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/lit/ - Literature

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2898147 No.2898147[DELETED]  [Reply] [Original]

Hey /lit/,
I want to understand life. I feel like I don't know how to live well. Escapism and the pursuit of pleasure, wealth and property, morality and conduct, these things frustrate me. Any suggestions of books that you feel are helpful in these matters? I think some insight would help, but perhaps I'm just a coward that can't make decisions without affirmation. I don't have any concrete goals, I just want to be an excellent human being.

>> No.2898163 [DELETED] 

don't listen to the nihilists

that's all i can say

>> No.2898167

>>2898147
solipsism

>> No.2898177

le secret stoner XD

>> No.2898240

Start by going outside and getting a job.

>> No.2898243
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2898243

Why, hello there, young man!

>> No.2898270

>>2898163
Do nihilists have anything compelling to say?
>>2898240
I have a full time job.

I apologize if my question is too broad or juvenile to post decent book recommendations. If that's the case then I suppose I'll just delete it.

>> No.2898274

>>2898270
I don't think you've stated your question with enough clarity.

>> No.2898279

>>2898147
Op, what if the frustration is not meant to go away, nor is there any kind of objective "good life"?

>> No.2898296

Read The Stranger by Albert Camus.

>> No.2898294

>>2898147

GRAVITY'S RAINBOW

PROBLEM SOLVED

>> No.2898300

>>2898274
This. What kind of problems do you have OP?

>> No.2898375

>>2898279
I don't really know what I'd do then.
>>2898296
Thanks.
>>2898294
I don't know anything about the book you're recommending, but your use of capitalization arouses my suspicion.
>>2898300
I can't claim to have any problems. I'm in good health and have steady employment. When I'm not at work I simply don't know what to do with myself. I only know how to engage in escapism. I feel as if I distract myself with work, then sleep or distract myself with amusements until it's time to work again. Being in between is unbearable. I feel as if I'm avoiding life, but when I try and face it I don't even know what it is I should be facing. Sometimes I think of living an ascetic lifestyle, not because it's a good way to live, but simply to see what I'd do with myself if I had nothing.

>> No.2898379

>>2898375

I CANNOT HELP THE CAPSLOCK SIR

CONSIDER IT A DISEASE OF SORTS

>> No.2898384

>>2898375
Do you read? The 20th century novels deal extensively with this kind of meaningless-ness of life.

>> No.2898423

>>2898384
Then I'll read some of the recommended 20th century novels on the wiki, thanks.

>> No.2898438

Hesse might help, Siddhartha and Steppenwolf in particular.

>> No.2898494

Marcus Aurelius - Meditations

and

Baltasar Gracian - The Art of Worldly Wisdom

and

Linus Torvalds - Just For Fun

and lesser

Kevin Mitnick - Ghost in the wires

(and for some laughs about a ridiculous religion, read Malcolm X's autobiography, especially that part where he visits Africa and all the "proper" Muslims imply how retarded his religion is)

are some of the books about life in general, or rather some blue-prints on how to live life, that I highly enjoyed.

>> No.2898497

>>2898494
Continued: I highly support Hesse's Siddharta as mentioned above, Steppenwolf not so much.