/lit/ - Literature

>>18216298
>I care very little for him, live thousands of kilometres away, and haven’t even spoken to him in years
It’s probably your fault. Imagine abandoning your family and not even trying to step in when your own brother is slowly ruining his life. I honestly don’t know why you people with no family values wake up in the morning i’m not even sure what the point would be unless you really needed a cigarette or something.

>>18216298
Maybe talk to him and explain how he should save money. Also as soon as the market crashes and bear begins, lead him to /biz/ so he can buy cheap crypto

>>18216298
You're sound a like a very shit person OP, maybe fix yourself first.

>>18216331
>It’s probably your fault
It’s not. He is significantly older than me and left home when I was ~13.

>>18216351
I’m doing just fine. I want my brother to be able to say the same.

>>18216298
your brother seems pretty cool, maybe you should be takin book recommendations from him

>>18216298
Why send it anonymously? It wouldn’t hurt to let your brother know you care about him.

>>18216352
>It’s not. He is significantly older than me
Imagine being this dudes Mom as you head into your infirm years

>>18216359
I mean your attitude, not "doing just fine" in education and employment which is something any conformist drone can pull off with discipline. You should be involved in your brother's life, especially if he's struggling. He doesn't seem like he's a broken criminal or drug addict, just a regular slacker without any direction in life. Yet all you offer is a fucking book, sent anonymously no less. You should take a look in the mirror before judging anyone else, because what you've shared with us is borderline sociopathic.

>>18216383
listen to this dude OP

>>18216298
Meditations by Marcus Aurelius

>>18216298
You little fucking shit, kys faggot.

>>18216298
If he’s a slacker he won’t read. Send him some clear pill Sam Hyde videos and talk to him about them. Showing some empathy can save lives

>>18216351
This.

https://biblehub.com/matthew/7-3.htm

>>18216331
Seems common in America, that's why they have homeless on every street corner. Most cultures in the world which aren't retardedly individualistic and atomized don't allow one of their own to just rot like this.

>>18216369
It's difficult to paint a telling picture without doxing. Basically he's both prideful and exceedingly jealous of me (according to my mother). I tried to give him some minor advice a few years ago and he wasn't pleased. I'm not breaking any records, but I've done pretty well thus far for 20something. I also have a good relationship with my family, something he's long pissed away. Were he to know I was trying to give him advice he'd be completely unperceptive to it (and would probably cause issues for other family members). I want to send it anonymously because I don't want this to be about me at all. I genuinely just want to help him.
>>18216383
Nice job fucking highroading while knowing literally none of the details about our situation. Updoots for you, kind sir. I'm not in a position to uproot my entire life and try to save my manipulative, jack-off older brother. I want to offer him a small gesture that shows there are still people who still care to offer help. If you're going to keep making retarded moral grandstand assumptions (based on nothing) then you can fuck right off, mate.
>>18216417
Could be an option.
>>18216447
>clear pill Sam Hyde videos
This is the kind of vibe I'm going for. He used to read occasionally when I was a kid, so I'm hoping he'd take the leap and read something.
>>18216503
>moralizing off of vague assumptions
I really expected better than this. I believe I would be completely justified in doing nothing. He's done several things that have nearly destroyed our family, not that you retards would know anything about that.

>>18216593
Just want to say OP that your completely right with regards to your brother. 90% of this board has some weird obsessive need to prove they have a moral high ground compared to anonymous posters. Dont take heed to them.

>>18216623
Yea, there's literally r*ddit levels of "uh oh, you're the asshole" ITT. He's burned all his bridges, but I don't want to wake up one day to a text from my mom that he's killed himself. I want to help, and this is the only way I can think of doing so.

>>18216331
lol it's not anybodys """fault""" fucking retard

>>18216298
>Epicurus
My first reaction was agreeing with your reasons for him here, but on second consideration I think it might just encourage your brother's laziness and "for my pleasure" mindset.

The problem is finding something entertaining to him but still of a moral importance. Maybe a Dickens novel?

>>18216632
>r*ddit levels of "uh oh, you're the asshole"
No theres not you newfag
It’s an offtopic blogpost and we’d say anything to make him sound like an asshole and make this entire thread a generally unpleasant experience for anyone that visits

>>18216298
Send him a copy of Suicide and Attempted Suicide: Methods and Consequences by Geo Stone, it is genuinely the best thing you can do for him.

>>18216298
I would recommend the New Testament, as the content is very helpful. Unfortunately, he's likely to not read it based on the title itself.

>>18216677
>might just encourage your brother's laziness and "for my pleasure" mindset
Good point. I was hoping it might encourage him to reflect on his decisions and built better priorities in the future, but he very well may just see it as validation. I could always send him several books, but I get the feeling that just one would be the most impactful.
>>18216691
>ur newfag!
>blogpost
"Books for helping a wayward nearly-30-year-old waster" seems pretty relevant to me.
>>18216693
I want to give him a nudge towards salvaging his life, not ending it.
>>18216694
We were raised quite religious, so I'm 1000% sure he wouldn't even open it.

>>18216298
Leave your brother alone, retard. Ffs read what you wrote.
> I want to give one final act of brotherliness for this person I don’t care about by indulging my savior complex and pulling the helpless miserable puppy out of the muck
I feel bad for you, not your brother.

>>18216722
I want to add that your brother is almost certainly better off without you if this is how you’re going to be. The best “brotherly act” you could give him is to fuck off in total sincerity.

>>18216632
If he is suicidal then one book isn't going to change shit. If you hate him this much then let him fucking die. What is your problem?
It is you who is bragging about moralfagging by saying shit like "brotherly kindness".

>>18216708
>I want to give him a nudge towards salvaging his life, not ending it.
If he's such a miserable piece of shit as you say he is then there isn't anything that can be done, the best thing not only for him but also for your family is that he ends his life as quickly as possible. His continued existence will only bring suffering to both him and your family.

>>18216722
>>18216725
>>18216726
These

>>18216298
dont help him. his suffering is self-inflicted and if he doesnt see that already, just let him go. hes now living with the decisions hes made. maybe thats what he wants.

also, are you female? because he sounds almost exactly like me.

>>18216298
Very interesting, OP. I find myself in the same situation that you described in the first paragraph, and have some similar experiences to what you've described in replies, but I do not at all feel the way you do as described in your second paragraph. I am also at a loss as to what to do, or if I should even be "interfering" at all. However, this much I do think is true: as his brother, you should be there for him (emotionally and to support his goals and try to help him to achieve them). If he is an absolute monster-sociopath-asshole-manipulator, then limit your interactions as much as possible. To speak from my own experience, my brother and i are usually on and off: we are cool for some period of time, and then there is a time when he consistently picks fights with me and will get emotional very easily and do things he later regrets. I think that your duty as a brother is to try to help your brother succeed, be happy, etc. The task before you is figuring out the best way to do that while keeping your own wellbeing and safety in tact. It might be a long shot to hope that this specific book will be the one to change him permanently for the better, so I think it's a good starting place, but don't let that be the end of it, see what else you can do to help. This is all assuming you want the best for him. If you did not, then I wouldn't think you'd be here asking for suggestions and showing some degree of care and concern.

>>18216722
>>18216725
Yea mate you're right I should just forget he exists and do nothing to try and help him. I should stop being such a saviour. Also I'm not going to "be" any kind of way. I'm sending it anonymously. He'll have no idea I sent it.
>>18216726
I didn't say that he was suicidal (I said that it's reasonable that things could get to this point) and I didn't say that I hated him. All I said is that he's done a series of hurtful things to family members and that he's effectively wasted his entire adult life. Despite this, I feel the obligation of kinship. I want to offer him a hand. I have no idea why this is so difficult for you all to understand.
>>18216743
I don't want him to LDAR like he's done for the last decade. If I can send him something that has the chance of helping then I want to.
>are you female
No.

