Rating: 
Summary: Unforgettable, ebulliant Zorba!
Review: The novel has ist origins in the author's own experiences of mining and harvesting in the Peleponnesus in the 1920s. The narrator's adventures are exhilarating and havoc-making. If you like a humorous adventure set in the beautiful landscapes of unforgettable Greece, this is the book to read.
Rating: 
Summary: Mixed feelings
Review: The story of the friendship of two men, and the different ways they experience life. One through, living, through real and personal experiences. The other through observations, reading and writing.I still don¡¦t know how I feel about the book. I have mixed feelings about it. I¡¦m very impressed that this book, written years ago, contains ideas and thoughts which are so advanced, or should I say timeless, which continues to apply to today¡¦s world. However, I admit that I have to struggle with the book,the language, though beautiful, can be quite difficult to follow and there are many ideas which I do not agree to, in the modern world, of course, they will be looked upon with distaste, particular how women were viewed at that time.
Rating:
Summary: Zorba, the essence of life
Review: The whole book is a dialogue between Zorba: an incidentally found Greek friend and the Englishman.Zorba tries to explain what life means to him and howmuch different is this from what his friend understands from life.His message is clear:life is short and fragile and paradoxically this tragically short time, contributes to its beauty.If life was indefinite the meaning of everything would be different to us.We have to do our best for there is no other chance to live once again.The Englishman is somehow overly serious on everything and does not consider the fact that nothing in life deserves such seriousness.Zorba teaches him some important lessons which can not be found in any book.He shows to him how to enjoy genuine aspects of life like love,music and eating.Zorba is in fact reflecting the mentality of Greek people. This mentality is in sharp contrast with the rest of Europe, specially England: where his friend comes from.
Rating:
Summary: Sacred Awe
Review: There really isn't much of a consensus worldwide about the artistry of Nikos Kazantzakis. It seems that half of the scholarly world finds him to be a genius and the other half a failed genius not worthy of really being remembered. Zorba the Greek was my first time to read anything by him, and for me, he didn't really quite fall into either category. I did find the work brilliant with some excellent writing and a lot to think about, but I have a few drawbacks to buying whole-heartedly into Kazantzakis's philosophy. Zorba the Greek is told by a narrator (Kazantzakis) who does not find satisfying answers to the questions of life in Western thought. He sets out to actually live life while running a mine in Crete. He hires Zorba, and the exuberant Zorba becomes the focus of the story as he teaches the narrator what he knows about life. Zorba the Greek is certainly entertaining, and there are so many wonderful lines and insights. The book teaches to live life as if it were the first day of your life and as if it were the last day of your life. It says that the greatest goal in life would be to attain a Sacred Awe of all life. Of course, the way promoted by Zorba is a type of God-less hedonism which strikes me as pathetically shallow. But considering the whole novel, I would recommend it; I do not have to agree with everything a book says to learn from it. Zorba the Greek is a good work with some simply beautiful and insightful episodes.
Rating: 
Summary: One of the best pieces of fiction I've ever read!
Review: This book is about life and its extremes. It describes the battle between free-spiritedness and conservatism. It makes any reader analyze the way he/she lives. I suggest that everyone read this book to gain essential insight into the perfect way of life. It is, without a doubt, a secular bible for living.
Rating:
Summary: Remarkable!
Review: This is a book of unfathomable depth. It's definitely a life-changer!
Rating:
Summary: A must for any library! A real modern classic!
Review: This is a marvelous story of a friendship between two extremely different men. Each has his way of living life. Zorba is the ultimate hedonist while "BOSS" is the repressed recluse. The book, unlike the movie, ultimately
leaves the decision of the best lifestyle for the reader,
to the reader himself. One finishes the novel with a myriad
of thoughts. Mostly he will ask,"Am I denying myself too much for the sake of propriety?" Kazantzakis writes in a simple yet rich descriptive style. A real jewel.
Rating:
Summary: Wonderfully Ab--ZORBA-ed!!
