No Longer Human

What it is about

Osamu Dazai’s novel is framed as notebooks written by Ōba Yōzō, who experiences social life as an incomprehensible performance and hides fear behind clowning, alcohol, sex, and self-destruction. The spare confession examines alienation, shame, dependency, class transition, and the unstable boundary between candid self-exposure and manipulative self-narration. I keep it on this shelf because I want to let another life disturb my own habits of thought.

Why I keep it

Dazai failing to be a person. Too close some nights.

Key ideas

Beside it on the shelf · Literature & Fiction