Prisoners of Our Thoughts: Viktor Frankl's Principles for Discovering Meaning in Life and Work

by Alex Pattakos

How do I find meaning in my life? How can I find meaning in my work? World-renowned psychiatrist Viktor Frankl's "Man's Search for Meaning" is one of the most important books of modern times. Frankl's personal story of finding a reason to live in the most horrendous of circumstances-Nazi concentration camps-has inspired millions. Now, "Prisoners of Our Thoughts" applies Frankl's philosophy and therapeutic approach to life and work in the 21st Century, detailing seven principles for increasing your capacity to deal with life-work challenges, finding meaning in your daily life and work, and achieving your highest potential. This paperback edition includes a new chapter on how readers of the hardcover edition have put the seven principles into action, both in their everyday lives and even in extreme situations such as Indonesia after the tsunami (where several aid agencies adopted the book as part of their training programs) and in post-Katrina New Orleans.

Genres: Psychology, Philosophy, Nonfiction, Self Help, Audiobook, Mental Health, Business

216 pages, ebook

First published July 1, 2010

About the author

Alex Pattakos, Ph.D., affectionately nicknamed "Dr. Meaning," is a Modern-Day Greek Philosopher and internationally-recognized leader of the Meaning Movement, who is focused on bringing meaning to work, the workplace, and into everyday life. A very proud Greek American (of Cretan heritage), he is a co-founder of The OPA Way!®, a philosophy of living inspired by and based on Greek culture, whose mission is to help people live and work with Meaning. He believes passionately that each of us can find deeper meaning in our lives, including our work lives, each day, every day.

He is the author of the international best-selling book, Prisoners of Our Thoughts, now in a second, revised & expanded edition, which is based on the wisdom of (and was encouraged personally by) his mentor, the world-renown psychiatrist, Dr. Viktor Frankl, author of the classic best-seller, Man's Search for Meaning. Prisoners of Our Thoughts, which includes a foreword by Dr. Stephen R. Covey (author of The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People), is currently available in 19 languages and is the inspiration and basis of a feature-length documentary film/television series that are in pre-production.

Reviews

[Joy D · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had read Viktor Frankl’s Man's Search for Meaning when I was young, and it ranks among my favorite books. So, when I found that Alex Pattakos had taken Frankl’s philosophy and expanded upon it, I figured I would give it a try. I read the updated version, published in 2017. There are good ideas in this book, and anyone could find something to incorporate into his/her/their life. Unfortunately, it is written as a standard type self-help book in a format I have read many times in business, complete with seven principles and a handy acronym. I think it does not quite do justice to Frankl’s legacy, but it is worth reading.

[Liepa · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Iš tiesų, Viktoro Franklio dvasia tebegyvuoja, o jo nesenstanti išmintis apie žmogaus prasmės paieškas ir toliau sklinda po pasaulį."

Šioje knygoje išplėtotos Franklio mintys, ir pasitelkiant jo sistemą  išskirti septyni principai, kurie padeda atrasti prasmę.
 Turbūt visi, kurie skaitė  "Žmogus ieško prasmės", buvo giliai paliesti, ir aš taip pat, todėl susidomėjau. Patiko, kad buvo nemažai praktinių pavyzdžių, tikrų istorijų. Po kiekvienu skyriumi išskirtas pagrindinis sakinys, taip pat užduotys, kurių tiesą sakant šįkart neatlikinėjau, bet, tikiuosi grįšiu ir atliksiu.
Nemažai dėmesio skirta požiūriui į darbą, kaip į vertingą tikslą. 
Verta paskaityti, ir pamąstyti 

[Rana Abid · Rating 1 out of 5]

اتمنى لو قرأته بلغته الام ، لم استمتع

[Matthew · Rating 1 out of 5]

I would've given this book a two or three, but the writing is so uneven it's difficult to gather the good from the bad. I agree with another reviewer - just read Frankl.

He goes on and on against complaining before adding the nuance that complaint might be part of the clarification that leads to action. This is typical of Pattakos's inability to distinguish one type of struggle versus another, a situation of "unavoidable suffering" in a concentration camp vs the struggle against bad working conditions. He sets his uncle's imprisonment for his beliefs next to Mandela's, failing to note the nature of Uncle Stylianos's "so-called junta". Seriously.

[Arthur Queen · Rating 1 out of 5]

Would've rather just read Frankl.

[Hans · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Bon Tom · Rating 4 out of 5]

Left me eager for more Frankl. Motivating a reader to dive deeper is as good purpose of book as any, so mission accomplished.