Review: This is one of my most favorite and treasured books. It is an incredible read. It is beautifully written with honest, flowing dialogue. This is the book that made me a fan of Nikos Kazantzakis. It was my first read by him some four years ago and it stays with me still today. I reccommend this book to everyone, especially to actors, writers, and philosophers. I think that it is a very interesting adventure and study for poeple believers in all we all are capable of everything, emotionally, spiritually. But we just express it differently.
I find this book to be both simple and profound. Entertaining as well as thoughtful. Zorba is one of the most compelling characters that has ever come to life through through the pages of a novel. This book brings to life the spirit and drama of life and humanity. Kazantzakis writes like no other. A deepfully, thoughtful, spiritual and simple writer. If you have already read this Kazantzakis gem I recommend that you delve into The last Temptation of Christ which I find to be another of Kazantzakis' great Gems.
Rating:
Summary: A Lust For Life
Review: This novel by Nikos Kazantzakis is about a Greek peasant named Zorba
who encounters an Englishman who is the antithesis of himself in every way. Zorba is impulsive,he does not think of tommorrow or the future and he seems incapable of too much contemplation or pondering. Which may be his strength or advantage.Rather he lives life fully without much thought and with a spontaneous spirit that should be the envy of those who have burdened themselves with too much pondering on the nature of existence,the universe,god and whatever else we spend time meditating on.
What I especially found intriguing and admirable about Zorba is the fact that even as a grown man he can still display a child-like fascination or interest in the world around him.
Probably because he is largely uneducated for it seems in the story that he had never attended a college or university.
He may not have been illiterate but the impression in the novel is that he hadn't spent much time reading a great many books.
For those interested in foriegn countries and the lives of people there this provides a good description or illustration of greek peasant life in a small village.
The narrow-mindedness and intolerance of the villagers is manifested in that unforgettable scene where the widow is murdered by a mob of villagers. Their crassness and greed is really displayed when an old courtesan in the village dies.
The minute after she is dead they come like a hoard of vultures and strip her house and belongings clean. One of them even carries away the door to her house.
Besides this novel I would also reccomend the movie that was made starring Anthony Quinn. He was the right actor for the part and did a fine job portraying Zorba with all his peasant manners and spontaneous spirit.
When I think of Zorba I think of Anthony Quinn as Zorba.
I may not want to be like Zorba all the time but sometimes as a matter of relief like a vacation,I do want to be him and live like him. Then go back to being my rational and less spontaneous self.
Rating:
Summary: Fantastic self discovery novel
Review: This novel should be looked at in two ways. First, as a masterful charcter sketch of an aging man who refuses to let time get the better of him. Zorba is a complex character who, frankly, is not always in the right. Initially he appears as the macho, almost stereotypical male. He is a womanizer (widows only) who does not think women are capable of any complex thought or understanding what is means to be a man. Despite this, Zorba is unable to destroy the fragile emotions of a local widow and becomes engaged to her. He feigns disinterest when she later dies, but is privately disconsolate. Zorba was a good soldier who now has developed a disdain for killing and defends the weak. He voices his distrust of organized religion, yet thanks God when fortunate things happen. Kazantzakis, like Thomas Hardy in his later novels, does not allow the reader to completely like or understand a character - they are dynamic and constantly revealing new traits. Second, this is a novel of self discovery and developing inner strength. Through the living side-by-side with Zorba, the narrator discovers that he has, in essence, wasted his life - he has not yet lived. By changing his views and adopting Zorba's philospohy of living for the experiences of life, the narrator is forced to admit he is wrong and has been wrong for many years. He learns the life is meant to be lived, not idled away. People learn by experiencing things, one is not able to life vicariously through superficial possessions or relationships. We must live optimistically and look forward to the future. This is an excellent novel that has a sensual, lyric translation. Kazantzakis weaves his philopshical beliefs seamlessly into his narrative -". . . it is a mortal sin to violate the great loves of nature. We should not hurry, we should not be impatient, but we should confidently obey the eternal rhythm."
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