>>18216765
Insightful post, thanks anon. I do hope one day to have some kind of relationship with him if possible, and I think this may be a good start. I'd love to one day, over a few pints, reveal that it was me who sent him that helpful book all those years ago. I really do want the best for him.

>>18216708
>ut I get the feeling that just one would be the most impactful.
You're right here.

There are plenty of good poems, but he might just get turned off immediately by it being a poem. Maybe Schopenhauer's On the Basis of Morality?

>>18216766
>>18216781
Keeeeek, have some fucking self-awareness ffs. Your head is still suck in hollywood movies you narcissistic clown.

>>18216807
Thank you for offering no suggestions and shitting up the thread with your baseless moral crusading.

>>18216766
>Yea mate you're right I should just forget he exists and do nothing to try and help him. I should stop being such a saviour.
Correct. You should leave him alone.

>>18216814
>one final act of brotherly kindness
you started it, dumb retard.

Your brother is 30 and has no clear path in life, presumably he suffers (you may not realize this because you’re so wound up in your little cyberworld, but I assure you he does), and your solution is not to talk with him or make any real attempt to help but instead to throw some fucking book at him and hope it helps. Just curious, how stupid are you? Are you actually an idiot? Do you really tell yourself that your 15 seconds of effort is going to turn around his life when he’s middle aged? See, I think it’s pretty bad to ignore a family member like that, but I also understand how life works and I’ve done similar things regrettably and I am probably doing them right now too. But the lie you’re telling yourself right now that this is some great effort and expense on your part when you’re clearly doing it to feed your ego, the fact that you’re doing it through your hobby just makes it all the more pathetic. Actually help him or just shut the fuck up and do nothing. Don’t present him with just another thing to fail at and then shrug your shoulders saying “Welp, I did all I could,” when he inevitably has a personal crisis.

>>18216828
>wanting to help my brother is baseless moral crusading
>>18216832
>didn't read the replies
>making baseless assumptions
>more crusading
this is hilarious

>>18216766
>I have no idea why this is so difficult for you all to understand.
because what you are describing is not 'offering him a hand' unless you mean literally just the hand, without arm or the rest of the body attached, you stupid motherfucker. There is no One Single Book that can fix a person like this. If you want to send him a fun book to read, just grab some NYT Bestseller horseshit and be done with it. Don't act like sending a depressed nearly-wizard ONE BOOK, ANONYMOUSLY NO LESS, is going to magically make him turn his life around. These people are like this because they lack reality in their lives, so what on God's green Earth makes you think that one final act of fraudulent brotherly love is going to make him see the light? What you're asking is, 'What one book can I send to someone I know I should be doing more to help in order to absolve myself of any future feelings of obligation?' and such a book does not exist. Go back to fucking reddit or twitter or whatever morally-bankrupt bugworld you came from. I'm sure you'll get some fantastic recs from r/books, you insufferable nigger.

>>18216841
Nah, you’re hilarious.

>>18216841
>>wanting to help my brother is baseless moral crusading
The things is, it is your duty to help him if you call him your bother. There is no need to brag about "brotherly kindness" bullshite to bunch of strangers like you an angel for doing a basic fucking task.
You are a one funny faggot.

>>18216848
Holy shit bro you absolutely BTFO me. Even hit me with the "go back to rebbit or twitter" and called me a bugman. Totally destroyed.

Kek, OP getting absolutely demolished in his shitty thread.

>>18216383
You can't force someone to change this thirty year old man child had years to switch his act.

I feel this thread isn’t going very much how you pictured it huh? Or maybe it is, which makes you all the more pathetic

>>18216593
maybe your mother gets off on sowing discord between you two lol idk

>>18216781
No problem. By the way, it should go without saying, but any comment that is saying "retard" and "fuck you" and etc. is simply to be ignored as the detritus that it is. This reflexive edginess and immaturity is indicative of a malformed mind, and likely a corrupted/nihilistic one at that. These people need the most help.

>>18216331
Haha, No, sweaty <3

>>18216867
Okay faggot what else could I do?
>No longer live in the same country, let alone the same continent
>Haven't spoken in 5+ years
>He's done a whole list of [insert horrible things you don't know about but pretend to anyways because you're a retard]
>Always the victim, never at fault
>Debt-ridden, always destroying relationships
>Weedbro
>Gets offended when people try to help him
>leeches off of everyone in his life
Okay, hit me. What do I do? Give me your sagely advice. I thought sending him a book would be a nice thing to do for someone who is effectively a stranger to me.
>>18216881
Yea I kind of expected some book recommendations. Certainly didn't think I'd get epicly debated and morally dunked on by all these well-informed anons. Woe is me, bros.
>>18216903
The problem is that they attract others like them. I'm futilely trying to squeeze suggestions out of these animals.

>So I have the faggot of a disappointing failure brother I don’t like very much...
>Why are you guys picking on me for being kind?

>>18216298
a book alone can't fix those kinds of problems and sending him some self-help/philosophy pick from amazon is a shallow, pointless gesture. either care about your brother or don't bother. your weird need to show a token action is about you and your guilt. if he deserves what he's getting let him reap what he's sown.

>>18216903
These people need the most help, not the people in prisons for murder AIDS-raping newbies, the people who are saying a guy on an image board is an asshole. Yup, certified moron.

>>18216298
why are cunts attacking op? it makes me uncomfortable knowing that:
1) they would shit on someone trying to help another
2) blame him for his brother's, who's an adult, failure
3) think that not caring is worse in nature than the guy who drove his life to ground

it seems much of you relate to poor old neet kek

>>18216298
so you're absent from his life and now you wanna get back in touch and tell him all the reasons he ain't shit. tell me how that works out for you. you have no connection to him and your words will likely mean nothing to him.
but frankly, go ahead and give him a book, that's fair. just don't expect your own words to change anything in him.

t. someone who is a lot like your brother

>>18216932
many*

>>18216298
Maybe send him an anonymous letter with some personal, tailored advice. Maybe change your handwriting a bit so he doesn't find out it was you. Someone is way more likely to read a fancy letter than a book (or maybe send both).

>>18216298
A Confederacy of Dunces

>>18216917
>Okay, hit me. What do I do? Give me your sagely advice.
Do what you did in those last 5 years.

OP I'm not much of a fan of jordan Peterson but this book seems to match 12 rules of life. Put a personal letter in there to him. Hopefully one day you can repair this relationship.

>>18216932
nah his brother is probably a dick but sending a book isn't an actual solution, it's a way to assuage his own guilt. just let the older brother have his shitty situation, don't bother with some weird half measure of sending a book.

The Holy Bible is my actual answer but the book alone wouldn't do anything, the older bro would need a sincere change of heart to go with it which you can't send in the mail anonymously.

>>18216932
A book isn't really going to help his brother, and while I don't blame OP for his brother's situation or even for distancing himself, it's clear trying to help him now after doing all that with the most retarded of gestures (Sending them a book they won't read or will read and fail to absorb whatever contents it had) over doing something to actually help them such catching up and being there for them (Which OP doesn't seem to be interested in doing) plus posts like this >>18216781 make him look like a dickhead trying to absolve a little guilt more than someone who cares for their brother (Which he self admittedly doesn't, to be fair).

>>18216924
I don't like him very much at all. This is honesty. Should I just pretend he doesn't exist? He's still my brother. What the the fucking logic here?
>>18216925
>bro you should just help him!
>>18216932
>blame him for his brother's, who's an adult, failure
This is the craziest part. This fucker is almost 10 years older than me. I'm a young adult. What the fuck am I supposed to do?
>hey bro move the videogames and weed over, I abandoned my life and I'm moving in with you. Gonna help you save yourself!
>>18216936
>so you're absent from his life
I'm not his fucking dad you FOOL
>now you wanna get back in touch and tell him all the reasons he ain't shit
Are you illiterate? I want to send him a book ANONYMOUSLY.
>you have no connection to him
beyond being brothers, yes. We have no social connection.
>your words will likely mean nothing to him
Which I've said. They're not going to be "my words" because I'm not fucking saying anything to him you absolute subhuman.
>>18216955
>a letter
Finally some decent input. I'll consider that, anon. Maybe I could include something personal alongside whatever book.

