i don't necessarily want a book that says explicitly "there is no such thing as being lost in life" "people spend their whole lives figuring it out" nothing like that actually
fiction and nonfiction welcome.
i feel a sense of urgency and feel other people catching up to me, at my age. that i didn't figure things out fast enough. not knowing what i want and also not feeling proud of myself. a book that would promote some, strength of mind, would be ideal.
i've read a lot of stuff that is more on the relatable side but those, while relatable, also make me feel somewhat more stuck and dejected.
by isolophiliacwhiliac
3 Comments
Hey, at the beginning of my 20s I felt similar. I started to read Dostoyevsky , my first was The Idiot. It definitely changed my way of thinking. It’s long and needs dedication but has so much insight. Speaking from my experience, it did work for me. I know it’s fiction, not self help, but hope this still helps tho. Good luck, hope you find the book you’re looking for!❤️
Meditations by Marcus Aurelius comes to mind. It helped me by finding out that people have been thinking similar things for thousands of years.
I would pick up Tao Te Ching by Lao Tzu, translated by Ursula K Le Guin. The original text is extremely old, but its teachings feel very modern and still very applicable to your life. You don’t need to read it in one go, they are a collection of philosophical poems that each stand alone. You can easily read it next to another book.
I really like Ursula’s translation because it’s quite beautiful, but also a bit more symbolic. Stephen Mitchell also has a good translation which requires a little less mental effort to get the meaning.
This book was life changing for me. Especially the feeling of urgency greatly reduced for me.