Hey I'm Kyrin and I review books of all genres/styles but with an emphasis on those that have stood the test of time (i.e., not recent releases). Join me as I cover the basic details before diving into the themes, ideas and learnings we can take away from the fascinating realm of literature. Weekly live episode on Thurs 10am AEST (Wed/Thurs Midnight UTC+0) plus bonus episodes from my cohost Juan every now and then.
http://blubrry.com/3214540/
Candide (Voltaire) - Book Review
An unwavering spirit maybe isn't such a great thing after all.
'Candide' by Voltaire is a funny satire on the philosophical idea/theory of Optimism, which was popular during the French Enlightenment. It is a roving adventure of the ever hopeful Candide as he learns about the harshness of the world while chasing his love Cunégonde and spreading the philosophy of Dr Pangloss. His travels take him across Europe, South America & the Middle East with numerous mishaps and encounters with embittered souls along the way.
I summarised the book as follows. "It's an absolutely biting attack on the idea that 'all is for the best in the best of all possible worlds'. The humour is fantastic and it can be read lightly as an engaging story containing memorable characters. It can also make you think deeply about ethics and philosophy if you choose to do so. Quite similar in style to Gulliver's Travels by Jonathan Swift."
I hope you have a fantastic day wherever you are in the world. Kyrin out!
If you would like to support the channel, you can grab yourself a copy of the book here! https://amzn.to/2UMfxd9
Timeline:
(0:00) - Intro
(0:25) - Synopsis
(2:53) - Optimism: Insisting all is good when it really isn't
(6:05) - Pessimism: Joy in the worst of all possible worlds
(8:20) - Personal Observations/Takeaways
(12:05) - Summary
Connect with Mere Mortals:
Website: https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcast/
Support the show