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A curated reading list of the most essential books of and about existentialism, including the writings of Sartre, Heidegger, and Kierkegaard.
- The Stranger by Albert Camus. The writings of Albert Camus are the premier oeuvre of existentialist literature. The Stranger follows the story of a regular guy, Meursault, who is unintentionally drawn into a murder on an Algerian beach.
- Being and Nothingness by Jean-Paul Charles Sartre. Novelist, playwright, and biographer Jean-Paul Sartre is considered by many to be one of the greatest and most profound philosophers of the 20th century.
- Thus Spoke Zarathustra: A Book for All and None by Frederich Nietzsche. Zarathustra is Friedrich Nietzsche’s absolute masterpiece. An influential philosophical work that would go on to inspire some of the greatest minds of the 20th century and will continue to do so for many years to come.
- The Trial by Franz Kafka. Written sometime in 1914, while Franz Kafka still believed himself to be a failure of a writer – this book would not be published until 1925, a year after Kafka had died.
- The Metamorphosis. by Franz Kafka. The Metamorphosis tackles startlingly realistic themes of alienation, responsibility and personal identity, considering the absurdity of its plotline.
- The Picture of Dorian Gray. by Oscar Wilde. The Picture of Dorian Gray began as a criticism of aestheticism, carried almost entirely by Gray's vanity and image, but quickly spirals into what could be interpreted as more of a horror story.
- The Stranger. by Albert Camus. The Stranger acts to ridicule structure. Like in many of his writings, Camus uses The Stranger to display the lack of meaning and order displayed by human lives, which we attempt to rationalise with self-imposed order.
- The Bell Jar. by Sylvia Plath. The Bell Jar is not advertised as an autobiograhy, but largely frames Plath's experience with depression and suicidal idealisations.
Jun 2, 2013 · The best books on Existentialism. recommended by Sarah Bakewell. Existentialist philosophy isn't about bringing despair and angst into our lives, it's about discovering our inner freedom, explains Sarah Bakewell, the author of At the Existentialist Café: Freedom, Being, and Apricot Cocktails. She recommends books to learn more about existentialism.
Nov 21, 2023 · In my opinion, the makings of the best books on existentialism are either their legacy as source material, their cultural impact on thought, and their evolution of the original philosophy into a new thought, such as absurdism.
Existentialist literature is a genre that explores the meaning and purpose of human existence, often through the lens of individual experience and subjective perception. These books often delve into themes of freedom, choice, and responsibility, and may challenge traditional notions of morality and societal norms.
Jun 1, 2018 · Here, the philosopher Jonathan Webber discusses five classic books dealing with existentialist themes that deserve a bigger audience. Interview by Nigel Warburton. Rethinking Existentialism.
