Immortality
by Milan Kundera · first published 1992
75% recommend25% neutral
Why HN recommends it
A philosophical novel that explores mortality, love and sexuality in fresh ways. Widely ranked as Kundera's deepest and most inventive work, it suits readers of reflective, idea-driven fiction.
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Immortality by Milan Kundera It made me think about mortality, love and sexuality in ways I'd never thought of before
on “Ask HN: What is the most mind blowing book you've ever read?” ↗…Silmarillion by JRR Tolkien - Watchmen by Alan Moore - From Hell by Alan Moore - V for Vendetta by Alan Moore - The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen series by Alan Moore - Dune by Frank Herbert - Immortality by Milan Kundera - first 3 books in the The Dark Tower series by Stephen King - The Dark Half by Stephen King - The Sandman series by Neil Gaiman - Coalescent by Stephen Baxter - 1984 by George Orwell…
on “Ask HN: What is your favorite fiction book?” ↗A similar point of view is expressed by czech novelist Milan Kundera in his "Immortality" (http://www.librarything.com/work/2601/41486088), analysing the way people build their outwards identity by means of adding - or subtracting - attributes such as the ones you point out.
on “Keep Your Identity Small ” ↗…chaotic, organic systems (e.g. human interaction systems). Also helped me to find out what direction I should take after my own book (http://www.nationbydesign.com) Fiction: re-read Milan Kundera's Immortality and The Book of Laughter and Forgetting. Still lifetime favourites after all these years.
on “Ask HN: What book changed your life in 2013?” ↗While I value The Unbearable Lightness (and it's more widely known because of the movie), I think that it's Immortality where Kundera is the deepest, the most inventive, the most subtle. (It's also written in a way that makes it really hard to turn into a movie, and the book explicitly mentions it in passing.)
on “Milan Kundera, ‘The Unbearable Lightness of Being’ Novelist, Dies at 94” ↗Moby Dick, Herman Melville VALIS, Philip K Dick Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance + also Lila, Robert Pirsig Naked Lunch, William Burroughs Immortality, Milan Kundera Catch-22, Joseph Heller (pair with The Deserters, Charles Glass -- In fact a lot of the stuff in Catch-22 is actually toned down from reality) Mastering the Core Teachings of Buddha,…
on “Ask HN: What's the "best" book you've ever read?” ↗From 'Immortality' by Milan Kundera: "In our world...it is difficult for the individual to reinforce the individuality of the self...There are two methods for cultivating the uniqueness of the self: ...addition ...and…
on “Keep Your Identity Small (2009)” ↗> Work hard towards your goals but remember to enjoy that journey. Milan Kundera had something similar to say about this in his novel "Immortality" (1990). There's a difference between a road (used to go from point A to point B, e.g. a highway) and a path (inviting to self-reflection, philosophy, and mindfulness). Most people live their lives going…
on “Self-improvement is embracing your messy, imperfect life” ↗