Has anyone read any of Emil Cioran works?

[hello_vatya]

I started reading "The trouble with being born" and so far, I really like it. I really resonate with the idea of longing to be nothing, ever since I was a child I hated being aware of my physical presence. I hated my thick wrists and my aching knees, and the strange crinkled flesh between my fingers. The vulgar act of living as a human being, is unbearable to me, I wish to be as free as particulate matter, to become one with the crooked waterfall.
Reading Cioran helped me feel less alone, and I was wondering if anyone would like to share their thoughts on his works.
(PS , suggest books please!! Im trying to read as much as possible before August !! )

 

[AltercatingVoices]

Yes. His books out of any I've read have helped me the most despite them being uniquely pessimistic/nihilistic. Honestly kind of ironic seeing as though he presumably wrote them at his worst. Personally, his nihilistic philosophy helps to not feel quite as pressured. He lived frugally, worked as only to provide for basic necessities, and became more distant towards politics after having renounced the fascist iron guard somewhere around ww2, noting it as one of the worst mistakes of his life.

A short history of decay is by far my favorite of his, with on the heights of despair, the new gods, and trouble being roughly equally as good. If I get back into reading I'd want to pick back up tears and saints, as I've heard that one is good as well.

 

[_AllCatsAreGrey_]

Yes. I've read a few of his books. They're a pleasure to read imo. I return to them perennially.

See also:

 

[nails]

yes, i love his work and i reread his writings often. i own a few of his books and i was going to buy more
if you like Cioran, then you might enjoy Ligotti as well. i've heard Zapffe is also quite similar, but i haven't read much from him.

 

[SentientCreature]

I've read a bit of "a short history of decay". My progressing brainfog made me quit halfway, but I've been considering getting back to it. He's a very unique writer, like pessimistic and more reasonable Nietzsche. I've tried reading the usual pessimistic literature but it all felt either too academic or rather bland and mainstream. Cioran is so far the only author who truly captures my lived experience but also adds an artistic element to it.

His "Genealogy of fanaticism" is an essay I've reread many times and I would recommend to anyone who feels disillusioned with ideology and unimpressed by people's obsession with identity and various tribal tendencies. The essay is a true masterpiece. It seems that his experience of being a fascist in his early 20's lead to some impressive character growth later in his life as he reflected on his fanatical youth. It's hard to imagine a writer so passionate and fiery who hadn't experienced some form of insanity

 

[BrokenByTheSystem]

Yes I've read once but I don't even remember which book it was.

I agreed a lot with things he says but one thing I disagree very much: he says that we shouldn't suppress our desires, he says we shouldn't hold our instincts, the very thing that makes us humans.

I disagree because it's quite the opposite of Buddhism philosophy which I believe a lot more and tells me that we should learn to tame our own desires and instincts.