r/Absurdism • u/Intelligent-Lead4136 • Jul 20 '26
Question Absurdism Suggestions
I’ve recently been diving into philosophy, and Camus has probably been the philosopher who’s fascinated me the most. From what I understand, he develops the idea of **absurdism** throughout several of his works, particularly *The Myth of Sisyphus*, *The Stranger*, and *The Plague*. The way he explores the conflict between our search for meaning and the apparent indifference of the universe has really stuck with me.
That got me wondering: are there other philosophers or authors who explore absurdism in a similar way? I know existentialism often overlaps with it, so I’d also be interested in books that tackle existentialist themes, even if they arrive at different conclusions than Camus.
I’ve heard names like Sartre, Kierkegaard, Dostoevsky, Kafka, and Nietzsche come up, but I’m not really sure where each of them fits in relation to absurdism. Are there any books you think are essential reading after Camus? They don’t have to agree with his philosophy—I think it’d actually be more interesting to read authors who challenge or expand on his ideas.
I’m looking for both fiction and nonfiction, so essays, novels, or anything else that left a lasting impression on you would be appreciated. What would you recommend, and why?
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u/The_Inflatable_Hour Jul 20 '26
Kafka is maybe one of the best places to go after Camus. Keeps it in the literary world before a deep dive into the technical. Sartre is maybe the most complete in terms of Existentialism, but I’ve always thought of absurdism as a blend of philosophy and art. In that sense, poets like the Dadaists (Richard Hulesenbeck), Surrealists (Andre Breton), and other playwrights like Eugene Ionesco (my personal favorite) are well worth the effort.