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Books matching: philosophical writing style

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  1. #1

    Hard to Be a God - The Noon Universe by Arkady & Boris Strugatsky, Boris Natanovich Strugatsky
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    Hard to Be a God is a science fiction novel set in a medieval-like world where a visitor historian, known as Our Hero, navigates through a society on the brink of degradation. The book delves into themes of moral dilemmas, the role of fear in human life, and the complexities of governing a society amidst revolutionary changes. The protagonist, Don Rumata, is an alien from an advanced culture trying to uplift the primitive society he is observing, all while facing challenges that humanize him and make readers both look up to and pity him.

    The writing style of the book blends science fiction and fantasy elements seamlessly, creating a compelling plot within a unique world that challenges genre constraints. The characters are vividly imagined, with even the villains having surprising moments that add depth to the narrative. Through the lens of a visitor from a distant planet, the authors explore societal decay, political corruption, and the search for a way to govern the world, offering a fresh perspective on earthly politics and government reform.

    As Rumata passed by the tomb of the Holy Mickey--the seventh and the last on this stretch of the road--darkness had already fallen. The highly praised Chamalharian stallion which he had won from Don T...

  2. #2

    The News: A User's Manual by Alain de Botton
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    'The News: A User's Manual' by Alain de Botton is a thought-provoking exploration of the impact of news on our lives. The author delves into various categories of news, such as politics, world news, economics, celebrity, disaster, and consumption, discussing how the news cycle and our addiction to it affect our thinking and perception. De Botton's writing style is engaging and convincing, offering insights into the addiction, distortion, and inner longings reflected in the news.

    After an interval, usually no longer than a night (and often far less; if we’re feeling particularly restless, we might only manage ten or fifteen minutes), we interrupt whatever we are doing in order...

  3. #3

    Steppenwolf by Hermann Hesse
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    Steppenwolf by Hermann Hesse is a complex exploration into the human psyche, focusing on the existential crisis of the protagonist, Harry Haller. The novel delves into the inner conflict between Haller's civilized side and the primitive wolf inside him, leading to a profound clash that brings him to the brink of peril. Throughout the story, various experiences challenge Haller to undergo a transformation, guided by intriguing characters like Hermine, who attempts to reconcile the two conflicting sides of his nature.

    The narrative unfolds as a surreal journey of self-discovery and redemption, where the protagonist navigates through themes of isolation, despair, and the search for meaning in life. Hesse leaves the interpretation of the blurred lines between fantasy and reality up to the reader, creating a thought-provoking and introspective tale that explores the complexities of human existence and the struggle to reconcile different aspects of one's personality.

    THE DAY HAD GONE BY JUST AS DAYS GO BY. I had killed it in accordance with my primitive and retiring way of life. I had worked for an hour or two and perused the pages of old books. I had had pains fo...

  4. #4

    The Unbearable Lightness of Being by Milan Kundera
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    'The Unbearable Lightness of Being' by Milan Kundera is a philosophical novel that delves deep into themes of love, sex, human condition, and relationships. It follows the intertwined lives of four main characters - a doctor, a painter, a waitress, and a professor - set against the backdrop of communism and democracy. The novel is known for its unique narrative style that blends philosophical musings with the characters' stories, creating a complex and thought-provoking read.

    Kundera's writing style in 'The Unbearable Lightness of Being' is characterized by its blend of dreamlike imagery and brutal reality, creating a poetic and touching work that explores the weight of existence. The story unfolds through interconnected relationships, where the characters navigate between societal demands, political turmoil, and personal desires, leading to profound reflections on fidelity, betrayal, and the complexities of human nature.

    15 While she marched around the pool naked with a large group of other naked women, Tomas stood over them in a basket hanging from the pool's arched roof, shouting at them, making them sing and do kne...

  5. #5

    The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoyevsky
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    'The Brothers Karamazov' by Fyodor Dostoyevsky is a classic Russian tale that delves into the lives of Fyodor Pavlovich Karamazov and his sons Ivan, Dmitri, and Alexei. The novel is known for its acute examination of the psychology of its main characters, as well as its exploration of Russian identity, family dynamics, and ethical debates. The book weaves together a murder mystery, a psychological thriller, a religious treatise, and a social commentary, all while portraying a dysfunctional family and the struggles of humanity.

    The writing style of 'The Brothers Karamazov' is described as deep, complex, philosophical, humane, and powerful. The book is praised for its sprawling narrative, great characters, and thought-provoking themes that encompass religion, morality, good vs. evil, and the essence of human nature. Despite its length and occasional tangents, readers appreciate the brilliance and relevance of the novel, which continues to challenge and inspire readers with its depth and complexity.

