Every philosophy library should have this book. We've compiled a list of six timeless existential classics that everyone should read.

Book 1: The Myth of Sisyphus

Author: Albert Camus, Category: Existentialist Philosophy, Essays, Philosophy of Ethics & Morality

‘The Myth of Sisyphus’ is unquestionably a classic in philosophical literature. It is thoroughly an eye-opening and idealistic work with many ideas that a curious mind would find intriguing.

Camus's tenacious search for veracity leads him to the foundation for metaphysical inquiry that he called ‘Absurd Philosophy.’ He elegantly shows the nature of absurdity in this book. This specific phrase ‘the absurd’ is used to search for meaning in modern life that he diligently describes throughout the book with the examples of what the absurd hero might be. This book is a collection of philosophical writings that explores the ‘Philosophy of the Absurd’ and how it relates to humanity's desire for purpose in life and the irrationality and hollowness of the world. He eloquently argues for a life which you live in pursuit of your most satisfying potential. His exegesis on the absurdist philosophy begins with a meditation on suicide, namely, the question of whether life is worth living if the cosmos is devoid of order or significance. Accepting life's absurdity and denying hope for a future existence are the only possibilities for living with freedom, according to the book. The author has encapsulated much of the modern world's interior turmoil. When a person starts to examine his mundane reality, looking for significance in his daily activities but failing to find any, he will come to contemplate that void. This analeptic book is for every skeptic, who is grappling with life's meaning.

It tells us to never give in to external disappointments or try to run away from setbacks; instead, we should embrace failures as we receive our triumphs. Most importantly, we must never give up until we reach our full potential, no matter how much we lose in our pursuit. This is a must-read for anyone interested in finding the meaning of life at present. When you finish this book, you will feel sprightly and a sense of emancipation will intertwine with your life. In today's world of coronavirus, this is quite important. It demonstrates how worthless and pointless life is when the entire globe is brought to a halt by a single virus.

‘The Myth of Sisyphus’ is thus a declaration of the author’s belief that you should be conscious of the world’s absurdity while living your life.

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Book 2: The Stranger 

Author: Albert Camus, Category: French Literature, Classic American Literature, Classic Literature & Fiction

The novel explores the concept of existentialism and individualism from a philosophical perspective. It's also a mirror that reflects the state of society, which is beyond comprehension. Its themes of absurdity in an existential world have made it a timeless classic.

The conceptual ideas of absurdity and existentialism that Camus espouses are evident throughout the novel. The vain endeavor by humans to impose meaning and rationality on a meaningless and irrational reality is referred to as absurdity. The protagonist of this novel ‘Meursault’ exemplifies this philosophy through his actions and thoughts.

His nature demonstrates his preoccupation with the physical world, displaying no emotion. According to him, pretending to be successful is pointless because nothing survives death. Perhaps through this novel, the author is attempting to expose the voidness of society as a whole, where the meaning of life is entwined into the foundation of social context. If someone does not conform to societal norms, they will be regarded as insane or dangerous. To seek the purpose of one's own existence, while respecting one's own freedom as well as the freedom of others with whom one comes into contact, without sacrificing how this is feasible in a society where we have taken for granted. Every one of us carries a stranger within us, and it is our human obligation to hold him at the back or make sure we know him well enough not to set him free on others. The author’s universe is nonsensical, but it is relaxing in its bleakness.

Thus, this novel is worth reading whether you want to learn more about Camus's ideas on absurdity and existentialism or simply want to escape reality for a while. You will get the sensation of encountering someone who is virtually brutal but also an exact representation of humankind, prioritizing his own well-being over the well-being of others.

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Book 3: The Plague

Author: Albert Camus, Category: French Literature, Classic Literature & Fiction, Psychological Fiction

‘The Plague’ is regarded as one of Camus's best works. Here, he outlines the specific ramifications of an epidemic on people's mental health and lives. This beautiful work will have a ginormous impact as the Corona pandemic is still fresh in people's thoughts.

A fantastic piece of literature that is relevant not just to the current world that is afflicted with the plague, but also to all eras in human history, for, as the saying goes, plague never truly goes away. In this high-quality piece, the plague's spread and devastation are depicted in tiny aspects, with some portions having a terrifying realism. The novel revolves around Camus's absurdist philosophy. From terror to the almost unbearable agony of solitude and death, the author examines the rise of human emotions. The argument extends beyond the physical consequences of the plague into the metaphysical territory, with the awareness that each of us bears the disease of unjustness and cruelty within us. He emphasizes the individual's incapacity to change his fate in an uncaring environment. Here he considers the plague as a symbol of the unpredictability of human suffering - crises, illness, torture, and death that can strike at any time. He focuses on how people react to disasters individually and collectively. He also delves deep into the human mind, exposing the temporary and permanent changes that occur in individuals and society as a whole under such a situation. Within Camus's philosophy, the most significant action is to choose to combat death and suffering. That is the existential vulnerability with which we as humans have to contend throughout history.

Thus, it is an excellent book to read amid a real-life outbreak. The number of analogies that can be rooted out is mind-boggling.

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Book 4: Nausea

Author: Jean-Paul Sartre, Category: French Literature, Existentialist Philosophy, Classic American Literature

The existentialist novel ‘Nausea’ is a masterpiece. It covers all of existentialism's major issues and gives a good picture of Sartre's outlook on life. It's a remarkable philosophical essay and, in my opinion, one of the best existentialist explanations of all time.

