Are you looking for a mind-bending reading experience?
These two classic books will make you rethink your entire outlook on life:
1. The Stranger by Albert Camus
This novel from the 1940s is considered one of the most influential works of existential fiction.
The story follows an ordinary man named Meursault who does something shocking - he commits a random murder for no clear reason.
As the book goes on, Meursault's calm indifference to his crime and the human world around him will make you question the meaning of it all.
Why do we live by society's expectations and rules?
Is life inherently meaningless and absurd?
Camus uses Meursault's alienation from normal human values and emotions to explore these heavy existential themes.
By the end, you'll be pondering the depths of your own existence in new ways.
2. Man's Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl
While fiction can make you think, few books will shake your perspective like this memoir from Holocaust survivor Viktor Frankl.
As a psychologist, Frankl offers a powerful account of how he found a reason to keep living through the unimaginable horrors he faced.
His message is that finding purpose and meaning is crucial for getting through life's darkest moments.
Even when stripped of every freedom and human dignity, Frankl argues we can still find fulfillment by the way we choose to exist.
This book will leave you in awe of the resilience of the human spirit.
And it will push you to discover the unique meaning and purpose that can guide you through your own struggles.
And That’s It
Both of these extraordinary reads are famous for inducing existential crises.
But they also provide profound insights into the human condition that can help you appreciate life in new ways.
Pick them up if you're ready for some serious self-reflection!
Eternal Reads