[Mahdi Farahikia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Following Dr. Frankl's great book, Man's Search for Meaning, this book provides a seven-principle approach to freedom from the prison many of us are living in, which is built by our own thoughts. The three-concept conclusion of Others, Purpose, and Attitude (OPA for short) is an excellent summary of the teachings of this book and Dr. Frankl's. Very much like Man's Search for Meaning, Dr. Pattakos emphasizes in Prisoners of Our Thoughts that our experiences of life (happiness, sadness, depression, etc.) are the results of our attitude towards all of life's events and whether we believe that there's meaning behind everything that happens to us. The one small part with which I did not agree in this book is when the author says that technology and automation are replacing the human workforce, hence leading to depression. As the comedian, John Oliver explained in a segment of his show, Last Week Tonight, the emergence of automation and robots does not necessarily mean that humans are losing their jobs; instead, the nature of jobs is changing. What's lacking is proper training and preparation by the employers and relevant institutions to enable the transitioning of people from current tasks to those necessary by the introduction of new technologies. All in all, this is an excellent book to read and keep on your bookshelf for future reference.

[Shennety · Rating 4 out of 5]

В целом книга довольна интересна , ибо содержит полезные советы и мысли для дальнейших размышлений с применением их на практике. Тем не менее минус заключается в том, что поскольку книга является неким сборником толкований мыслей и теорий, высказанных в другой книге, да еще и будучи так называем само учителем по психологии, то насыщенность вкуса и впечатления от прочитанного несколько размыты. Порой возникает впечатление, что автор сомневается в умственных способностях читателя и простые вещи рассусоливает как для умственно отсталых, практически повторяя одно и тоже несколько раз.

[Fatini Zulkifli · Rating 2 out of 5]

The secret to happiness is to have a meaningful life.

[Colleen · Rating 1 out of 5]

I never write reviews and I very rarely give books a 1, but this book was terrible. It’s awful that the primary author dares to stand on the shoulders of Frankl and “expand” upon his work by coming up with what he calls Meaningology™️. It’s even worse that this man has gone so far as to coin an anagram outlining his plan for finding meaning in life: OPA! (It should be noted the author is Greek). It’s so hacky as to offend the senses.

I agree with pp: just read Frankl. Man’s Search for Meaning stands on own and is timeless.

Where Frankl is precise in his definitions, the authors here are sloppy in their use of language and fail to provide clarity on how one is to do something as complex as changing your attitude when one is in a legitimately difficult circumstance. Obviously I read this book because I am looking for clues to find meaning and purpose in life, but the book provided no concrete suggestions (that I haven’t already tried).

Neither of the authors seem to appreciate that there is a world of difference between true suffering a la Frankl or Mandela and the boredom/dissatisfaction of an employee. They might genuinely understand this, but they do a genuinely shitty job of explaining how they are applying principles gleaned from extremes of human suffering to more mundane issues.

[NormaCenva · Rating 4 out of 5]

An updated take on the issues explored in the previous parts of the series. Great to read through some more modern examples.

[Adam Miron · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was the best piece of non-fiction I’ve read this year. Informative, engaging, and a great way to take an important set of concepts and show application in modern life. Touched on so many important aspects. I highly recommend this book to everyone.

[Francesko Kola · Rating 3 out of 5]

Excellent for anybody who wants to ponder what can fulfill his/her life. Given today's pressurized life style, it is important to reflect what is important and how we react to life's demands.

[Chris Gottlieb]

Be the creator of your own growth and happiness: Prisoners of our Thoughts brings to life one of the most important principles that Viktor Frankl awakened in many of us - and that is that "everything can be taken from a man but...the last of the human freedoms - to choose one's attitude in any given set of cirucumstances, to choose one's way". Given what I have learned from this one quote, I feel a responsibility to recommend Prisoners of Our Thoughts to others.

Dr Pattakos both captures the experience and teachings of Frankl (and himself) in an accessible and captivating manner and also opens them up to help the reader to do something with them. He shows us that any of us can break out of the prisons of our thoughts by choosing to shift how we experience the most frustrating and disappointing situations at work, The exercises boost the value to the reader if he or she takes the time and energy to authentically address the straightforward, yet thought-provoking questions. And one might even be surprised with some of the answers that emerge. I was!

Dr Pattakos uses examples that each of us can relate to and that demonstrate the power of looking at our work through a new lens - that is, creating a bigger context that elevates the meaningful(l)ness of anything we do if we `choose' to. I loved the story of Winston the bus driver who brought joy and connectedness to all his passengers. As a dear colleague once said to me, you have three ways to live your life: as a victim where it happens to you and you have no control, reactively where you automatically respond, or from a place of creation where it is up to you to choose. If you do want to live from a place where you create your life and work, then you will greatly enjoy Prisoners of our Thoughts and find it personally and professionally relevant.

[Nicholas · Rating 2 out of 5]

Just read Frankl.