    Alexey Fyodorovitch Karamazov was the third son of Fyodor PavlovitchKaramazov, a land owner well known in our district in his own day, andstill remembered among us owing to his gloomy and tragic death...

  6. #6

    Aleph by Paulo Coelho
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    'Aleph' by Paulo Coelho is a spiritual and introspective journey of self-discovery and healing. The author embarks on a physical journey across Russia on the Trans Siberian Railway, accompanied by various characters including a young Turkish woman named Hilal. Through encounters with these characters and experiences along the way, the author delves deep into his past life, seeking forgiveness and understanding. The narrative weaves together elements of reality and fantasy, exploring themes of destiny, forgiveness, and the interconnectedness of past and present lives.

    OH, NO, NOT ANOTHER RITUAL! Not another invocation intended to make the invisible forces manifest in the visible world! What has that got to do with the world we live in today? Graduates leave univers...

  7. #7

    Dissipatio H.G. by Guido Morselli
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    "Dissipatio H.G." by Guido Morselli is a philosophical and weird novel that explores the concept of a man finding himself as the last person on Earth after everyone else disappears. The book delves into themes of social withdrawal, loneliness, and identity, offering a thought-provoking narrative that plays with the philosophical implications of such an event. The writing style is described as heavy, unique, and eerie, with a focus on the protagonist's musings on sociability and the impact of the disappearance of humanity on various aspects of life like history, economy, and sociology.

    The narrator in the book is portrayed as an asocial man who lives in isolation and wakes up one day to find that the human race has vanished, leaving him as the sole survivor. The novel unfolds without a traditional storyline or action, as the protagonist aimlessly wanders around, reflecting on his past and contemplating the implications of his solitude. The setting of the book, located near the Italian Swiss border, adds to the bleak and desolate atmosphere, reminiscent of post-apocalyptic narratives like "I Am Legend."

    THE AUDIO-visual debris keeps me company. It’s the most immediate remains of what has been left to me of them. Two dispatches are purely verbal, from radio broadcasts I suppose. One reports the failed...

  8. #8

    All Hallow's Eve by Charles Williams
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    'All Hallows' Eve' by Charles Williams is a novel set in WW2 England, following the tragic deaths of two women friends, Evalyn and Lester, who find themselves in a limbo state after dying in a bizarre accident. The story delves into Lester's inner spiritual journey as she confronts unattractive truths about herself and her relationships, while her surviving husband and his friend cross paths with a cult leader, Simon Le Clerc, who reveals a hidden past with occultic experiments. The narrative intertwines the living and the dead, exploring themes of sacrifice, spiritual growth, and the battle between good and evil in a dense, philosophical writing style that captures the reader's attention throughout the book.


  9. #9

    The Second Sex by Simone de Beauvoir
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    Simone de Beauvoir's 'The Second Sex' examines gender as a social construct in society, arguing that women are oppressed due to being seen as other or alien in the eyes of men and masculine institutions. The book provides a comprehensive evaluation of women's oppression, offering a feminist view of the world and explaining the differentiation of that view from the masculine perspective. De Beauvoir's writing style is described as dense, philosophical, and disarming, with razor-sharp argumentation that delves deep into the sources and impacts of how women are viewed and treated.

    Males and females are two types of individuals who are differentiated within one species for the purposes of reproduction; they can be defined only correlatively. But it has to be pointed out first th...

  10. #10

    Six Walks in the Fictional Woods by Umberto Eco
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    'Six Walks in the Fictional Woods' by Umberto Eco is a collection of six lectures that delve deep into the world of fiction, exploring the intricate relationship between writers and readers. Eco discusses how fiction manipulates us, the way we use fiction, and how we expect our world to conform to narrative. He uses literary examples from a wide range of authors, from Dumas to Fleming to Shakespeare, to illustrate his points. The book is described as philosophical, thought-provoking, and often funny, offering insights into both reading and writing.

    Eco's writing style is praised for being clear, simple, and intellectually stimulating. He covers topics such as the importance of accuracy in writing fiction, the role time plays in fiction, and the need for readers to have rational mental points of reference to follow the details of a writer's fiction. Eco also explores the concept of the ideal reader, different types of readers and writers, and the emotional attachment people have to the truth of fiction.

    I would like to begin by evoking the memory of Italo Calvino, who eight years ago was invited to give his six Norton lectures but who had time to write only five of them before leaving us. I evoke him...

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