>>18216979
>>bro you should just help him!
that's the opposite of my advice. if he's already this far out of your life i don't think a gesture of any kind will really mean anything, especially when you're this angry and hurt about him. my actual suggestion is the Bible, with the understanding that it probably won't be effective on him unless there's a serious change in his heart and attitude coincidentally happening. if you can't help him, then you can't help him. that's not on you.

>>18216979
>I'm not his fucking dad you FOOL, yadayada
seething about my room-temperature, non-offensive opinion. I'm quite convinced that you're the dickhead here bro.
sending your brother half-hearted fake love virtue signaling, just fucking kill yourself instead and send him the suicide letter, that'll surely make him feel better

>>18216298
“That which is ready to fall, shall ye also push!”, said Nietzsche and although this quote is not particularly about people I like to use it in that sense.
Admit it, OP, your brother will not change over your so-called efforts. You know it and I know it. Your attempts of "making his life better" will only deteriorate your already bad realtions. Sometimes a man needs to experience a crisis in his life in order to change for the better. By trying to help him you only postpone that imminent crisis, even if only slightly.

>>18217013
Based

The thread

>>18216966
Honestly, not a bad idea. JP is basically diluted phil+psychology for young men.
>>18216971
Perhaps I misspoke. I don't feel "guilt" because his predicament is completely unrelated to me. As I said, he moved out of our parent's house when I was still a literal child. Surely you don't expect me to be at fault for what he did when I was still in elementary school.
>>18216997
>if you can't help him, then you can't help him. that's not on you.
I know it's not on me. It's absolutely not my fault in any way. I still feel that sending him a book is a kind gesture that I am in no way getting any credit or recognition for, by design, because my aim to help him. I cannot fathom how doing NOTHING forever and pretending he's dead is preferable to making a effort (as best I can) to give him some advice. I can't just come out and give him advice for reasons listed above.
>>18217013
The fucking gall lmao
>>18217019
>Your attempts of "making his life better" will only deteriorate your already bad realtions
mate how it's going to be ANONYMOUS
>Sometimes a man needs to experience a crisis in his life in order to change for the better
I suppose so, but is it not better to prevent your house burning than it is to learn from it having burnt? Is prevention not the best cure?
>>18217038
yea I basically killed him with a rock, spot on mate.

>>18217045
>I am in no way getting any credit or recognition for, by design, because my aim to help him.
>I'd love to one day, over a few pints, reveal that it was me who sent him that helpful book all those years ago
Kek

>>18217058
>I'd like my "recognition" to be helping him and having a relationship with him
>ebil OP

>>18217045
Is it possible it needs to be anonymous because you don’t want to accidentally give him a reason to think he’s forgiven for any of the resentments you hold on to?

>>18217045
>Surely you don't expect me to be at fault for what he did when I was still in elementary school.
not at all, but you might feel guilty anyway. i felt guilty about my parents divorce even though i was only 14. otherwise why are you wasting this much thought on him? also, try to ignore the obvious assholes, /lit/ is largely shitposters now.

>>18217068
No. I want to send it anonymously because A) he won't consider what I've sent if he knows I sent it and B) I don't want to create problems for my family, I just want to get the advice in his hand so he can do with it as he pleases.
>>18217073
I don't know why I feel obliged to do something to help him. Probably some vague family affinity. He's having a bad time of it, especially recently, and I have it in my head that something like a helpful book could be a turning point (or at least help him towards one). It seems like such a simple proposition too.

>>18217066
Then bragging about your heroic moral gesture to make him realize that he is a subhuman and if it wasn't for that one book, that one fucking book that you send it to him, he would have been dead.

>>18217101
What the fuck are you talking about??????? Are you literally retarded?????????? This thread has fucking blown my mind holy shit. /lit/ really has fallen into the shitter, huh.

>>18216708
>"Books for helping a wayward nearly-30-year-old waster" seems pretty relevant to me.
books for helping wayward waster is a daily thread here, if that clarifies it. honestly man, I talked shit on you, but here's the real advice:

actually find a book yourself, go to the /lit/ wiki, get off this thread already. dumb fucking cretin xd jk man best wishes

damn op u got these chuds seeeeething lmao

>>18217117
I should have done this in the first place. TY matey.

>>18217091
>>I don't know why I feel obliged to do something to help him. Probably some vague family affinity. He's having a bad time of it, especially recently, and I have it in my head that something like a helpful book could be a turning point (or at least help him towards one). It seems like such a simple proposition too.
that seems simple enough. i really can't recommend the Bible highly enough anon. i haven't a single piece of philosophy or narrative that has ever resulted in real change in how i see or feel things except for the Bible. i'd stick a big bookmark in the parable of the prodigal son, highlight it and send it to him. the message that it's never too late to be "found" and turn away from the bullshit killing us is potent to anybody, but especially to someone who has apparently immersed himself in bitterness, indolence and casual drug use. it worked for me when i was doing the same thing.

Pretty much never does someone allow themselves to self destruct unless there's something emotionally wrong(i.e something you dont know about/arent taking seriously enough) with them and they need help(granted if hes not insane). You don't have to like your brother, but if you love him try to talk to him, and don't allow yourself to lose touch(whether it be by letter or by phone). If you think he has "retarded"(more likely childish) hobbies, letting him know that wont encourage him to move on to what you think are better hobbies(people dont like to be told they are inferior). You have ease it in, allow yourself to discuss a little of what he likes, then talk about things you like and why you like them, back and forth. If you seriously want to help and feel that its genuinely against your morals to not help then you got to know that sending him a book and forgetting about it is nothing but an easy/temporary fix to the pain you feel, and not for his benefit. I wish you and your brother good luck.

>>18217136
for clarification, if you've never read it personally:
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%2015%3A11-32&version=ESV

>>18217109
>20 years old retard bitching about /lit/'s fall
Well meme'd faggot.

>>18217045
>I suppose so, but is it not better to prevent your house burning than it is to learn from it having burnt? Is prevention not the best cure?
You do not know what effects your puny "help" might produce. It may be nothing (most probably), it may be quite the opposite of what you have hoped for.
But suffering is a fool-proof method of making someone a better person. That is why in many cultures male children were subjected to severe trials in order to become adult men instead of manchildren. By preventing the ordeal you rob him of chance of self-betterment.
In any case, I believe that you in now way can help him. Sending a book ANONYMOUSLY won't change a thing. Books don't change people, experiences do.

>>18217149
This is better advice than what I gave. Cheers to you!

>>18216298
>>18216593
>>18216917
>>18217045
Bruh... it's your own fault everyone in the thread thinks your a sociopath because of the vague way you framed this whole situation. If you're only going to paint a small portion of the picture then of course you're going to get answers that don't apply to the situation. You're acting irrational and getting all pissed off over nothing, throwing a tantrum like a child. Anyway, if you aren't a part of his life in some capacity you're probably going to regret it even if he is a dick or a complete piece of shit... or maybe not I have no fucking clue because apparently your brother 'did bad things' which could be literally anything at this point. We only have the information that you provided. Regardless of if you're justified in not giving a shit about your brother or not this whole whiny offended affect you've but on this whole thread comes off immature and extremely egotistical.

>>18216932
We're all responsible for our families even if we never asked for that responsibility. There is a limit to what can be done sure but there's absolutely no way of knowing if that limit has been reached because OP is being vague and trying really hard to convince everyone in this thread that he's smart and a great person instead of just giving the facts.