It's an existentialist philosophical work that goes into the universe's pure absurdity with Sartre's fanatical imagination and analyzes of randomness and superfluity of the world. He explains the meaninglessness of life by imbuing it with ‘meaning’ and the contingency of life by expressing it through the necessity of a work of art. Sartre's theory is wonderfully explained through the ordinary lives of his protagonist, who is exasperated by plaster saints. These whited sepulcher around him living with forged instinct and hackneyed conception of the universe fills him with nausea, prompting him to ponder several existentialist questions: what it means to be free, what it means to be human, what it means to be able to look at and be looked at by other people, what it means to be in time, what it means to be in history, to attempt to impose some sort of notion. Nausea makes you aware of your surroundings and gives you a great deal of freedom. It assigns its complete significance to reality. After a long and arduous journey, he finally recognizes that his life has no purpose unless he defines himself by his principles and ambitions. He discovers this in literature and believes that writing can emancipate him from his pointless life.

Overall, the fundamental essence of the book ‘Nausea’ is a genuine realization of anxiety and existential dread feelings. It is a must-read classic that serves as a portal into the realm of thinking that attempts to address life's most pressing issues.

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Book 5: The Metamorphosis

Author: Franz Kafka, Category: Classic Literature & Fiction

Franz Kafka’s novella 'The Metamorphosis’ revolves around existentialist ideas and the concept of absurdity in life. The use of specific examples from his own life, as well as his pro-suicide views, makes this an influential masterpiece.

‘The Metamorphosis’ tells the narrative of Gregor Samsa's transformation and how it causes his family to fall apart. It dives deeper into issues such as isolation and absurdism that drove Kafka to write such a deep and dark work.No matter how much others say to love your spirit, your physical form is all you have in this world. The symbols and analogies are simple to understand and follow. Besides, it reflects how capitalism consumes its workers when they are unable to work as well as talk about those alienated people who deviate from the societal norm. The novel has so many different feelings that it can be overwhelming for you. When you read his writings, you'll notice that Kafka cared deeply about the plight of ordinary people who are compelled to suffer indefinitely due to the social system's corruption. He eloquently penned down the reality of modern life, and anyone, even now, may connect to his writing. His stories are still current. The majority of ordinary people can relate to his characters and stories.

Thus, the story's thorough presentation, as well as the contemporary circumstances depicted, keep readers engaged until the climax.

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Book 6: Crime and Punishment (Dover Thrift Editions: Classic Novels)

Author: Fyodor Dostoyevsky, Category: Russian Literary Criticism, Classic Literature & Fiction, Literary Fiction

Dostoevsky's most traditional novel ‘Crime and Punishment’ is a literary crime fiction. His work's beauty and charm stem mostly from his honest and actual portrayal of human psychology.

This novel is indubitably a piece of art. It is the archetypal crime thriller, with not only an intriguing storyline but also an extraordinarily well-developed setting and characters. It's a novel about a mind that knows no limitations. This work genuinely plays with the mind and demonstrates how hard humans can be to comprehend, and no one knows what's going on in other people's heads. This work has psychology at its forefront. It has woven inextricably into individuals' belief systems, resulting in some deep and thought-provoking interior fights of the human mind. The novel vividly depicts one person's agony and doubt which eventually led him to do things he never desired. Although committing homicide is far more horrific than anyone could ever conceive. Tragic events can persuade people to make regretful judgments. It portrays a world in which everyone is either exploiting others or being exploited by the others, and where the majority of the characters are fighting for existence in a cruel, petty, and morally bankrupt manner.

The narrator suggests that we seek salvation through love. After all, real love may be able to restore humanity. You couldn't help but sympathize with the protagonist as he battles his inner fiend and tries desperately to maintain an air of normalcy and innocence as he becomes more tired and unkempt by the day. The author also includes a sociological analysis of Russian society where he criticizes the overturning of natural values in his society, emphasizing that accepting responsibility for one's deeds can only lead to redemption and peace.

Overall, The author appeared to be taking a harsh stance against the new socialist doctrines. He also portrays the various social classes in Russia accurately and truthfully. The combination of the two qualities results in a novel that is so real that the readers will have no idea they are reading a fiction.

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Book 7: Man's Search for Meaning

Author: Viktor E. Frankl, Category: Popular Psychology Psychoanalysis, Judaism, Existential Psychology

‘Man's Search For Meaning’ is a type of existentialist guidance where the author speaks about the reason that kept the survivors going, even in the most harrowing circumstances.

In this book, the author attempts to make us aware of how cruel humanity can be by meticulously explaining the details, inch by inch, to have the reader experience the conditions of the concentration camps. His experiences as a prisoner in Nazi concentration camps during WWII, as well as his psychotherapy style, compelled him to define a positive purpose in life and then immersing himself in that outcome. His enlightening book is divided into two halves. The first recounts his time in Nazi death camps and how he lived with the constant sense of gloom and ruin that surrounded him. He peppers his story with sharp, dispassionate judgments about his own feelings and the suffering of those around him. The second segment delves into logotherapy, a sort of therapy that arose from his stay in the death camps. Logotherapy focuses on aiding people in finding ‘meaning’ in their life, giving them a greater sense of purpose, and assisting them in overcoming problems. The issue of what life is all about does not have a universal answer. Each individual should respond to that question. Based on our surroundings, relationships, and experiences, we create our unique meaning. Life is simply putting us to the test, and how we respond determines the outcome. Even some words remind us how fortunate we are to be able to appreciate the beauty of freedom.

Altogether, it is one of those books that sticks with you for a long time. A must-read classic that everyone should read at least once in their lives. You will not be the same person after finishing the book.

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This article is authored by: Sheuly Ahmed