"I Don't Want to Live Like I'm in My 30s"... Schopenhauer's Advice from 200 Years Ago That Captivated People in Their 40s

'Schopenhauer' Book Tops Bestseller List
Direct Advice: 'Life is Suffering'
40s, Difficult Times 200 Years Ago and Now

"Life has no meaning. Therefore, not being born is the best, and if born, dying as soon as possible is the second best."

This is a quote from the German philosopher Arthur Schopenhauer (1788?1860). Often regarded as a pessimist due to his coldly realistic views such as "Happiness is but a dream, pain is reality," he is also praised for his profound insights on happiness, being called "the only person who pursued truth even after losing all hope," and has influenced numerous great figures. Tolstoy called him "the greatest genius" and said, "Reading Schopenhauer, I enjoyed a powerful joy I had never known before," while Nietzsche confessed that seeing Schopenhauer led him to follow the path of philosophy. Others, including Charles Darwin, Albert Einstein, and Hermann Hesse, have also said they were inspired by him. Now, his words resonate deeply with modern people living in 2023.

Schopenhauer [Photo by Page2 Books]

Currently, in bookstores, "Reading Schopenhauer at Forty (Yuno Books)" has held the number one spot on the comprehensive bestseller list for several weeks. The book, written by Kang Yong-su, a philosophy professor at Korea University, presents Schopenhauer's teachings in an accessible way, gaining popularity. Schopenhauer’s own book, "Do Not Waste Your Life Trying to Show Off to Others (Page2 Books)," ranked 4th overall in the 4th week of November on Kyobo Bookstore and Yes24 bestseller lists. "Why Do You Think Your Life Shouldn't Be Hard? (Forest Books)" ranked 7th on Yes24 and 14th on Kyobo Bookstore. Sales figures were approximately ▲"Reading Schopenhauer at Forty" (about 150,000 copies) ▲"Do Not Waste Your Life Trying to Show Off to Others" (40,000 copies) ▲"Why Do You Think Your Life Shouldn't Be Hard?" (50,000 copies).

The success was led mainly by middle-aged readers aged 40 and above. According to Kyobo Bookstore’s data from the 2nd week of November, 76.1% of buyers of "Reading Schopenhauer at Forty" were aged 40 or older, with 55% in their 40s. For Schopenhauer, the 40s were a time deeply engaged with the pain and happiness of life and when he began to gain public recognition. It is presumed that the insights born from this background attracted the interest of today’s 40-year-olds. One reader, who revealed they were 43 years old, said, "I didn’t want to live like I did in my 30s. I wanted to live in the moment, not a life of repeated challenges," and added, "I found comfort and encouragement in Schopenhauer’s book."

The 40s are often a "turning point" in life’s curve. Schopenhauer offers insights that become possible only when one reaches their 40s, a time when people begin to look around at their lives and surroundings after pursuing infinite growth. Through his books, Schopenhauer redefined the concept of happiness by saying, "Only when you remove the word happiness can you truly be happy." He advises those who try to become happier by adding and filling more to "resolve not to be poor rather than to be rich, and not to get sick rather than to be healthy." To those who endure hardship just to be as happy as others, he counsels, "Endurance is not about blindly bearing everything. (Omitted) The thought that 'I can do it because others do' is tantamount to mutual suicide." Furthermore, he introduced the concept of metacognition 200 years ago, stating that "self-awareness to distinguish between what you want to do and what you can do is a prerequisite for happiness."

The worries of life in one’s 40s have not changed much in 200 years. Lee Hyun-jung, editor at Yuno Books, said, "For Schopenhauer, the 40s were a turning point in life, and today’s 40s are also a turning point where environment, emotions, career, and life perspectives can change. That is why Schopenhauer’s words resonate even more." Cultural critic Jang Eun-su also explained, "The 40s are a time when the survival race gradually determines winners and losers, and anxiety about old age sets in. When anxiety dominates life, Schopenhauer’s philosophy offers comfort," adding, "His teaching that having enough assets to maintain dignity and an inner self gained through spiritual inquiry is sufficient sheds a ray of light on our lives shackled by material vulgarity."

There is also an assessment that his straightforward style hit the mark. Choi Han-sol, editor at Page2 Books, said, "Schopenhauer’s blunt advice that ‘life is suffering’ felt fresh to readers tired of irresponsible reassurances like ‘Everything will be fine’ or ‘It’s okay.’"

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.