>>18217136
I would just send a bible but, like I said, we were raised in a very religious household. He completely revolted against everything our parents tried to instill in him and has stayed that way for a decade. He is much too stubborn and proud to unironically pick up a bible. I appreciate the suggestion nonetheless.
>>18217149
I wish it were this easy. Like I said above, he doesn't really like me (from what I gather) and would hate to talk about his life with me.
>>18217166
>You're acting irrational and getting all pissed off over nothing, throwing a tantrum like a child
So the issue is me and not all these anons making insane baseless assumptions? Got it. I wanted to keep it short, hence not including 10000 words about our upbringing and relationship in adulthood. I couldn't have possibly anticipated this would devolve into a moralfag shitflinging competition.
>this whole thread comes off immature and extremely egotistical
you can say that again, pal.

>>18216593
>I want to offer him a small gesture that shows there are still people who still care to offer help
Anonymously sending him a book is not going to get this message across

>>18216979
>I'm not fucking saying anything to him you absolute subhuman.
Anon said that he is a lot like your brother. Absolute subhuman. It's pretty obvious that you hate him (your brother). No need to keep in touch with him in that case. Just leave him alone.

>>18217186
>He is much too stubborn and proud to unironically pick up a bible.
oof not a good situation. sorry for ragging on you earlier anon, it may be cheesy but ill say a prayer for you. my only other suggestion would be a book that could lead him back in some way towards faith or anything adjacent to it. was he into any kind of particular fiction? like a certain genre?

>>18216298
Mailing your brother a book anonymously that he may or may not read is not helping him sperg

>>18217208
>was he into any kind of particular fiction?
I can't remember that well because I was so young, but I recall him mostly being in to shit like Twilight (no meme).
>>18217214
I thought it would be nice, but I suppose not. Egg on my face.

>>18216503
>America
he said kilometres. probably not american

>>18217218
I have a somewhat similar situation, older brother pissing his life away, and frankly I don't really know what to do either, sometimes you just can't help people

>>18217232
It really is a shame. Nothing worse than pissed-away potential.

>>18217234
>pissed-away potential.
You haven't read Ecclesiastes?

>>18217232
your brother needs someone to talk to him face-to-face who is willing to listen and show to show empathy. only then will your words help him, because he will feel loved by you.
so in other words, for you and OP, you either go be a man and talk to him with the genuine intent of helping out or you assign him to a psychotherapist, like many would to in this shit new world.

>>18217186
>So the issue is me and not all these anons making insane baseless assumptions?
Yes, and those assumptions aren't insane or baseless. They're based off the information you provided. As this thread goes on I'm really starting to think you have low emotional intelligence and really don't understand WHY people would have strong emotional reactions to this kind of thing. We're all thinking of our experiences, not yours. In order to change that you would have to provide more information. No one grew up in the circumstances you grew up in so it's kind of unreasonable to assume everyone should automatically understand your situation.

No one in this thread has a strong emotional or intellectual connection to your plight. We're strangers thousands of miles away being given a scant amount of information about a situation that would take probably multiple conversations with you to truly understand. I know you expected people to just give book recommendations but you could have just said 'my brother is a dickhead, what are some books that will help him stop being a dickhead' and then no one would have judged you or wanted to pry into the situation and would have just recommended books.

>>18217232
This, except he's on good tracks to regain control of his life after 25 years of doing nothing.
Just live your life, OP, and be kind.

>>18217248
That would be on the condition the person is willing to change. You can't force people to do so. Sometimes it really is best to let them go or else you just enable those negative actions.

>>18217331
that is true. however, feeling loved would steer him in the direction of wanting to change, I'm certain. unless the guy completely resents OP, then maybe he's unreachable.

>>18217248
>your brother needs someone to talk to him face-to-face who is willing to listen and show to show empathy. only then will your words help him, because he will feel loved by you.
He takes advantage of any empathy shown. He's attempted to steal from me, stolen from my parents, and so we sent him to live with extended family hoping he wouldn't cause a stink only for him to do so, then steal and crash our grandmother's car. She still loves him but I am absolutely pissed with him.

>>18217293
>They're based off the information you provided
They aren't. People making up wild stories of my downtrodden brother and my psychopathic tendencies. I gave all the info necessary to rattle off a book or two without dropping a lengthy and revealing manifesto. It was more fun to make bold moralising statements than it was to think about what I asked an give suggestions.
>it's kind of unreasonable to assume everyone should automatically understand your situation
By my approximation I gave a pretty succinct overview of the situation, but maybe I'm wrong.
>'my brother is a dickhead, what are some books that will help him stop being a dickhead'
This couldn't be less descriptive. I gave a short list detailing his behaviour and my desire to give him something that could help.
>>18217407
Mine has done similar things as well, which is why "just go talk to him" isn't really good advice (especially considering that I live over 9000 kilometres away from him).

>>18216331
>Imagine abandoning your family and not even trying to step in when your own brother is slowly ruining his life
Perhaps it's an American thing because I could never imagine just abandoning family. You're blood for Christ's sake. You stick together. I have some family members, cousins, etc that I don't like. But I put up with it because we're family.

>>18216298
On another note, since you are on a /lit/ board, my recommendations come in the form of some self-help book. Other anons squirm and scream childishly at the mere sight of one, but they are helpful to the person that genuinely needs it. Not everyone has common sense, not everyone has the same life, we don't always understand where you are coming from under all those ad-hominems. Here are some I recommend.

>How to Win Friends & Influence People by Dale Carnegie
Neets and such don't always have the best social skills. Honestly, EVERYBODY should read this book anyways. It's relatively short, to the point, gives examples of how each rule can apply to different situations. But most importantly, it outlines good social behavior. Which is needed for most of life.
>Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad One's by James Clear
It outlines how to stop procrastination and being generally lazy. But most importantly, it teaches how to have the willpower to do something and stick to it.
>Sun and Steel by Yukio Mishima
Beyond great, and essentially motivates anyone to become fit. Mishima makes it very clear how important it is to not only to take care of your identity, but your physical body as well.
>Meditations by Marcus Aurelius
Perhaps sometimes dragged down as stoicism is seen as generally bad, with the 4chan mindset of "why ignore pain when you can revel in it?" But id argue that Stoicism can help your average person through tough times.
>Discourses, Fragments, Handbook by Epictetus
I'd say Epictetus's ideas on stoicism is a lot more agreeable than Marcus's. But Marcus's book is a lot shorter, so it's a better introduction. Epictetus is truly in his own lane though.


I would also like to note, that all of these books are on Audible, so if you feel like he won't read them because he doesn't like reading. Set up an Audible account and get these books there. For most people that aren't into reading, audiobooks are a great way of consuming literature. And you shouldn't feel any lesser for it, especially since both physical and audio versions are the same.

Although it is to be noted, just because you hear or listen to something motivational, it doesn't mean you'll succeed. You have to put the principles in action.

>>18217448
Thanks for all the suggestions mate.

>>18216298
Obviously I don't know your brother, but the sort of person you've described typically can't be fixed with a book. It isnt that they're searching for answers, they aren't the sort to even ask questions. Your brother's problem, to me, seems to he fundamental. He sounds like the sort who lacks introspection, and a book with solve that. Philosphy broadly is a great stimulant of introspection, but that's only broadly. No single book will turn this on with him, as it is the hobbiastic engaging with them that triggers it. The only way, i would presume, to "fix," your brother is to force him to develop critical thinking and self awareness. This, at his age, may simply not be possible. Only day he will turn 54, and it'll all hit him like a phat juicy negress ass, and he'll jump off a bridge or OD or something. Nothing you can do, he's too old and too set in his ways. Of course, this is all conjecture, but it's the impression I'm getting.

