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/lit/ - Literature

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10997088 No.10997088 [Reply] [Original]

What are some books to help deal with existential depression/dread? I'm not looking to replace meaninglessness with objective truth but rather learn how to live happily in the face of meaninglessness.

I know what I'm going through trite and babies first existential crisis shit but I just can't figure out how to live my life in the face of meaninglessness. I have a pretty good life; great gf, paid well for my age, I get good grades, no past trauma, etc but the meaninglessness of life is just always gnawing at me. I'm happy at times but I find it hard to be happy most of the time. All I want to do is smoke weed and drink so I don't have to feel.

>> No.10997174
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10997174

Marcus Aurelius - meditations

>> No.10997185
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10997185

Edward Young's Night Thoughts

>> No.10997551

Ethics - Baruch Spinoza

>> No.10997564

>>10997088
Ashtavakra Gita - Richards translation

>> No.10997574

>>10997088
If you read Cioran's writing as ironic (which is what it is) then he can be enormously comforting in this regard.

>> No.10997590

>>10997088
Read Kierkegaard

>> No.10997605

>>10997088
Existentialism doesn't really work imho because after recognizing the absurd you just handwave it away and you still see life as something fundamentally flawed whereas if there's no truth then it follows than there's no reason to think so. You need to de-absurdize yourself. You need to read poetry and understand that poetry is the means through which being discloses itself to humans. That's what it did it for me. Also I've found Nietzsche (don't take him to seriously) and Deleuze (spefically his book on Nietzsche) to be very helpful in delevoping a sort of kinship with everything that exists. Currently I'm learning french so i can read Rimbaud. Als stop using that "meaning" word, it's trite and fake. Cleanse your language-world of cliche, "You must become an ignorant man again, And see the sun again with an ignorant eye, And see it clearly in the idea of it." If this sounds scary, and it probably does, then taking the stoicism route as >>10997174 suggests is by no means a bad idea. But for the love of God stop using that fucking word or I'll find you and murder you.
Also don't listen to religious gurus.

>> No.10997678

what the FUCK is so hard about getting over existential angst? just pursue what you love and take psychedelics. couldnt be more simple my man

>> No.10997725
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10997725

>>10997678
>dood swirly colors

>> No.10997729

The one you posted is a decent start. Remember to keep yourself healthy in body as well as mind while you're going through this. A lot of times an existential crisis has more to do with your lifestyle then finding some new knowledge that disturbs you.

Regardless keeping healthy by eating, sleeping and exercising well while you look into literature around the subject can't hurt.

>> No.10997740

>>10997678
dude shrooms lmao

>> No.10998103

What are some books to help a sick guy, who's too sick to live a fully normal life, but not sick enough to actually die?