The Metamorphosis is a book written by Franz Kafka published in 1915. It has been called one of the seminal works of fiction of the 20th century. The story begins with a traveling salesman, Gregor Samsa, who wakes up to find himself transformed (metamorphosed) into a giant insect. In German, “ungeheuren Ungeziefer”, roughly “monstrous vermin”.Continue reading “Book Review: The Metamorphosis – Franz Kafka”
Category Archives: Philosophy
Friedrich Nietzsche – 10 Key Ideas
In this post we’ll briefly explore ten of Nietzsche’s key ideas as an introduction to Nietzsche’s philosophy. One of the most revolutionary thinkers in Western philosophy and intellectual history as well as a cultural critic of his era, mainly of religion and morality. 1. Apollonian & Dionysian Nietzsche discusses these two opposing forces in TheContinue reading “Friedrich Nietzsche – 10 Key Ideas”
Book Review: The Gay Science – Nietzsche
The Gay Science is one of Nietzsche’s most beautiful and important books. He describes it as “the most personal of all his books”. When inquired on why he chose this title to his book, he wrote in a letter: “As for the title ‘Gay Science’, I thought only of the gaya scienza of the troubadoursContinue reading “Book Review: The Gay Science – Nietzsche”
Book Review: Nausea – Jean Paul Sartre
Jean Paul Sartre’s first novel, Nausea, gave a name for existential angst. He considered it as one of his best works. It is a philosophical novel with existentialist vibes, that delves into the pure absurdity of the world with Sartre’s wild imagination and explores the randomness and superfluity of the world. Everything that we takeContinue reading “Book Review: Nausea – Jean Paul Sartre”
Book Review: The Antichrist – Nietzsche
The Antichrist was written in 1888 one year before Nietzsche’s descent into madness and immediately after his Twilight of the Idols. Both books should be read under the aspect of the last words of his final original book, his autobiography Ecce Homo: “Dionysus against the Crucified.” The German title can be translated as either “TheContinue reading “Book Review: The Antichrist – Nietzsche”
Book Review: Fear and Trembling – Kierkegaard
Fear and Trembling is a book by Søren Kierkegaard written under the pseudonym Johannes de silentio. Kierkegaard is famous for having multiple pseudonyms. The purpose of this is not to confuse the reader, but rather to make him come up with his own conclusions. The subtitle of the book is Dialectical Lyric. That is toContinue reading “Book Review: Fear and Trembling – Kierkegaard”
Book Review: Meditations – Marcus Aurelius
The Meditations by Marcus Aurelius written around 2000 years ago, remains one of the great works of spiritual and ethical reflection. It is perhaps the only document of its kind ever made, the private thoughts of the world’s most powerful man. With a profound understanding of human behaviour, Marcus provides insights, wisdom, and practical guidanceContinue reading “Book Review: Meditations – Marcus Aurelius”
Book Review: Twilight of the Idols – Nietzsche
In 1888, the last sane year of Nietzsche’s life, he produced two brief but devastating books: Twilight of the Idols and The Anti-Christ. Originally titled The Idle Hours of a Psychologist, it was renamed Twilight of the Idols or, How to Philosophise with a Hammer by recommendation of Peter Gast, who urged him to findContinue reading “Book Review: Twilight of the Idols – Nietzsche”
Book Review: The Stranger – Albert Camus
L’Étranger, The Stranger or The Outsider, is a 1942 novel by French author Albert Camus. Though it is a work of fiction, it is often cited as an example of Camus’ philosophy of Absurdism. The Stranger has had a profound impact on millions of readers. Through the story of an ordinary man unwittingly drawn intoContinue reading “Book Review: The Stranger – Albert Camus”
Existentialism Explained
What is the meaning of life? It is likely that you have asked yourself this question before, this is known as an existential crisis. A state in which you re-examine your life in the context of death and are impacted by the contemplation of the meaning, purpose, or value of life. Existentialism is a philosophyContinue reading “Existentialism Explained”