If you actually want to help him, as you claim, the proposal you have made for how to help him is insufficient as real help. If you are unwilling to provide the level of help that is actually required, then you are not actually interested in helping him, and interested only in your original proposal for its own sake, whatever that may be (as other anons have posited up and down your thread.). More succinctly, either you want to help him and need to do more than send one book, OR you need to send the one book and stop pretending that you want to help him. The two positions are incongruous, and this is the source of conflict in your thread. The reason you do not see this is because you are 20 years old, have never helped anyone through seriously traumatic life experiences, possibly never even gone through them yourself, and your only points of reference for what to do are movies and books on the topic that have dramatized the process to create a compelling story, but are not a manual on what to do to help your listless, drifting brother find direction and meaning in life. I should also like to point out that the accuracy of this assessment is irrelevant, as the point stands: this is the character that you have portrayed to Anonymous, and he does not like the story he has read.

For recommendations, I would suggest a book of short fiction, though what exactly would depend on your assessment of your brother (This makes the process even more difficult for Anonymous...). For me when I was young, the short fiction of DFW helped me feel much less alone in the world. Tolstoy, Dostoevsky, and Hemingway helped me feel like I had a place in the world. And from there I have been most affected by philosophy, specifically the transcendentalists, and then the life-affirmers, and then the existentialists. Perhaps you can find that perfect One Single Book among these recommendations, but I doubt it.

I have also gone through the process of trying to help someone who did not want my, nor anyone else's, help, and I can tell you that a single book sent anonymously will not change his life. Helping these people is hard enough when you have time and energy to invest, so doing all of that in a single gesture, and somehow trying also to contain it in a single book, is a futile exercise. Godspeed regardless. Maybe you can take this thread as a learning opportunity for yourself, as well. I hope you do.

>>18217119
>chuds
kek do leftist still use this? i thought they reverted back to just saying cuck

>>18217461
This all being said, learning about Aristotelian virtues via nicomachean ethics really got me to stop being gay nigga

>>18216298
you really triggered the NEETs with this post.

>>18217461
>He sounds like the sort who lacks introspection
>This, at his age, may simply not be possible
>he's too old and too set in his ways
OP here. In a thread packed to the brim with mindbogglingly insane assumptions, this is incredibly well-put and accurate. I fear you may be completely correct. He absolutely does lack introspection. He's been like this for as long as I can recall.
>>18217486
>OR you need to send the one book and stop pretending that you want to help him
This is the case. I feel that I should do something for him, but I'm neither willing nor able to (nor do I want to) vainly go out of my way to make a grand gesture in an attempt to help him. I know it won't work. Additionally, I know that I'm not a very empathetic person by nature. I suppose what I'm ultimately looking for is a token gesture that leaves me with a mental "I tried" When it rains it pours. Thanks for the helpful input, Anon. I'll consider what you've written.

>>18217448
>Sun and Steel by Yukio Mishima
As memed as it is, if you want to get into bodybuilding (or lifting weights in general), I recommend Starting Strength by Mark Ripptoe. It's a good book that outlines the importance of form and posture, as well as a rundown on exercises you should do with a barbell.

Most people grow out if the book within a year or two, once they become stronger, which is why some anons don't really like it. But it's perfect for the man or woman that is trying to start his fitness journey.

>>18216848
>What one book can I send to someone I know I should be doing more to help in order to absolve myself of any future feelings of obligation?
Brutal.

>>18216298
>blah blah blah i dont give a shit about my brother, dont live anywhere near him and dont interact with him at all, but i want to send him a book to let him know how superior i am and how flawed he is.

what is wrong with you faggot? you think you can cure a person by sending them a fucking book instead of actually putting the effort in to give a shit? if you do send him one he should use it as toilet paper.

>>18216298
The Subtle Art of Not Giving a Fuck

>>18217549
b8 smd ywnbaw
>>18217591
I could send him Ted ... :)

>>18216298
> literal toys & retarded hobbies
you came to the right place

>>18217708
Reading is among the least retarded hobbies, assuming you're not reading SHITE.

ill try and be concise and off critique and help at the same time and in being concise i hope you shall appreciate my words in a way posters here have NOT appreciated yours

i somewhat agree with others that you come off as only being interested in helping insofar as you can abdicate future guilt HOWEVER i think this could be a chance for a turning point in both of your lives as regardless of why this thread exist it demonstrates humanity enough to perhaps reunite you two

i think /lit/ only works on smart people, or people who were/ are perceptive to helpful ideas at one point enough to inform their appreciation for philosophy or anything else. which is my way of agreeing with others, in that he likely borderline COULDN'T appreciate any book you sent him beyond any superficial means "look a new paper weight!"

for a little over a year now ive been studying philosophy and esotericism, and as a young adult, i think the insights are invaluable in avoiding pitfalls like cooming all day or buying cheap shit. i saw a quote thats relavent, if i can find it, its picrel

studying hermeticism, kabbalah, masonry, and every fucking topic in between has led me to one invaluable resource which is a man named Manly P Hall, who did a lot of lectures basically laughing at modern issues (post 1960's) such as a greater concentration of neurosis, stress, and the degradation of modern philosophy and thinking. im recommending you send him his lectures. because i dont think your brother would be helped even if you send him a history of philosophy and he actually read it, its not very helpful at really helping him clean up his life or teaching him how to. for him it would likely just make his shortcomings more noticeable and in his face, but im not sure it would help him overcome them (it may provide insight but these individuals need their hands held)

Hall started out as a purely a mystic or publisher of esoteric arts. but his lectures morphed into proto self help in combating the days issues or mans hurdles (Neurosis, stress)using esoteric means. he essentially lays out "natural law" and asserts the only way to be happy is to follow it, and he gives an outlines for living within the order of the universe, which i think philosophy is more or less articulating the natural order and how to live within it, but its done in a subtle manner. but mincing words wont work for him (which is why reading isn't smart for him)

This is the first hall lecture I watched, and is more of his bread and butter:
https://youtu.be/P0LMh2bHNz0


I listened to this a few days ago. I really enjoy the perspective of a man who grew up in an era I can respect, I think it’s pretty compelling even though I find most “self help” to be very disgusting
https://youtu.be/60As0mhcxNw

i have a playlist with at least 100 of his lectures in it, if you're at all interested in it

halls books are pretty dense, so i dont recommend

>>18217802
Excellent post. Thanks!

Lol, we all know what you want to send him

>>18216632
You care more about avoiding guilt, than actually helping your brother. You are a massive faggot.

>>18216298
>mindful living
Go fuck yourself you sanctimonious prick, he doesn't need a self-help book from you.

If he needs anything at all from you, it's an honest accounting of your relationship and how you both have affected each other, and what you are both guilty of. Either start speaking to each or fuck off and live your own lives. This "one last half-assed attempt where I hand him a book" is faggot shit for real. Go fuck yourself. Cunt.

just tell him to pull his fucking head in

>>18216298
Your brother definitely gets more pussy than you so i dont think you should be trying to tell him what to do you fucking no life nerd. Go read some more epipoorius or whatever.

>>18219627
>epipoorius
yeah having read the entire thread OP is definitely a first-degree faggot who's only interested in assuaging his own guilt with regard to his brother's condition.

>>18216298
go fuck yourself. if you really gave a shit you'd have an honest conversation with him about your relationship and his relationship with his family. im 10,000% certain there are things you do not understand about him.

*faggot AND a cowardly son of a bitch, sorry for not finish my thought concisely

let me fucking guess

children of divorce

>>18217802
>implying the purpose of life is to be happy
dumb esotericist

>>18217448
>But I put up wit it because we are family
Pretty much this. There isnt a thing I wouldnt do for a family member, however I often nag about how there are retarded/lazy and couldnt be bothered with trivial things.

>>18216298
The Quran

>>18216593
It's not your fault anon, ignore the cunts ITT. Send him Jordan Peterson because it helped many people like him

>>18219967
there needs to be an IQ test to post on this board

>>18219976
Already got one and I scored 140

>>18216298
>quits minimum wage jobs 6 months in
good, that means he's meant for better things

>>18219926
keyed

>>18216298
The preamble of the IWW.
Berkman on class war.
A party membership.
A union membership.

