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

World-renowned psychiatrist Viktor Frankl's Man's Search for Meaning was named by the Library of Congress as one of the 10 most influential books of the 20th century. Dr. Frankl's story of finding a reason to live in the most horrible circum-stance imaginable—Nazi concentration camps—continues to inspire millions.

Drawing on the entire body of Frankl's work, Pattakos and Dundon elaborate seven “Core Principles” and demonstrate how they can be applied to every day life and work in the 21st century. These principles include the ultimate freedom to choose our attitude no matter the situation, the idea most closely associated with Frankl – but his ageless wisdom goes well beyond this. This third edition is revised and up-dated throughout and includes three new chapters: looking at meaning in a holistic, integrated way; envisioning what a meaning-centered world would look like; and exploring Frankl's legacy in the 21st century. Prisoners of Our Thoughts opens up new opportunities for finding personal meaning through living an authentic life.

Alex Pattakos, PhD, is cofounder of the Global Meaning Institute with offices in the United States, Canada, and Greece. His unique background includes being a mental health administrator, professor of public and business administration, consultant with the White House, and advisor to the commissioner of the US Food and Drug Administration. He is also the coauthor with Elaine Dundon of The OPA! Way: Finding Joy & Meaning in Everyday Life & Work. As a leader of the Meaning Movement, he is focused on helping others find meaning in life, work, and society. 

Elaine Dundon, MBA, is the cofounder of the Global Meaning Institute. She is passionate about helping people find meaning in their personal and work lives, as well as helping organizations create meaning-centered workplaces to deliver products and services that truly make a meaningful difference. She began her career in brand management at Procter & Gamble. A thought leader in the field of personal and organizational innovation, she authored the best-selling book The Seeds of Innovation and created the groundbreaking course on innovation management at the University of Toronto. Her work evolved to the “human side of innovation,” incorporating meaning, leadership, philosophy, and metaphysics to help people and organizations reach their full potential. 

Stephen R. Covey was the author of several books, including the iconic bestseller The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. He passed away in 2012.