Recommendations for Cioran

[MagnusTC]

In what order would you recommend reading E. M. Cioran, I am trying to decide where to begin and there seem to be so many great works!?

[Sand]

I would start with A Short History of Decay: essence of Cioran in a convenient vial.

[gveranon]

The first Cioran I read were books of aphorisms I happened to run across in a bookstore: Anathemas and Admirations, The Trouble with Being Born, All Gall is Divided (all translated by Richard Howard). Now, after having read most of his other books, these three are still the ones I reach for most often to look at again. I think the advantage of starting with these later books of aphorisms is that you can get into Cioran's style and spirit very quickly and easily. I remember being enthralled as I rushed through page after page of these aphorisms. Anathemas and Admirations also contains some excellent essays, most of them fairly short although the one on Joseph de Maistre is nearly long enough to be a book itself. I've reread the pithy essays on Beckett, Valéry, and Fitzgerald's The Crack-Up many times.

[Malone]

I agree entirely with gveranon. The Trouble With Being Born is my favourite of Cioran's works, and also happened to be the one he was most pleased with himself. Oh, and if you're looking for someone even less well-known and appreciated than CIoran, check out Albert Caraco: Say No To Life: Albert Caraco: A Pessimist for the Pantheon