>>18219976
if its helped people then whats the issue?

>>18216298
>He probably won’t even read it, but at least I can rest easy with the knowledge that I tried to help
>I tried to help
Delusional or otherwise dishonest.

What is it you want him to do exactly?

>>18216917
>Okay faggot what else could I do?
How about showing even the slightest bit of empathy towards him? Give him a call. Try and talk to him. Try as many times as you can emotionally/mentally stomach if you genuinely love him as a brother. You say he’s done some shit things, but hasn’t everyone in their life? Does he deserve to be condemned to isolated by his family for those past actions? If he’s genuinely a piece of shit with no redeeming qualities that you don’t care for and are just trying to help out of forced obligation, then just leave him alone. But it doesn’t seem that way.

I don’t know OP. Just seems like you are trying to high road with the “well I tried attitude”, and sure being in a different country makes things way more difficult, but we do have phones and the internet now, and just talking to someone may be what he needs. Dont try and give him advice, just listen. Just listen to his problems for as long as you can stomach them. He’ll ask for advice if he wants it. Good luck

>wah wah he won't conform and chain himself to some fucking job to chase useless material gains like the rest of us

salute this mans brother

>my family should live according to me superior values
Cope. No wonder he left

>>18216298
>>18216331
>>18220086
>>18220086
>>18220086

>>18216298
he seems based and you a faggot tbqh

>>18217448
>Perhaps it's an American thing because I could never imagine just abandoning family. You're blood for Christ's sake. You stick together. I have some family members, cousins, etc that I don't like. But I put up with it because we're family.
idk man there must be some things one just cannot put up with sometimes

>>18216298
>book to help my faggot older brother
remove the beam from your eye, first.

>>18219602
I agree with this

People are giving you a hard time OP, but I get it. It's easy for all of them to talk down to you without being in this situation.

I have a relative in a very similar situation to your brother, except instead of a victim complex they have a discipline problem they spin as a "I just have authority issues because I'm a rebel". They go about larping as a "mighty Pagan" and, if you try to talk to them about stuff, they shut you out and begin spouting blogspot tier "facts" and history. It's a tough situation and certainly not your fault. Anyone who says it is is likely projecting because they match your brother's description.

My recommendation would be Meditations. It's short, fairly simple, and decently interesting. It doesn't throw walls of convoluted text at you while still remaining meaningful. Good luck, anon, and I wish your brother luck as well.

>>18220477
>these other fags dont understand how hard it is to be better than your brother, but i understand you OP
what causes such brainless myopia

if you aren't interested in helping your brother except as a salve for your own conscience, what the FUCK are you doing. fuck off.

let me clarify: i know you may think you are correct. AND THAT MAY EVEN BE THE CASE.

but you stupid fucks are still casting judgment before offering your "help" to a family member. you preening callous dumbfucks dont even know where to begin to help. you dont know the first thing about what's wrong with your brothers, and would be better off staying silent or offering the consolation of your company without stupid gimmick retard books you dont even understand yourselves. fucking retards why are you so stupid.

>>18216447
> feeding slacker leeches empathy and attention
Anon, I...

>>18216298
Your brother is probably schizophrenic and you should send him some aripiprazole, not a fucking book

>>18216936
Quit being a useless neet and do something with your life instead of being a mopey fuck. You did this to yourself, you can undo it to yourself.

>>18220489
>NOOO YOU CANT RELATE TO SOMEONE
Keep crying you pathetic neet. You are the only one to blame for your shitty life choices.

>>18220561
I don't really see the issue with someone pretending to be a "mighty pagan" or whatever else. It's a bit cringe but totally harmless.

>>18220561
thanks for proving my point asshole. i dont give a fuck about your brother or his cringe pagan fantasies. he ought to come to Jesus. but you're actually worse than him because you don't know how to help someone but want to try anyone purely as an exercise in helping yourself. fuck you cuntgoblin you deserve everything you get.

>>18216331
Based
>>18216298
Cringe

Nothing wrong with being a slacker.

Your brother doesn't need a book, he needs therapy.

>>18217461
>He sounds like the sort who lacks introspection,
I'm the same as OP's brother and spend most of my time on introspection. Doesn't help at all.

>>18220552
>Quit being a useless neet
Why?
>do something
But I don't want to. I'm fine like this.
What is it with normalcunts and projection?

>>18217166
>We're all responsible for our families even if we never asked for that responsibility.
I reject this premise.

Henlo, OP here. This thread has been a riot. Just to address a few things one more time:
>You don't actually care about him, you just want to feel good
No. I don't really care about him but still feel that I should do something nice for him. This isn't about me.
>You have to call him
Didn't read the thread. He won't be receptive to me offering him advice and he clearly has no interest in chatting it up with me (as he's made no effort to do so). He's a big boy and it's not my job to shoulder his bullshit.
>Stop judging him!!!
Why? It seems perfectly rational to assess someone's situation.
>Yea ur a fag op your brother is cool and rebellious
Nothing cool about being poor because you're addicted to buying useless garbage and having to ask your parents for money.
>Heh, clearly children of divorce
No. The rest of my family is swell.
>You owe him!
Why??? Like I said, he's been an adult for much longer than I have. I had nothing to do with creating his mess of a life. You NEET faggots really think I should be sending him money or some shit? Time to be a grown up and stop blaming others for your retarded decisions.
>NO YOU HAVE TO CALL HIM!!!!!
Read the thread, this won't do anything. He'd probably end up pulling retarded advice out of his ass for me.

Fun time, bros. Always entertaining to strike a nerve.

>>18220963
Allow me to take this to the extreme with a personal story.
>dad knocks up a Mongolian prostitute
>she is literally a prostitute and literally Mongolian, as in they "met" in Mongolia
>she pops out a baby
>he marries her and brings her to America
>I get out of the army, move back in with my dad
>his "wife" is a raging alcoholic
>cops are called to the house at least once a month
>on one occasion she strips naked and runs around propositioning people in our ritzy, gated apartment complex
>my little half brother watches her through the window
>another time she gets really drunk and asks me to fuck her
>I decline and move out as soon as I can
>fast forward 5 or 6 years
>my dad is at the end of his life, heavily implying that he wants me to take care of his son and his alcoholic, Mongolian prostitute wife as if it's my duty to clean up after his mistakes
What do you guys think? Do I have a moral obligation in this case? They're both technically family.

>>18221000
KEK no wtf. I don't understand where all this familial mysticism comes from. You have no obligation to eternally support (or even tolerate) your family members and their retarded decisions.

>>18220998
You sound like a slightly higher functioning version of the way you described him. You are not interested in helping him. Just leave him alone and go on with your life.

>>18221000
The best way to fulfil this obligation would be to take the child and run.

>>18216298
Motivation Manifesto, Brendon Burchard

>>18221000
In this situation I'd say you have zero obligation to your whore stepmother and a half obligation to your Mongolbro. Best thing to do would be to either raise your brother yourself or arrange for non-retarded relatives to do so. I wish this was a real scenario.

>>18221023
I'm not revealing more info about either myself or him.

>>18221074
I wouldn't believe it either if it wasn't actually a part of my life. I glossed over the timeline a little but everything in that greentext actually and unironically happened.

>>18221000
Take care of your half brother. Teach him to be an unrepentant racist and hate the Jews for the hellworld he was born into.

>>18221086
Jesus Christ lmao. How retarded is (was) your dad for MARRYING AND IMPORTING a Mongolian hooker??? How's she now? What about your little brother. Sometimes reality really is stranger than fiction.

I think OP struck a nerve in here and most are projecting. You're not entitled to help. Ask for it sincerely and it may be granted.

