/lit/ - Literature

[Anonymous No.5133503]

so /lit/,

it's my friend's birthday tomorrow and i'm looking to get her a philosophical work or perhaps just a regular ol' novel. eitherway, it has to be on the theme of maximising your pleasure in life and (justifying) living in a way that prioritizes yourself over all others.

we've spoken of this theme in the past and as she's a good friend of mine i've noticed trends in her behaviour than indicate a leaning towards ethical egoism, and she also seems to believe that something akin to that is the basis of her current moral compass, and as such i'd like to find authors with similar ideas to help her reinforce the rationale behind her decisions.

another theme we often explore is the balance between immediate personal wants and societal barriers that may go against her beliefs but are important to consider in order to thrive.

anyways, i was thinking of something along the lines of hedonism, which seems to aim for long-term happiness, but i'm not sure which work would be the right one. i was also thinking max stirner because i've heard so much about him on this board, but it seems to me his ideas about 'spooks' disregard societal considerations completely.

i am open to all reasonable suggestions. any ideas?

[Anonymous No.5133523]

rape and kill your friend then hang yourself

[Anonymous No.5133548]

anyone else?

[« Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ » No.5133579]

>>5133503
>it *has* to be on the theme of maximising your pleasure in life and (justifying) living in a way that prioritizes yourself over all others.
You want me to tell you to get her Rand books?
>leaning towards ethical egoism
Well then...
Is she Feminister (Is she Femister?) level deep into philosophy or lower like?

[Anonymous No.5133583]

>>5133523
>>5133548
perfect

[Anonymous No.5133904]

>>5133523
This is a reasonable suggestion, I second it.

[« Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ » No.5133961]

>>5133904
>>5133523
>Good Christian rapists.

[Anonymous No.5134004]

If you buy her a book chances are she's never going to read it.

>>5133523 is the only correct answer

[Anonymous No.5134017]

Nicomachean Ethics is the absolute and obvious answer for you OP:

>it has to be on the theme of maximising your pleasure in life

check (in a way)

>(justifying) living in a way that prioritizes yourself over all others.

check

>the balance between immediate personal wants and societal barriers that may go against her beliefs but are important to consider in order to thrive.


oh so much check

Add some Epicurean thinkers (Lucrece's On Nature for instance) and you're good. Add a personal note on how fucking you would maximise her egoistical pleasure and you're up there.

[Anonymous No.5134170]

>i am open to all reasonable suggestions. any ideas?

It should probably be something you have already read and enjoyed.

[Anonymous No.5134199]

the only read answer

[Anonymous No.5134244]

op here

>>5133579
i think the most she knows of philosophy is beauvoir's second sex and a couple other existentialist works, but from what i've seen her appreciation of it is insightful enough. capable of intellect as much as any curious and educated person. i'm assuming your two images are suggestions?

>>5134017
will definitely write these down. in fact i'm planning on reaching a used book store and seeing what i can find. thank you!

>>5134004
i've recommended books to her before and she's not just read them, but read them well. perhaps you can try contributing to the thread and let me make my own value judgements.

>>5134170
this is generally true, but my experience within the field of philosophy is limited.

on a side note: should i try myself at hegel's phenomenology of being without any prior proper experience with platonic texts?

[Anonymous No.5134247]

>>5134199
you're the second one to mention this, will keep one eye out for it in particular.

[« Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ » No.5134441]

>>5134244
>i'm assuming your two images are suggestions?
So, yeah... Check to see if she has Stirner (Maybe she has it on .pdf) and get her that. (I haven't seen it in any used books stores. I plan to order it)
And I like Lucretius On the Nature of Things, not sure if she will

...Btw. Does she visit 4chan?

[Anonymous No.5134467]

This just happened to me yesterday

>girl who is friend of friend staying at my house
>spend day talking to her and making badges
>have loads in common, talking the whole day
>end up sleeping together
>in the morning I have to leave for work, might not ever see her again as she's leaving back to her own country
>give her pic related, Actually I had two copies, gave her the mass produced one
>it's a short book, so she's more likely to actually read it.
>she starts reading it while I'm still there and said she cried at one of the chapters.


This is the one for you op.

[Anonymous No.5134738]

>>5134441
thanks, and no, but the boys and I have shown her /d/ (no pun intended) 'for jokes', as it were

>>5134467
this looks interesting in of itself, but perhaps not as relevant to what I'm looking for. noted for future reference

[Anonymous No.5134756]

>>5134467

>>she starts reading it while I'm still there and said she cried at one of the chapters.

Fuck you and your enviable feels. Fuck.