Candide (Dover Thrift Editions)

Candide is a book that you should get around to reading, sooner or later. It's very funny and you will breeze through it. Perhaps the most violent light comedy/philospohical treatise that I have ever read.

I studied philosophy in college. A professor who taught us about Leibniz, theodicy, and similar subjects mentioned Candide to the class. Ten years later, I still am interested in philosophy but with the challenges of career and life in general, I'm interested in readable, not overly long books in philosophy to read. I thought Candide fit the bill. Well, it is very readable and brief. As far as being an entertaining read, it was only so-so. The story moves very quickly but the narration style is very weak. The author tells you that things happened, without showing you. The story is funny occasinally, but as a whole it was a very mediocre read. As philosophy, it makes its main point about the existence of evil (that things do not always work out for the best) very well, but that point is not too difficult to make. Voltaire is a great figure in the intellectual history of the west, but I don't think that a lot of what he wrote is still widely read (Candide is an exception) because the battles he wages (the anti-clerical, pro-scientific, etc.)have been won. So, the end result seems banal and not at all daring, which in its day I imagine it was. If you want to read something to expand your mind or if you want a good literary experience, I would pass.

While Candide is mildly amusing, what shows more than Voltaire's wit is his laziness. He shows nothing while telling everything. A good read for the literarily weak or inexperienced. A few hours worth of yawning for everyone else. There are novels far more deserving of the "Classic" title, if one has the guts to take an honest look and form his own opinion. But let the lemmings have their fun. Those with minds know better.

Candide is a satirical novel by French writer and philosopher Voltaire. It was first published in 1759, and describes a series of calamities that befall the naive young Candide and his tutor Dr Pangloss, who parodies the philosophy of Leibniz by maintaining, against all evidence, that all is for the best of all possible worlds. For those that like pholosophy and for those who don't, this is a must read.

Perhaps the most amusingly intelligent Frenchman in history, Voltaire's masterpiece satirizes everything from politics to Liebniz to the Pope. Short, bitter, and hilarious, 'Candide' may not sound as controversial as it once did. Surprisingly, however, it holds up quite well after over two centuries. Intolerance and ignorance are still widespread, and the first step to solving the problem is to see it. Perhaps more people would realize our condition if Voltaire were as publicized as during his lifetime.

Even if you where to ignore the social statement, some might get a kick out of the wacky storyline and idiotic characters. Plus, its length makes it a quick read (which is fortunate, as one may want to go over it a few times after laughing hysterically to get the full point).