As for a book
>Dying Inside - Robert Silverberg
>A Scanner Darkly - PKD

Though those choices may require self-awareness on his part, which you've made clear he doesn't have

>>18216665
Of course not, why should anyone be held responsible for anyone else's actions ever? Doing so would go against the American Way™

>>18216298
>I care very little for him
>haven't even spoken to him in years
>can rest easy with the knowledge that I tried to help.
I won't larp like I know your situation entirely. But why even bother if it's so half-hearted? If you don't care, don't do anything. If you do, do, but meaningfully.
This book meme just sounds like a cop-out cope to avoid guilt.

>>18221151
He's the smartest person I've ever known by far, but he also makes some of the worst decisions. I've never asked him what his decision making process was because I don't really care. He left my life when I was twelve or so, and a big part of why I moved in with him was to get to know him. I don't talk to him anymore.

>>18216957

Not unless he wants to reinforce his behavior. Ignatius was an incredibly based NEET.

>>18216331
family isnt a value in and of itself

>>18221460
Jewish hands wrote this post.

>>18221488
>1488

>>18216298
Since you clearly don't actually care about helping him just send him any self-help book or some stoic literature like Meditations.

>>18216298

You realize you share the same genes with your brother right?
You look at him now and you see a loser but what you should really see is an alternate timeline version of yourself

>>18216298
way too specific of a promp for book recomendation, didn't happened

>>18217186
>he doesn't really like me
I wonder why lmao

>>18216766
>Yea mate you're right I should just forget he exists and do nothing to try and help him.
you are basically doing this already, you said yourself you don't even think he's gonna read, undertsandably so, people have trouble reading book they've been planning to read, let alone a thick philosophical text send through the mail.
You are only doing this so that you can tell yourself that you tried and so you don't have to blae yourself if he continues to fuck up his life

>>18220998
>Fun time, bros. Always entertaining to strike a nerve.
Kek, OP thinks he wasn't the one who was seething the whole time, fun thread

Any books on dealing with anti-hoarding mentality? Figured I'd ask here instead of making a new thread. I get disgusted with shit just lying around my house if I'm not using it fully so I sell it off, even if I don't need the money. Like I can't stand things lingering about being unused, causes me anxiety.

>>18221000
To your whorish stepmom, no. To your father, yes. To your little stepbrother, yes.

>>18221803
This is a healthy mentality to have.

>>18221950
It doesn't seem healthy. sometimes I'll rebuy the same item sometime later because I realize I need/want it again.

>>18221960
Nevermind then. I don't know any books but perhaps out of sight out of mind would help.

>>18216298
fuck u and brother in ass.

>>18216298
Your brother seems to be on the right track.
Never forget, the current reality of this world for most people is just a dumb casino, and withdrawal, depression and not partaking in the clown show is the correct course of action.
You would never convince a medieval noble that hard farm work or cleaning your own room brings meaning to life, because it doesn't.

Just cope more.

>>18221803
I have a simple rule, if I haven't used something in 2 years I throw it away, and it's non essential (documents or shit like this), and it's easily replaceable if I need another one, I just get rid of it.
90% of trash laying around me here is like this.

>>18222025
>withdrawal, depression and not partaking in the clown show is the correct course of action.
Why?
And are you talking about askesis or just being a NEET?

>>18222029
>thermometer
>plunger
Two things off the top of my head I haven’t used since 2018 that I would not throw away

from what you've described, i doubt he's going to read

my suggestion to you is get him interested in existential activities

>>18216593
>I want to send it anonymously because I don't want this to be about me at all. I genuinely just want to help him.

>>18216298
>In all truth I care very little for him... I feel that it would only be right to extent him one final act of brotherly kindness... but at least I can rest easy with the knowledge that I tried to help.

What you actually feel is guilt for abandoning your struggling brother, you don't feel "sorry for him." Abandoning him IS selfish and you clearly aren't helping him because it would be difficult and unrewarding to you personally. You've got the Western mindset of personal success as the only goalpost for success in life. Your own brain is telling you this is wrong by making you feel guilt, but you won't accept it.

>>18222081
But if you needed to throw those away to clear space you can easily replace them. Also I wouldn't really count those all that much because they don't tend to take up too much space.

>>18222053
Asceticism is just torturing yourself. If we must speak in philosophico/religious terms, I'm talking about the middle path.

>>18221488

Guys what can we do to help the man that made this thread?

>>18221000
>>another time she gets really drunk and asks me to fuck her
At least she asked you.

My sister (one fat bastard) and my cousin forced themselves on my 9 year old self and I physically cringe everytime people mention sex like as if I was an autist.

now they're with my grandma (a continent away), mooching her off, everyone having a happy life while I'm insecure of myself (thanks to years of bullying + the rape + family putting too much shit on my shoulders) and now my I have to deal with the fact that I have to pay for my own education, health care, this and that while I don't have a job because everyone else is literally just too 'occupied' with their own lives but when they need money, they ask me, and if I say no, I'm getting my ass beat by my dad who loves saying that he did years on Muay Thai and BJJ.

God knows that if I don't get into college (Changed continents after my last year on school, so had to wait a year to get the document necessary to apply for the exam we have to do before college.) I'm killing myself.

>>18222102
OP BTFO

OP's brother is a loser, but OP is himself an unbelievably conceited, arrogant shithead. What family you have. How terrible were your parents to raise two awful sons?

>>18217166
>if you're only going to paint a small portion of the picture then of course you're going to get answers that don't apply to the situation

Women in a single sentence. It's a myth that men do not understand women it is entirely due to the behavior outlined above.

>>18222102
This. OP admitted he doesn't give a shit about his brother and feels guilty about it, this whole thing is just an egotistical wank job so he can feel less guilty about being a self-centered twat. Unfortunately there's no book that will help him, either with his brother problem or with his titanic ego, he read the Bible he'd probably think it was his own autobiography.

>>18222185
I read all of this. I just want to let you know that, if you keep going, and if you do your best to stay away from them, you will be able to make something of yourself. You should also learn how to defend yourself as soon as possible.

>>18219655
where was this implied?

>>18216298
One final act of brotherly kindness would be sparing him from the pain of listening to you.

I'm in a similar position as you. My brother is a degenerate homosexual who primarily cares about his own pleasure and ego. He is filled with spite and judging from his constant complaining, it seems like he is suffering everyday and dislikes his life.
Just like what Heraclitus says "Character is fate." You may help people, but if you can't help them, you should just wish them well.

>>18220561
>>18220552
>You are the only one to blame for your shitty life choices
Nope.

>>18219977
LARP, also IQ isn't an accurate representation of intelligence. You can have an IQ of 160 and still be a NEET.

>>18222878
>Still a NEET
Implying that it is somehow bad to be a NEET and being integrated into society is good.

Faggots by Larry Kramer

>>18222117
You mean Buddhism?

>>18222977
I'm so glad I took the NEET pill

>>18222977
Being neet is just the slightly less bad option in a bunch of terrible options. It's all just coping. Life is 99% luck. You don't choose your genetics, your family, where you are born, how rich you are, your talents. Nobody really chooses to be a wagie or a neet so talking about which one is better and who is 'winning' is absurd because really everyone is losing and just doing what they have to because they are too scared to hang themselves.

>>18222977
If neets are so adept at "taking it easy," why are they some of the most high-strung, argumentative people on the internet?

>>18223325
>some of the most high-strung, argumentative people on the internet?
You're describing wagies (during their breaks)

>>18222849
who's the kid and why aren't you posting anne frank instead what are you a denier

>>18222977
but it's painful to be a leech

>>18223325
jokes on you, I will just insult anyone who disagrees with me and move on

>>18216298
>pic unrelated

What a long thread...

1) I understand what you mean about the non receptivity. I agree that call/reaching whatever won't have any effects. Then, mind your logistics so he does not find out that you are the one sending the book.

