https://www.reddit.com/r/askphilosophy/comments/jedh47/books_to_help_with_existential_crisis/
created by margotiii on 19/10/2020 at 23:23 UTC
7 upvotes, 3 top-level comments (showing 3)
Who are some good philosophers and some of their texts to help with my existential crisis?
Just today I realized that a lot of the anxious and depressed feelings I’ve been having for months are not so unique to me. I’m having an existential crisis. It feels good to identify it, but what can I do about it?
Im aware of kierkegaard, but haven’t read any of his books? What should I read? Are there other philosophers and other texts that would be helpful?
Just as an aside, I’m already seeing a therapist. I figure a little philosophy as an adjunctive couldn’t hurt with getting over this. Still waiting for wisdom or knowledge to adequately fill the void...
Comment by AutoModerator at 19/10/2020 at 23:23 UTC
1 upvotes, 0 direct replies
Welcome to /r/askphilosophy. **Please read our rules[1] before commenting** and understand that your comments will be removed if they are not up to standard or otherwise break the rules. While we do not require citations in answers (but do encourage them), answers need to be reasonably substantive and well-researched, accurately portray the state of the research, and come only from those with relevant knowledge.
2: /message/compose/?to=/r/askphilosophy
Comment by dope-priest at 20/10/2020 at 02:08 UTC
7 upvotes, 1 direct replies
Rollo May - Man's search for himself
He is one the main authors of existential psychotheraphy, and this book talks a lot about anxiety and the meaning of life in a easy language, you can understand even if you dont have any contact with psychology and existentialism.
Comment by JackZodiac2008 at 19/10/2020 at 23:52 UTC
3 upvotes, 1 direct replies
I might not recommend Kierkegaard for your purpose. Either/Or comes to mind, but IIRC it's rather long. Fear and Trembling is more approachable, but maybe not quite on target.
Nietzsche, either Beyond Good & Evil or Thus Spake Zarathustra come to mind. Walter Kaufmann translations only.
Susan Wolf has a nice essay, "Meaning in Life and Why It Matters"[1]. Or rather two lectures.
1: https://tannerlectures.utah.edu/_documents/a-to-z/w/Wolf_07.pdf
It depends on the nature of your need, of course. These are some of the things that I leaned on myself. Plato's Republic would be another.
Give yourself time. I had to put one foot in front of the other without being able to give a reason why, for a while. Eventually I came around to asking what I needed to make life worthwhile, or at least sustainable. I came up with a short list of goods, pursued them...and came out with a good life, and a neo-Aristotelian. Self-creation as a crisis is excruciating, but you wind up deeply rooted.
Best wishes.