Candide
by Voltaire · first published 1746
35% recommend63% neutral3% critical
Why HN recommends it
A short, funny satire of naive philosophical optimism that still reads well despite its age and translation, with its message landing through the story rather than lectures. Suits readers new to older literature.
Summarised by Claude from recommending comments
Brought up in the household of a powerful Baron, Candide is an open-minded young man, whose tutor, Pangloss, has instilled in him the belief that 'all is for the best'. But when his love for the Baron's rosy-cheeked daughter is discovered, Candide is cast out to make his own way in the world. And so he and his various companions begin a breathless tour of Europe, South America and Asia, as an outrageous series of disasters befall them - earthquakes, syphilis, a brush with the Inquisition, murder - sorely testing the young hero's optimism.
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Candide by Voltaire It was the first book I read for school that made me laugh out loud and realize that some of these old boring books were actually pretty awesome (which is why people are still reading them…
on “Ask HN: What are your favorite books or essays written at least 100 years ago?” ↗A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court by Mark Twain North of Boston by Robert Frost Leaves of Grass by Walt Whitman A Study in Scarlet by Arthur Conan Doyle (+ the other Sherlock Holmes') Candide by Voltaire (was reminded by other posting - this is great!)
on “Ask HN: What are your favorite books or essays written at least 100 years ago?” ↗…time in". Books are good for you. A couple of favourites anyway: - New Grub Street, George Gissing, 1891 - Crime and Punishment, Fyodor Dostoevsky, 1867 - Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austen, 1813 - Candide, Voltaire, 1759
on “Ask HN: Which books you have read till now that were worth investing time in?” ↗The unbearable lightness of being - Milan Kundera Candide - Voltaire
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on “Ask HN: Great books you read in 2009?” ↗Suggested reading: http://www.amazon.com/Candide-Optimism-Classics-Francois-Vol...
on “Booted out of Bootup Labs” ↗Brave New World by Aldous Huxley and 1984 by George Orwell lay out two different visions of dystopian futures, if you're into that. Candide by Voltaire is a classic satirical novel that still works fairly well imo, though it can be a bit un-subtle by the standards of modern literary satire.
on “Ask HN: classic literature recommendations?” ↗Candide by Voltaire The History of the United States During the Administrations of Thomas Jefferson and James Madison By Henry Adams
on “Ask HN: What is your favorite book written before 1900?” ↗I'm surprised at how few people have read "Candide" by Voltaire. It came to the same conclusion and was written when the US were still the colonies. I'm sure there were earlier works that would have said much the same thing, but it was so playful in its…
on “Habits can cut the risk of depression in half, a new study finds” ↗…[HN] - "Anna Karenina" by Tolstoy. Made me face deeper parts of my mind. Attempted to answer some questions I had. Great story. Huge book. Historical fiction is something I like across languages. - "Candide" by Voltaire. Genuinely fun and entertaining, besides it being- you know- Voltaire. - "The Diamond Age" by Neal Stephenson. Very good story, world buulding, nice technology. Great thinking by the author.…
on “Ask HN: Books you read in 2023 and recommend for 2024” ↗…war, friendship, love, sex, politics, realpolitik, strategy, and has a reach story line with scores of great side-stories. I also genuinely enjoyed Iliad and Aenied. I was also surprised at how good Candide by Voltaire was to read. Had a ton of fun reading it.
on “Ask HN: What are your favorite classic books?” ↗Are you really promoting the philosophy of Leibnizian Optimism in 2025? I suggest reading Candide by Voltaire, first published 266 years as a critique to the philosophy you are currently espousing.
on “Return of wolves to Yellowstone has led to a surge in aspen trees” ↗…America, Alexis de Toqueville - On Liberty, John Stuart Mill Fiction: - The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County, Mark Twain - The Story of an Hour, Kate Chopin - Metamorphoses, Franz Kafka - Candide, Voltaire - The Count of Monte Cristo, Alexandre Dumas
on “Ask HN: What are your favorite books or essays written at least 100 years ago?” ↗"Candide" is bizarre, surprisingly many laugh-out-loud moments in that book.
on “Elite Disillusionment” ↗Voltaire's Candide was pretty darn funny too. That's all I've read of his, though, so I'm not sure if all his writing is like that.
on “Cruel Intentions: on Søren Kierkegaard” ↗