. Gone. Nothing but the core, the essence of who he is.
Who he chooses to be. As we all find ourselves: Who do we choose to be?
Frankl posits a few things that might make an individual find meaning: Noting beauty, through our actions/reactions. And finally? P’raps MOSTLY?
Through suffering.
Nobody is spared that in these fragile little lives of ours, so there’s plenty of time, plenty of exercise to find meaning. My therapist once asked me how I dealt with exasperation/frustration/anger whenst dealing with another being’s foibles/actions. The honest answer? Well, I think of how much I’d give ANYthing to experience X, Y, or Z once they’re gone. Loss has brought me to my knees before, and so yessss, Mr. Frankl:
Pain is a grand teacher, the most perfect guide.
Happy Thanksgiving, Everyone! I wish y’all many blessings on this Journey of ours, the oh-so short time each of us is given.
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