So I've been digging into nihilism lately because, honestly, life feels kinda heavy sometimes. Wanted books that wouldn't make my brain hurt too much though. Started at the library grabbing anything with "introduction" or "beginner" in the title.
The Hunt for Simple Stuff
First mistake was picking up Nietzsche right away. Big nope. Paragraphs longer than my grocery list. Flipped through it standing between the shelves, quietly put it back like I never touched it.
Tried this one called "The Conspiracy Against the Human Race" next. Creepy puppet cover. Read three pages about cosmic insignificance and noped out faster than a dropped call. Way too heavy for Tuesday afternoon.
What Actually Worked
Finally scored with these:
- "Notes from Underground" by Dostoevsky - Okay it's fiction but the main dude's rants? Pure gold. That crusty old Russian got me nodding like "yep, life is absurd alright."
- "The Stranger" by Camus - Short and deadly simple. Dude doesn't cry at his mom's funeral? Relatable when my alarm goes off Monday morning. Felt that emptiness in my bones.
- "Nausea" by Sartre - Weirdly good despite the title making it sound like a medical pamphlet. The whole "existence precedes essence" thing clicked watching coffee swirl in my mug yesterday.
The Reading Process Disaster
Made the classic mistake of reading "The Stranger" then "Nausea" back-to-back. Big mood killer. Started side-eyeing my houseplants like "what's even your point?" Ordered greasy pizza at 10AM just to feel something.
Had to switch strategies after that mess. Started reading 15-minute chunks with breaks for dog videos. Highlighted lines that punched me in the gut. Wrote angry pencil notes in margins like "BUT WHY THO" when philosophers got extra gloomy.
What Stuck With Me
Turns out nihilism isn't just about moping in basements. When that Camus line hit - "The only serious philosophical question is suicide" - my brain did a backflip. Felt strangely freeing realizing nothing matters default. Like taking off tight shoes after a wedding.
Still don't fully grasp the heavy academic stuff, but those three books? Perfect starter pack. Just maybe don't binge-read them before family dinner like I did. Trust me.