Quotes:

"If we just intellectualize these core principles and verbalize them, but do not share and practice them, we would be like a person who is blind from birth explaining to another what it means to see, based on an academic study of light, its properties, the eye and its anatomy."

"(1) we are free to choose our attitude toward everything that happens to us; (2) we can realize our will to meaning by making a conscious commitment to meaningful values and goals; (3) we can find meaning in all of life's moments; (4) we can learn to see how we work against ourselves; (5) we can look at ourselves from a distance and gain insight and perspective as well as laugh at ourselves; (6) we can shift our focus of attention when coping with difficult situations; and (7) we can reach out beyond ourselves and make a difference in the world."

"Only as individuals can we answer for our lives."

"Our first task is to stop complaining."

"What, if anything, did you actually do about it? As you think about the situation now, what did y ou learn from it? What would you have done differently."

"It was the leader behind the leader who was the real leader."

"You need t be ready and able to plan for the fear or anxiety to happen rather than fight or ignore it."

"Life will give you back everything you have given it. Your life is not a coincidence. It's a reflection of you."

[Foad Ansari · Rating 1 out of 5]

چنگی به دل نمیزد ترجمه کتاب هم ناجور بود تنها خوبی که داشت این بود که کن رو ترغیب کرد که برم کتاب در جستجوی معنا را بخونم فقط همین

[Lulu Noor · Rating 1 out of 5]

الترجمة جداً ركيكة وخاوية المعنى.. من اسوء الكتب التي قرأتها ومضيعة للوقت بالرغم من انه كتاب جميل باللغة الأصلية . سأعيد قرأته بلغته الام

[Diana Moreno · Rating 4 out of 5]

Meaninful and insightful!
Give you some cases where they go through different kind of crisis, how to change your mental chip and deal with the crisis.

[NemNemPhoto* · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kai pradėjau skaityti šią knygą, sekėsi sunkiai. Kažkodėl maniau, kad tai bus tokia knyga,kurią "valgysi mažais kąsneliais". Bet, matyt, jai tiesiog nebuvo tinkamas metas, nes kai ją paėmiau į rankas antrąsyk - nebegalėjau paleisti iš rankų.

Jau esu minėjusi ne kartą, kad pastarieji pora mėnesių man yra ypač sunkūs: šimtai darbų ir nepaleidžiantis iš savo gniaužtų vidinis balsas,kuris be paliovos man kartoja "o jei nespėsi?", o ryte pabudus, vietoj "labas rytas" sau, girdžiu tik vidinio "aš" klyksmą.

Tačiau kai pradėjau "Savų minčių kaliniai" - viskas nutilo...

Apie V.Franklį abejoju ar esu girdėjusi anksčiau. Nauja pažintis su šiuo unikalaus mąstymo žmogumi man buvo gaivus oro gurkšnis, jau pritvinkusiame kasdienybės ore. Gana juokinga pagalvojus, kaip norėčiau paspausti V.Franklio ranką ir jam padėkoti: "tu išgelbėjai mane, ačiū".

Kodėl taip liaupsinu šią knygą? Nežinau. Kad kažko naujo išgirdau (perskaičiau) - nepasakyčiau, tačiau "spyrį į sėdimąją"- gavau. Knyga privertė mane susimąstyti iš naujo, kokia buvau, kokia esu ir kokia noriu būti. Ji išmokė mane pažvelgti į savo dabartinį gyvenimą visiškai kitu kampu, apsvarstyti savo gyvenimo prioritetus ir pasakyti sau dar kartą "Ineta, nurimk, tu viską darai gerai".

Labiausiai mane įkvepia tikros istorijos,tikri pavydžiais, kurių knygoje tikrai rasite ne vieną. Kartais, kad susidarytume naują pagrindą sau po kojomis, verta pamatyti viską plačiau ar perteiktą vaizdą pamatyti realybėje,kad susimąstytume " jei jis tai gali, kodėl negaliu to aš?".

Mano atveju, Franklio sukurti metodai ir įžvalgos mano gyvenimo matymo perspektyvą gerokai pakeitė, tačiau kaip knygoje rašoma "ką nors išmokti, bet tuo nepasinaudoti, iš tikrųjų reiškia neišmokti. Ką nors žinoti, bet tuo nesiremti, iš tikrųjų reiškia nežinoti." Tad tikiu,kad tuo ir pasinaudosiu.

Rekomenduoju šią knygą visiems, kurie nori mokytis, arba jaučiasi dažnai nespėjantys į savo kasdienybės ritmą...

