Let’s be clear: there’s no plot here. Essays of Schopenhauer is a collection of his thoughts on life, art, writing, and human nature. He takes on big topics like why we’re never satisfied, what makes great art powerful, and how to deal with the noise of society. It’s not a linear argument but a tour of a brilliant, often cynical, mind. You jump from his ideas on genius to his rants about bad writing, all connected by his core belief that life is fundamentally driven by a blind, struggling will.

Why You Should Read It

I picked this up expecting dense philosophy and found a shockingly relatable voice. When he talks about the ‘mad pressure’ of social competition or the quiet joy of solitude, it hits home. His pessimism isn’t depressing—it’s freeing. It’s permission to stop chasing the approval and stuff we’re told will make us happy. His essays on reading and writing alone are worth the price, full of sharp advice that cuts through centuries of fluff. Reading Schopenhauer feels like getting a clear-eyed diagnosis for a sickness you didn’t know you had.

Final Verdict

Perfect for anyone feeling overwhelmed by modern life, for curious readers who enjoy big ideas without the academic jargon, and for fans of thinkers like Marcus Aurelius or Nietzsche (who was hugely influenced by him). If you’ve ever thought, ‘There has to be more to life than this,’ Schopenhauer’s essays provide a challenging, brilliant, and oddly comforting answer.