Dostoevsky, Kierkegaard, Nietzsche & Kafka

This book about three of my favorite thinkers was one of the easiest books I have read, I'm grateful that it also introduced me to the work of a forth great thinker: Kierkegaard. Although I might disagree that the four men are directly related to existentialism (If Nietzsche was alive he would've agreed with me.), but there is no doubt all four writers were alienated from the society they rejected, and each in his own way embarked on a quest to find the truth. I'm at a loss to explain why this book is accused of having a "Christian-centric focus", Mr. Hubben simply presented the biographies objectively, and related them to the work's of other great authors. Let us not forget that the theme of the four men's lives was being rejected (mainly by the church and society) for not believing what was believed and not going blindly with the flow. Mr. Hubben accurately reports the suffering of the four men on totally different levels, he didn't suggest in any way that embracing Christ would've been a better choice: 1- Kierkegaard who opposed the church not Christianity. 2- Dostoevsky who chose a leap of faith, and talked of Christ almost in all of his work, but still never stopped questioning and doubting. 3- Nietzsche who decided to revolt against all rules and chose to be an atheist. 4- Kafka, a non believer among Jews, who felt a profound sense of alienation from society as well. How can the enumeration of the facts surrounding the lives of these four men be described as pro-Christian??? The religion/faith factor in these four men's lives can't be ignored while studying their lives, but that doesn't mean necessarily the author is presenting a pro-Christian point of view. The four men were not chosen as the subject of this book to challenge any religious values, but simply to celebrate great minds and free spirits that were not afraid of expressing themselves. This book is a good objective overview of four remarkable thinkers, who were never appreciated during their lives.

My review is very much in line with that of another reviewer, Mr. Townshend. This book by Hubben is a precious and rare volume that fully appreciates the prophetic role of four great thinkers in perceiving and describing the underlying spiritual failure of 19th century Europe. They see that despite European colonial success, middle class religiosity, stable social values, high rates of literacy, incredible industrial productivity, identification with "Christian civilization" [sic], and high level philosophical, theological, artistic, and musical creativity, they each see that underneath lies incredible spiritual emptiness, evil of every kind, chaos, and doom. These "underlying issues" are at the root of the social, economic, and political crises that were the occasion of World Wars I and II, the Nazi holocaust "experiment," and Leninist/Stalinist/post-Stalinist USSR. Especially with Doestoevsky and Kierkegaard, he also sees a reaching out to Christ, seeking a new inward path of connection. These two men were self-consciously struggling in the presence of Christ, just as the author describes common folks who are Christian miners are struggling to affirm their faith in the midst of the daily struggle. A faith affirmed from a secure middle class vantage point is not a faith that will lift mankind out of the morass of his darkness, or out of what Kirkegaard calls "the aesthetic stage." Rather, man must emerge from this darkness (it is a darkness that can afflict so-called Christians as well as atheists) by emergence into a Christ-centered moral and religious "stage." I totally disagree with the idea that the Christ-centered statements in this book make it too polemical and intellectually dishonest. Rather, the author, Mr. Hubben, has transcended, and helps all to see, that by contrast with a remarkable exposition of "darkness" by these authors we can better see the vibrant hope that exists in "the light."

Excellent overview of the major themes characterizing the work of these thinkers. Balanced presentation of view points and interesting biographical information included. I've read all of these authors for decades and this book ties in major threads beautifully. Extremely insightful and well written. In fact, I can't put it down and I'm anxious to revisit Nietzsche and Kafka with the analyses provided in this book.

Hardcore academics may object to the seriousness with which Mr. Hubbens allows of the deep christian conviction of Kierkegard and Dostoevsky, but after reading so many books on existentialism that gloss over its christian roots, it was refreshing to read something intelligent that protected the space for faith in existential thought.

This is a very satisfying work, pleasantly written and to the point. I was originally more interested in Nietzsche and Dostoevsky, but became engrossed with the Kafka section. Hubben provides essential biographical information in an entertaining manner and uses this to help explain the origin of their writings and philosophy. He then attempts to make connections between these different men in a way that helps the reader grasp basic concepts of each man's life and work. For me, this works as I learn better by comparing and contrasting rather than with large blocks of isolated information. I am now interested in Kafka for the first time, and I found this very refreshing.