[B.M · Rating 3 out of 5]

لقد تم بحمد الله الانتهاء من قراءة هذا الكتاب وتقيم لهم مبدئيا ٣ من ٥ سأذكر الاشياء الإيجابية للكتاب بالبداية:
الكتاب يشرح كيفية العيش بإيجابية تامه مع تجاهل الظروف الي تمر فيها وتوجيه تفكيرك الى كيفية رؤيه الجانب المشرق للاحداث الي تمر والتركيز عليها مع محاولة عزل واقعك الاليم بالتركيز على الايجابيات ومحاولة دراسة الواقع .
اما بالنسبه لسلبيات في الكتاب طول الكتاب وتكرار المعلومات نوعا ما كان بمكان الكاتب اللجوء لأسلوب مبسط اكثر وعدم تعقيد المفاهيم .
💕من اجمل المقولات اللتي اثرت فيني في الكتاب💕 :-
*الانسان هو انسان فقط من خلال الاخرين
*اذا اردت ان تبقي الاشياء كما هي فسوف يتعين على شي يتغير
*اذا وجدت العزيمة وجدت الطريق
الحياة الغير مدروسة لا نستحق ان نعيشها

وشكرا 🤗

[Kamilė Strach · Rating 4 out of 5]

🍃Dr. Alex Pattakos & Elaine Dundon - Savų minčių kaliniai🍃

Filosifinė knyga apie gyvenimo prasmę. Ne visi gali ją skaityti, tačiau ne visiems to ir reikia.

O kas skaitys, tikrai ras tokių minčių perliukų, kurie sudrebins sąmonę dar ir dar kartą persvarstyti kai kuriuos savo gyvenimo sprendimus.🌠

Šios knygos pagrindas - esminiai prasmės siekimo principai, tikros istorijos pagrindžiančios, kad viskas yra įmanoma, ir užduotys, skirtos ugdyti teisingus įpročius.

Knyga nėra pati lengviausia, tad rekomenduoju psichologiją mėgstantiems ir ne vieną filosinę knygą perskaičiusiems.

O jūs skaitėte? Kokia mintis įstrigo labiausiai?🌸

[L.A. Pokin · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was pretty terrible. It was primarily about the authors of the book (which is not Viktor Frankkl) talking about themselves and what they think about Victor. The authors just really try to glorify how smart they think themselves. I was annoyed the entire time I listened to the book until I could not take it anymore and turned it off. I lilstened to about 80 percent of the audiobook. Do not bother with this nonsense.
The only reason I did not give it one star is because they quote Victor Frankl's words - which are gold.

[Jennifer Christian · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm not entirely sure why this book was necessary. I read it after Man's Search for Meaning by Frankl. It didn't really seem to add anything new to his discussion. I would assume it was warranted because Frankl's book was written many years ago now, but Man's Search for Meaning was actually surprisingly relevant and did not seem antiquated or in need of an update. Pattakos presented his book in a way that felt like he was presenting new information, but it was more of a review of Frankl's principles.

[Cília Comella Correa · Rating 5 out of 5]

El libro de Viktor Frankl me impressiono mucho, así que di una oportunidad a este. Me ha gustado indagar en el sentido de las cosas que hacemos, más en un ámbito como el laboral donde a menudo puedes perder la motivación o no ver la finalidad de lo que estás haciendo. Es un libro que me ha ayudado a encarar el trabajo de manera más positiva.
Otras cosas buenas:
-Propone mucha bibliografia.
-En cada capitulo hay ejercicios de autorreflexión con preguntas útiles para valorar tu situación, la raíz de tus problemas y pensar en como actuar para mejorar.

[Adrienne · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was a decent book. The questions and exercises were fun and enlightening, but how to apply “finding meaning” was way too abstract that I left with more questions about the idea of meaning and how to find it other than it’s already there and I should look for it. Lots of platitudes and not enough concrete ideas.

[Jake Jeffries · Rating 2 out of 5]

Meh. I had high hopes for the book after reading Man's Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl. After reading it, I was disappointed. I didn't think it added anything that wasn't captured in and executed better in Frankl's book.

[Chetan Desai · Rating 5 out of 5]

Books on logotherapy can truly change your life by helping to know how to live with a meaning. While Viktor Frankl is a pioneer, and nothing can replace his books and examples, every new perspective helps to digest and learn the concept that much better. Must read!

[Ahmed · Rating 2 out of 5]

الكتاب يحتوي على بعض الأفكار الإيجابية الجيدة، لكن مع الآسف الشديد النسخة العربية من الكتاب جدا ركيكة و مبهمة بالكاد تفهم المعنى الذي يشير إليه المؤلف. نصيحتي هي إقتناء النسخة الأصلية من الكتاب و الحكم عليها لأن قراءة النسخة العربية هي مضيعة للوقت لا أكثر.

[Christy St Jean · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book should be mandatory reading for everyone. It makes the reader rethink meaning and purpose in a way that they can find those things in everyday situations. This book is an incredible summary of Viktor Frankl’s work.
I highly recommend it.