What are the best books for fully understanding the human condition and the depth of humans and the essence of being a human being?
I'm not trying to be pretentious or a pseud but i'm genuinely wondering after reading rainer maria rilkes novel and poetry. He seems to have a depth especially in his prose which is so beyond me at times or normal human sight that I wish to be closer to it.
It isn't so much about understanding (rather it expedited my own interest) the human condition scientifically, but I really enjoy Stephen Crane; The Open Boat struck a chord with me few short stories have as far as man v man v nature and all that is concerned.
What is this "human condition" meme?
Can't literally everything we feel, think and experience be told to be part of the human condition? I don't see how it means anything.
Anything by William Golding
>>8280732
Just seeing the unseen or being able to describe and explain and decipher humans and their actions and feelings. I"m not trying to meme i'm trying to understand.
>>8280746
Putting it that way I actually see what you mean. Sounds like a noble mission too.
I think Dostoevski does that like no other.
>>8280702
I'll check it out thanks m8.
>>8280736
I'll also look into it thank you.
>>8280752
Ya i know Dostovesky, i appreciate it though, what i'm really trying to get at is writing about the human and the soul and when it comes to well writing, literature.
There's a massive gap between writers even at the highest level who understand and can write and portray humans and those who seem to have almost a mystical understanding of events around them, reality merging with fiction at times. I was immensely impressed by rainer in this regard like I mentioned.
>>8280785
Try interacting with real life humans. Does that sound scary?
>>8280795
I've had 5 jobs of all walks of life and work at a homeless shelter. Kek you really must not get what I'm saying to make such a banal comment.
I'm just wondering what does it take to understand humanity at a super human depth.
>>8280687
Erich Fromm developed a concept about the "humana conditio" in his book "Escape from Freedom". His literature would be a good start I think.