The right book, just when I needed it

After exploring philosophy and critically analysing my own beliefs, I was struggling to come to terms/properly encapsulate my personal viewpoint.
This book and mindset has blown my little philosophical socks off. Not preaching, not negatively tearing down others, this book not only simply asks questions, but offers a gentle, affirming opportunity to respond to and deal with the Today.

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Not for pre-millenials .

I initially abandoned this audiobook about halfway through the chapter on work. I think it was meant to engage readers through self-deprecating humour, but the narration was so sarcastic in tone it was really off-putting. After finishing Oliver Burkeman's "4000 Weeks", I returned to and finished this book. As it turned out, if I'd made it through to chapter 4, where it became more interesting, I would have kept listening.

"The Sunny Nihilist" is primarily concerned with detailed descriptions of the problem: Western self-aggrandizing attitudes and practices, and the contemporary culture of "personal meaning", or as Seyfert terms it, "selfish enlightenment", that is fanned by social media. Seyfert advises we should embrace the pointlessness and meaninglessness of our lives since we will ultimately all turn to dust, be forgotten, and anyway "personal meaning" is the result of a ruthlessly commercial society that commodifies our desire to be individual and special. Seyfert's solution is to think deeply and differently, accepting your meaninglessness so you can be in the present and appreciate your life, and that's pretty much the entire message. As noted in the blurb, this book is intended for millennials and if you're older than that you already know from experience that you're not the centre of the universe and there aren't too many light-bulb moments.

"4000 Weeks" also discusses how we came to be in this situation as a society, explaining how our thinking leads to suffering, but spends an equal amount of time focused on *how* to live knowing your finite human life will ultimately dissolve into nothingness. Perhaps due to Burkeman's lifelong self-confessed productivity geek-ness, it includes many practical suggestions for living day to day in a more mindful, self-compassionate and enjoyable way. Compared to "The Sunny Nihilist", this book comes from a far less self-centred worldview, is graced by gentle and ironic humour, and was far less judgmental. Probably the better book for pre-millenials.

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Repetitive

I like and essentially subscribe to the premise, which I find beautiful, but there's really only one idea that's repeatedly reintroduced over and over again throughout, and it gets repetitive. One could google Optimistic Nihilism and probably get the same takeaway, honestly. Nonetheless, it discusses a potentially uplifting philosophy in an easy to understand way. But definitely presumes a specific audience. Overall, maybe helpful if you like a personal touch, a little narrative, and haven't particularly been introduced to this idea before.

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1 person found this helpful

What a liberating approach to life

The perfect book for anyone who has grappled with the horror of existential dread. Highly recommended.

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Captivated by the honesty painted byWendy Syfret.

Loved every word! In a world of chaos a Sunny Nihilist lessens the load. Amazing!

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