Book read: Man's Search for Meaning Viktor E Frankl

This is a short 150 page book that describes concentration camp life and techniques the author had for survival. It's split into two books, the first part is about the camps which leaves the reader in no doubt about what the camps were like with many observations. It stops short of graphic individual recollections as the author felt this had been covered in many other works.

The second part of the book covers an anaysis technique called logotherapy - really the professional career of the author after the war. In this he tries to define man's search for meaning and applications to his patients (some people contemplating/attempting suicide, some unhappy with their lot and looking for some deeper meaning). If psychotherapy is lying on a couch while a professional tries to coax out your problems then logotherapy could be sitting up straight and maybe having to hear what you do not want to (a little flippant he admits but a good description).

Overall a good book, thought provoking and something to make us realise how reasonably lucky some of us are in today's world.

The final quote of the book is:

So, let us be alert - alert in a twofold state:

Since Auschwitz we know what man is capable of.

And since Hiroshima we know what is at stake.

Portsmouth FA cup winners 2008

A not bad game yesterday, more tense than action packed. Good to see two sides of support who don't do this sort of thing every year actually enjoying the moment.

Still Portsmouth won, lets hope the next war does not start soon.

Lame duck primeminister

Or so the recent headlines would have us believe. It isn't looking good though, you know politicians are in trouble when they say openly they are going to learn from mistakes and listen more. I don't think things ever got that bad for John Major!

I can't imagine there is a career respecting Labour front bencher who would like to take the reins from here. I also feel the votes have been against the party in power rather than for the opposition (it's easier when you don't have to see your policies through).

If Brown wants to survive, he has to simplify - taxes, tax credits, persuade the banks that less profit for a few years isn't such a bad thing. But I can't see this happening - is this the shortest lived PM in history?