2) I didn't read the whole thread, but my suggestion is to not overthink on the book itself. I think the sole fact of receiving a book mysteriously will be impactful enough. Moreover, I'd recommend doing it more than just once. Like once every 2/3 months.

3) More on "the content doesn't matter", I think you can't push some hard shit on him. Push something he may enjoy and that he is likely to read. Like, on one hand I like 'the catcher in the rye' and 'metamorphosis', but it is not for everyone and I definitely wasn't ready to read'em when they were first introduced to me.

4) I know deep down you love your brother and feel powerless for not understanding how to help. A mixed soup of anger, powerlessness, sadness, and guilty. You are cute <3. Hope お兄ちゃん gets better after reading your book.

>>18223508
Not really disproving my point but okay

>>18223509
>I think the sole fact of receiving a book mysteriously will be impactful enough. Moreover, I'd recommend doing it more than just once. Like once every 2/3 months.
>Hello, police? I just received another package. This is the fifth time. I don't know who they're from, I don't know what's in them, and I don't want to open them myself. I'm afraid that I have some kind of stalker, or someone who is out to get me.

>>18217984
>there are no bad jobs
only in America Jesus Christ. oh yeah, I am sure you can exercise virtues and your passions and reach your telos as a fucking Walmart greeter. I hate what this country has become. Al Gini and Vaclav Havel would weep at reading this pledge.

>>18224223
It's what happens when there are literally no meaningful intellectual institutions on your side.

>>18217149
Blessed post.

>>18223517
retard

>>18216298
a book wont do shit, and no matter what you buy for him, you will NEVER stop feeling guilt. it's best to just focus on you normalnigger life instead of soiling my board with this filth of a thread

are you by chance a woman? please kill yourself bpd whore

>>18223517
I just really enjoy stirring up controversy to force people to dig themselves deeper into their own belief frameworks so they can take it to it's logical conclusion.
>>18223479
It is.
That's why I never took a single cent from the government of my parents.
I work for a year and NEET for 4.

>>18223479
4u

>>18225767
>I work for a year and NEET for 4.
Your job must pay pretty well because even with living frugally and not having to pay rent my annual wage is not enough to live on for 4 years.

>>18226816
yeah gay prostitute

>>18226816
Yeah gay prostitue.
Also I'm an Eastern Euro where minimum wage is 400$. And I get paid 2100$ in a western euro country.
It's enough for rent, food, internet, gym and gas.

>>18222849
>>18223401
thats a girl whos father was an absolute psycho with a fear of noise so he strictly made it so everyone in the house had to be silent and has for the crying child whos pseudonym is gene, he strapped her to a chair for 13 years and kept her locked up. she never learnt how to walk properly or speak. doctors and researches have taught her very rudimentary language skills and i think shes still alive kept in a home somewhere.

>>18228646
And I'm using it to illustrate how much parental input during your early years matters.
If you're not functioning it's not your fault. Blame your parents. They owe you for raping you into existence.

>>18216298
Mein kampf

>>18217448
>Meditations and Doscourses
I think Seneca’s Letters from a Stoic are better primers to stoicism/general mindful living than those, but all are good.

Letters from a Stoic is my rec to OP, especially “On the Shortness of Life”

>>18224941
Keep fuming neet

>>18228944
using your precious break time to shitpost, wagie?

>>18221488
holy checked

>>18229007
>keeps posting
>NO I'M NOT A PISSY LITTLE BABY I'M LAID BACK I'M LAID BACK

>>18229528
seethe

>>18216298
I'm late to the party here, OP I think that if you want to impact his life in any way you should write a letter to him. Ask yourself hot thoughts become actions and see if you can ask him about that, there has to be SOMETHING he knows about.

You can never be sure about people, maybe you two even manage to form a friendship that benefits the two of you mutually and simultaneously?

>>18229539
you too

>>18229590
cope

>>18229594
>>18229539
cringe

>>18216298
Just to rule it out, but is your brother autistic or suspected of being autistic?

>>18216298
He doesn't need a book. He needs to have a series of thoughtful, productive, mature, and enjoyable conversations with his brother. If you aren't willing to do that, then why bother at all?

Little Women. It is a novel centered around wholesome, everyday, family life. That or The Prophet by Khalil Gibran. Or Meditations by Marcus Aurelius, the section Debts and Lessons is particularly good imo.

>>18216331
fpbp
Kill yourself faggot OP, you're the real failure.

>>18216632
Your way of helping your brother is fucking retarded and autistic. Don't get upset when people call you out on it because it sounds like you're in no position to help anyone.

>>18216298
memories, dreams, reflections

sounds like an odd recommendation given the circumstance but i honestly think reading into the life of an incredible man, and showing the tragedies he faced along the way, could help your brother

>>18229629
sneed

>>18216298
Op is a snitch

for some reason i decided to make the picture (to my taste) slightly better and for some reason i also decided to post it. enjoy. long live dan herzfeldt

>>18232664
good job

>>18228745
>If you're not functioning it's not your fault. Blame your parents
this is where you've exposed yourself as being a moronic untermensch well done anon. you make every choice in your life. you are simply choosing not to function correctly.

>>18232687
>you make every choice in your life
Source?

>>18232697
You're right, there is no source. There is no free will. It's impossible. Between our genetics and social conditioning we are just ants. (I am not sarcastic)

>>18232687
Do I choose to experience immense dread when talking to my parents?
Halfway blacking out due to stress when women approach me?

>>18216298
I obviously don’t know the details of you and your brother’s relationship but I doubt an anonymous book would do anything. If you’re able to muster up the concern for someone you care for but are disgusted by, then simply talk to him. It will probably be awkward and feel worthless but it’s the right thing to do. It’s up to you to decide how much effort of your’s your brother deserves.

I was in a similar situation a year or so ago. My grandmother’s health was failing at an increasing rate. My mother (her daughter) was distressed by this but was so busy that she had little time to spend with her dying mother. My mom didn’t want her mom to spend her last days alone in a nursing home so she asked me if I could visit her throughout the week. I initially avoided giving an answer because that was the last thing I wanted to do. I eventually said yes because I knew it was the right thing and that I would regret not doing it.

So I saw her 3 times a week for about 3 months. My sister was also asked, she continuously ducked the obligation. I never knew my grandma that well because her Alzheimer’s set in when I was young. It was very severe now and she could hardly hold a conversation. She was feeble, and to say it plainly, disgusting. But I nonetheless kept her company for 3 hours a week and I could tell she enjoyed talking to me.

What in the moment was slight discomfort and boredom was eventually the long-term satisfaction that I was able to do what was right when no one else could. Is this not the basic lesson in any moral teaching? Resist what is self-gratifying in the short term for what is good in the bigger picture.

What you’re going to do is your decision but know how you act at this junction will be a ripple effect passing through the rest of your life. That effect (in the form of recurring, largely unconscious, thought patterns) will be positive or negative depending on how you proceed here.

>>18221000
Sounds like a complicated situation. I don’t think there’s enough context for me to make a confident suggestion. Use your best judgment, know there may be no “correct” solution in this case.

>>18217802
this playlist interests me, anon - i'm liking what i've listened to so far

>>18232809
>women approach him
ok chad

>>18216298
Send him some zinc supplements and a copy of Bronze Age Mindset

Ffs is this thread still active?

>>18232936
And yet I'm a virgin at 25.
It can't possibly be my fault that my mind is gone.

>>18216848
>These people are like this because they lack reality in their lives
This should be 4chan's subtitle

>>18216331
Actually I need to take a shower because the first thing after I wake up is jerking off :)

>>18223325
Because most NEETs are coping. To find a truly free NEET is about as common as finding someone who kills himself for an aesthetic or transcendent purpose.

>>18225037
>>18228332
>tranime

>>18216593
Don't send the book anonymously, send it with your name attached. Don't explain anything tho

>>18216298
Send him 12 RFL and a note that says “Clean your room, bucko”