Candide

Rating:
Summary: Enlightenment
Review: This book is really a masterpiece. Once again Voltaire proved himself as a world class philosopher. It started with the "everything is for the best of all world" as Candide, the central role of this writing, taught by Dr. Pangloss, until he travelled around the world to find many contradictive things which influenced his way of thinking. It's set in the eighteenth century and deals with all the tragedies of it's time. Voltaire touches base with many historical accounts including the earthquakes of Lima and Lisbon. Candide is a naive, innocent, and optimistic sort of person. If you ever feel that life has treated you unfairly, then you have nothing to complain about if you compare yourself to poor Candide. Really give me an enlightenment

Rating:
Summary: Voltaire takes on everything, wins
Review: I have always been fond of satire. Candide is my second favorite satire of all time.

Voltaire with great style and grace attacks the great sacred cow's of his day. Popes, Kings, philosophy's he detests, theater critics, the greedy, and wars are but a few.

My favorite line was his description of the inquisition: "...for it had been decided at the University of Combra, that the burning of a few people alive, by a slow fire, and with great ceremony, is an infallible secret to hinder the earth from quaking"

This a brilliant master piece which I strongly recommend to anyone.

Rating:
Summary: A great chuckle
Review: One of the funniest books ever written (if you don't mind historical references..)

Rating:
Summary: Still Interesting Today
Review: Candide is basically Voltaire's criticism of the idea of optimism. Optimism in the 18th century did not have the same meaning as it does today. Back then, it was the belief that ours is the best of all possible worlds, since it is G-d's world and G-d is perfect. Voltaire takes a naive adherent to this belief and exposes him to the horrors of the world: war, enslavement, theft, rape, heartbreak, etc. Not only does Candide experience these things himself but he hears everyone else bemoaning their situations. Perhaps the crushing blow is when Candide accidentally discovers the paradise of El Dorado, only to willingly leave and face the problems of the real world yet again.

I will not reveal how the story ends, but I liked how it turned out. In my opinion, Voltaire does a good job of criticizing optimism, and he isn't afraid to take some more personal cuts at some of his philisophical opponents. The beauty of this story is that Voltaire accomplishes most of it through humor. Undoubtably it would have been funnier to an 18th century reader (I did not understand many of the religious references--and I still don't know what the Jesuits believe in) but I think I got most of the jokes.

So, all in all, I give this a 4/5 for a story that still has value today.

Rating:
Summary: A quick, yet powerful read
Review: I first read "Candide" when I was still in HS, around 4 or 5 years ago. Maybe it was because I was forced to read it for a class, but I really didn't "get it" back then. Having some free time while I waited for my next amazon.com book order to arrive, I decided to pick up "Candide" once again. This time around, my experience was much more enlightening.

"Candide" revolves around the title character, who has had it instilled upon him by Dr. Pangloss, his personal philosopher, that we live in the "best of all possible worlds." After seeing Pangloss fooling around with the chambermaid, Candide decided to replicate the acts with the Lady Cunegonde. After being discovered by the Baron, Candide is swiftly kicked (on his rump) out of Westphalia. This sets into motion a long and unbelievable set of events. Candide travels across half the known world in hopes of once again being reunited with Lady Cunegonde. Calamity upon calmity is witnessed by Candide yet he remains steadfast in his belief that everything works out for the best. To fully understand the insanity that marks this book you have to read it for yourself. I would do it an injustice it by saying anything further. I will say that the ending is quite a change of pace from the rest of the book.

Although it isn't hard to discern that this story is wholy unrealistic, it is written in such a way that you feel it is somewhat plausible. This might stem from the fact that our society has done a 180 and is composed mainly of cynics and pessimists. Although it was written around 250 years ago, many of the basic issues that Voltaire attacks are still around today. While we don't have the Inquisition murdering people today, religious intolerance is still deep rooted in many humans.

There are many reasons I so highly recommend this book. It is a quick read, something you can finish in only a couple hours. It also has several fantastical scenes that will leave you chuckling in disbelief. Finally, it is a good book to see exactly how much our world (at least the Western half) has changed.

Rating:
Summary: good book
Review: pretty good satire from the master of the genre

Rating:
Summary: MASTERPIECE
Review: A while ago I was browsing reviews of Candide on this very site, and I found one that nearly made me hurl. The reviewer said that the book is no longer applicable to the world because Voltaire's fight had been won: that is to say religious intolerance and ignorance have been banished. I never agreed with that reviewer's assesment. In light of September 11, my disagreement is further entrenched in my body. Religious ignorance is still running amuck in the hills and desert dunes, and right in our own backyard. Has Voltaire's war been won? No, I don't think so. We're in the middle of it right now. Candide helped take the religious fanaticism out of Europe, perhaps some new translations in arabic and whatever languages are spoken in Afghanistan should be dropped from the back of planes along with the bombs. The book would probably have a better impact. What's the cliche? The pen is mighter than the sword.

Rating:
Summary: CANDIDE<><><><><><><><><><><><><
Review: I picked this book up at the bookshop near Ground Zero. And to my suprise it was not a heavy story that caused one anguish to read it. I thought the story was told in a quick straight forward way that was both fun and educational. I agree if one were to really take this book and ponder over the morals Voltaire tries to preach, then the book wouldn't have been as entertaining to me. Nice and lite read. I recommend it to anyone over the age of 18.
I think I know why this book was not taught in many schools, it does have a hint of anti-Semitism.

Rating:
Summary: read some Leibniz first
Review: The more you can read by Leibniz before reading this book, the better it shall be. Penguin Classics are always my favorite choice, not only because they do a good job in selecting translators and supplementary materials, but also b/c the paper smells so good.

Rating:
Summary: Good Stuff
Review: 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.