UK extreme metal collective Abduction just released their new record Existentialismus, but what were some of the inspirations behind it? Abduction vocalist A|V walks us through the five books that informed Existentialismus in the list below. Check it out and get your copy of Existentialismus here.
Some of these are back to back digestable, others more like constant offerings of piecemeal inspiration when needed. In all honesty I haven’t listened to much music during the process of this record so it was easier (and probably more informative) to think of 5 inspirational writings.
Crime & Punishment – Fyodor Dostoevsky
Ever feel like modern life is a never-ending loop of existential dread, bad decisions, and vague moral guilt? Dostoevsky beat you to it by over a century. Crime & Punishment follows Raskolnikov, a broke student who thinks he’s too smart for the world, so he decides to test out some good old-fashioned murder. It doesn’t go well. This book is a deep dive into guilt, redemption, and the crushing weight of conscience. Basically, it’s like reading a philosophical breakdown of every bad choice you’ve ever made—but with way more Russian suffering. I’m making my way through the extensive Russian philosophy genre, but this is the place to start.
Telling About Society – Howard Becker
Could it be that the stories we tell about society are just elaborate coping mechanisms, reactions to the struggle of existence? The author of this fantastic book that I picked during my academic studies does and he breaks it all down here. This book isn’t just sociology—it’s about how we shape reality through the narratives we spin, whether it’s in science, journalism, or the desperate lies we tell ourselves about our future job prospects. If you’ve ever looked at the world and thought, This is all just a story someone made up, you’d be right. .
The Gulag Archipelago – Alexander Solzhenitsyn
Feeling overwhelmed by modern surveillance culture? Annoyed at corporate bureaucracy? Take a deep breath, because Solzhenitsyn is here to remind you that things can always be worse. This book is a miserable and harrowing, firsthand account of the Soviet prison camps, where human dignity was crushed under the weight of state power. It’s enough to make you want to destroy all aspects of state control in violent revolution – or at least appreciate that your worst workday doesn’t involve forced labor in Siberia. I will eventually finish this mammoth slab of beautiful literature.
Slaughterhouse-Five – Kurt Vonnegut
Life makes no sense, time is an illusion, and war is both horrifying and absurd—welcome to Vonnegut‘s brain. Recommended and lend to me by Sarah Fortais, a close friend who made my mask. Slaughterhouse-Five follows Billy Pilgrim, a guy who survives the firebombing of Dresden only to become unstuck in time, bouncing between war, mundane suburbia, and an alien zoo. It’s weird, funny, and tragic all at once—kind of like scrolling through the news. If existence is simply just one long, chaotic joke, this book will confirm that suspicion.
The Wisdom of Insecurity – Alan Watts
Stressed about the future? Same. But Alan Watts is here to gently shake your shoulders and say, Dude, stop trying to control everything. This book is about embracing uncertainty, letting go of the illusion of security, and realizing that your constant existential anxiety is just your brain playing tricks on you. It’s perfect for those moments when you’re spiraling about the meaning of life and need someone to tell you, Relax. None of it actually matters, and that’s okay. You are nothing.
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