The Art of Living an Absurd Existence: Paradoxes and Thought Experiments That Change the Way You Think

by Robert Pantano

A collection of essays that dive headfirst into the absurdity of life and remind us of who we really are and what’s important—from the author of the bestseller The Art of Living a Meaningless Existence.

We are all living an existence that none of us chose and none of us truly understand. Naturally, everything can—at times—feel strange, chaotic, and overwhelming. The Art of Living an Absurd Existence helps us find peace with this; it instructs us on how to embrace and appreciate the mystery; and it breaks us free from reductive ways of thinking so that we can embark on our own absurd journey with openness and wonder.

With his usual candid tone and poignant sincerity, Robert Pantano explores paradoxes, thought experiments, and big ideas of philosophy in order to uncover insights about knowledge, selfhood, existence, and the universe. Taking you on a journey to the edge of thought, Pantano pushes the boundaries of your perspective while simultaneously providing immense comfort and peace.

Most of the essays contained in this book were originally published as videos seen by tens of millions of people on Pantano’s popular YouTube channel, Pursuit of Wonder. Because of their popularity, he created a well-organized collection of updated and revised essays gathered in the form of this book.

Genres: Philosophy, Nonfiction, Psychology, Essays

176 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 3, 2024

Reviews

[B.G. Frees · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book. It’s thought provoking and fun to read. It’s like food for the mind, each page bringing its own unique morsel. It’s one I could and will read multiple times.

[Elijah Hernandez · Rating 2 out of 5]

Yes I read a philosophy book—don’t judge me.

I read this book because I knew I had a long car ride ahead of me and I figured it would introduce some interesting concepts to think about.

While this book did discuss some ideas I found fun to consider, most of what it talked about was so basic and stuff I’ve already read about/heard of. This book may be good for somebody who has never read a philosophy book before, but I feel like I just read a random hodgepodge of basic philosophical ideas. Nothing particularly stood out to me as unique to this book.

Again, I don’t typically enjoy reading up on philosophy anymore, so this type of book just kind of bored me. Maybe try it if you’ve never read a philosophy book before?

(Although I will always enjoy a good trolley problem argument)

[Petar Dodov · Rating 5 out of 5]

Като човек изгледал всички видеа в канала на автора в ютуб (pursuit of wonder) липсва опцията да дам по-малко от 5 звезди. Книгата се състои от нещо като есета на автора, някои от които са по-добри от други, но след всяко едно от тях може да се замислим, както и да се почувстваме по-спокойно относно нашето абсурдно съществуване

[Trevor Tschosik · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very different from his meaningless existence book, which I enjoyed more, but this book does an excellent job of highlighting how unlikely our existence really is putting things in perspective. Some topics really worked my engineering/physics brain.

[kxnst · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book. It's an amazing collection of almost all my favourite and profound problems and philosophies that help put things into perspective. Additionally, the writing is absolutely stellar, and reading it with Pantano's voice in one's head makes it all the more enjoyable.

[Lukas · Rating 5 out of 5]

I feel stupid. 10/10 would recommend.

[Manuel · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not a bad book, but too basic. It's a compilation of well known paradoxes.

[Rahul Verma · Rating 5 out of 5]

"The Art of Living an Absurd Existence" by Robert Pantano delves into the often-uncomfortable reality of a world devoid of inherent meaning, offering not despair, but a path towards embracing the absurd and constructing personal significance. Pantano masterfully navigates complex philosophical territory, drawing from existentialist and absurdist thought, without resorting to dense jargon. His writing style is clear and engaging, making abstract concepts accessible to a wide audience. He doesn't just present philosophical ideas; he grounds them in relatable examples and anecdotes, illustrating how these concepts play out in everyday life. This approach makes the book not just an intellectual exercise, but a practical guide for navigating the human experience.
What sets Pantano's work apart is its focus on actionable strategies. He doesn't leave the reader adrift in a sea of philosophical pondering. Instead, he provides tools for cultivating self-awareness, a crucial element in understanding our individual responses to the absurd. He encourages readers to confront uncertainty, not as a threat, but as an inherent part of existence, and to find joy not in some grand, pre-ordained purpose, but in the everyday moments that make up our lives. He emphasizes the importance of creating our own meaning, of defining our own values, and of living authentically in accordance with them.
While acknowledging the inherent pain and suffering that life inevitably entails, Pantano doesn't dwell on the negative. He doesn't shy away from the difficult questions about existence, but he reframes them, suggesting that even in the face of adversity, meaning and purpose can be found. He proposes that the recognition of life's absurdity is not an endpoint, but rather a starting point for a more authentic and fulfilling existence. He encourages readers to embrace the freedom that comes with accepting the lack of inherent meaning, the freedom to define their own values, pursue their own passions, and create their own narratives.
Pantano's book is not a light read, but it's a rewarding one. It challenges conventional thinking and prompts readers to examine their own beliefs about life, meaning, and purpose. It’s a valuable contribution to the self-help genre, not in the sense of offering easy answers or quick fixes, but in the sense of empowering readers to grapple with the big questions and to forge their own paths in a world that offers no pre-set map. It's a book that stays with you long after you finish reading it, prompting reflection and inspiring a more conscious and intentional approach to living. It's a valuable resource for anyone seeking to understand their place in the universe, regardless of their background in philosophy.

[chrstphre campbell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Easy Reading, Fun Thought Experiences… ( ? )

In The Genre of _The Duck that Won The Lottery_ or _The Pig that Wants to be Eaten_ ( 2 books by Julian Baggini ( of a few others that were flops ! ) that we’re quite good ) along with several Logic Books by Raymond Smullyan; this volume is intended to turn your noggin on a little bit, while simultaneously emphasizing that it’s all for nothing ( ? )
It seems to me though that several points were wrong or gave in to populist thinking… people have, through The Millennia, been wrong about nearly EverThing, & I don’t think that we’re now ( finally ) right about it all ( ? )

[Kartik Hegde · Rating 4 out of 5]

The ones familiar with the author's YouTube channel might find many topics familiar. Nonetheless a good summary.

Drawing from his popular YouTube channel, 'Pursuit of Wonder', the book presents a series of paradoxes and thought experiments that challenge our assumptions about knowledge, selfhood, existence, and the universe.
This book should serve as a great entry point into philosophy. A neat introduction to variety of school of thoughts.
The writing is simple and straightforward.

Overall a GOOD read.

[ANDREW TODD SHACHAT · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fun and intellectually engaging book

This is a great book for any person who enjoys reflecting on our existence as human beings. I like the author's approach of accepting that we don't know how this is all happening. He stays away from Religious dogma and focuses on Science and Philosophy. If you think God is a Father and he has one son, named Jesus this isn't the book for you

[Mr_windy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Clásico "libro de leer en el avión". Como todo lo de Robert Pantano, una lectura profunda que facilita el acceso a sus fundaciones filosóficas más complejas, y que se hace muy fácil de digerir.

No obstante, este libro es más bien un remix de muchas de las principales ideas sobre las que se basa su canal de Youtube, aportando a mayores solamente ejemplos o clarificaciones.

[Monteiro · Rating 3 out of 5]

Eh the youtube essays were better, M. Pantano voice adds a lot to the weight of his essays. An interesting read with many a great question but a little tiresome to read too quickly and adds little extra to the great Youtube Channel.

[Phillip Goodwin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although very entertaining, for me it was a bit to broad for what i wanted to get out of it. if you are looking for something that is closer to home, on a more personal level in a philosophical sense, check out Robert Pantano's other book, "the art of living a meaningless existence".

[Allan Wind · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well done

It is a delightful series of meditations and intellectual exercises. The author is quite gifted as a storyteller. I am left wanting to see more.

[Cody McCarns · Rating 2 out of 5]

A collection of super commonly known paradoxes and thought experiments, all explained the same way you’ve heard them explained a million times

[James S. · Rating 2 out of 5]

Reads like the notes to an introductory philosophy course. Lots of riddles and definitions. Doesn't live up to its title.

[Jon Fellman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ok overall. Nothing that was really absurd here, mostly just psychology, philosophy, and physics 101. Good for someone but nothing new for me unfortunately

[spiritual pudding · Rating 5 out of 5]

Solid intro to many popular philosophical questions and accessible language for newcomers.

[William Devore · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am but an amazingly small speck in a gigantic universe

It’s amazing how small you are, too. Learn about it all here in this book. It’s all food for thought!

[Jack Lewis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very nicely paced and split. Thought provoking in the best ways and introduced a large number of interesting topics, which gives you an easy start to research further

[Eeeee · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fantastic modern introduction to philosophy and critical thinking which is nearly a dead art in this day and age.

[Lucas Buckels · Rating 4 out of 5]

A collection of essays about the absurdity of life. Many of these essays assert that it is impossible to know real truth as our consciousness is part of the system it is trying to observe. Or similarly, that you can never know another’s metal experience and vice versa. It also challenges rational reasoning as a mean to find the truth. Perhaps it only generates shareable and defendable positions, but not truth. This book sparks some interesting questions about the nature of existence and how to live in the world. However, it unfortunately does not have the answers.

[Casey · Rating 5 out of 5]

So much of this book detailed thoughts and feelings I have experienced in the last several years. I spanned various topics and each one was an area that I enjoy the act of mental exploration.

There were a number of sections I highlighted, but this one was worth capturing here.

“Arguably, the best way to be the most right the most often is to assume that you are probably always some amount wrong.”

[Shanaya Carvalho · Rating 3 out of 5]

Uhhhh I felt like I was a teenager again having an intense discussion with my cousins about the nature of the universe and the paradoxes that haunt us.
I also recalled my undergrad sociology lectures questioning the nature of morality and the limits of reason.

I did not find the subject matter of the book to be novel because I've been exposed to all of the ideas at some point in my life. So this book functioned mainly as a consolidation of all the absurd existential enquiries that one may come across - in philosophy, psychology, physics, etc.

Reading such mentally taxing texts have made me realise some things
- make the most of your time here WHILE you are still here
- take life seriously but also don't
- you will not have the answer to everything, and that's okay, learn to make peace with not knowing

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

Questions to start your journey.