No Longer Human

By: Osamu Dazai

Narrated by: David Shih

Length: 4 hrs and 13 mins

Publisher's Summary

Portraying himself as a failure, the protagonist of Osamu Dazai's No Longer Human narrates a seemingly normal life, even while he feels himself incapable of understanding human beings. Oba Yozo's attempts to reconcile himself to the world around him begin in early childhood, continue through high school, where he becomes a "clown" to mask his alienation, and eventually lead to a failed suicide attempt as an adult. Without sentimentality, he records the casual cruelties of life and its fleeting moments of human connection and tenderness.

©1958 New Directions Publishing Corporation (P)2016 Tantor

Critic Reviews

"The novel has a timeless quality: The struggle of the individual to fit into a normalizing society remains just as relevant today as it was at the time of writing." ( The Japan Times)

Reassuring in its bare-boned humanity

My girlfriend (who is French) gave this to me in book form for my birthday, and then I realized that Audible recently added it so I secretly listened to it instead.

I joke with her a lot about her French philosophical perspectives, you know 'laissez-faire', 'je ne sais pas' type stuff. And she talks a lot about the cultural differences between France and the States, especially when it comes to socializing. She refers to the social scene in the States as "The Masquerade", which I feel is pretty accurate.

Anyway! I should have expected this book would make some sort of Albert Camus-esque social commentary, but since it's from a Japanese author I didn't immediately jump to that conclusion. But it boy o boy is it similar, just like the other reviewer mentioned.

I think it really works in its own way though. Osamu Dazai gives his character a nagging need that is compelling and drives both the conflict and the unnerving ennui-imbued voice throughout.

There is something reassuring about getting inside the head of someone so troubled about their social identity. The struggle is intensely, intimately relateable, and that I think, is what great writing is about. It helps ease some of the larger existential anxiety, because you get the feeling that you aren't the only one.

There is a good amount of misogyny in this book though. While it is framed in the perspective of an admittedly perverted and "broken" young man, it still toes a line.

Also, as a Japanese book, translated into English and narrated by what sounds like an American, you can't really ask for a better performance.

6 of 6 people found this review helpful

If Camus was Japanese

If you could sum up No Longer Human in three words, what would they be?

Camus in Japan

What other book might you compare No Longer Human to and why?

The Stranger. Our protagonist feels disconnected from humanity, leading him down a path of self destruction

If you could take any character from No Longer Human out to dinner, who would it be and why?

UGH... none... I'd be afraid of being hit up for a heavy bar tab... or worse.

Any additional comments?

It's a punch in the gut that you are glad you received. Like Trainspotting, this is not something for when you are depressed. But it is a ride I highly encourage everybody take.

2 of 3 people found this review helpful

A Complex Book with A Monotone Narrator

There's no doubt that this is a complex story that weaves together a tale that is both depressing and insightful to the human experience. Just wish the narrator used more than 1 voice throughout the story.

I love it

I really feel for this book and wish he didn't end his life and continued creating works of art like this

interestingly human

I am not good at reviews for books, however, i enjoyed this book. It was recommend to me through Pewdiepie's book club. He did a good review on this book as well.

Masterpiece

I absolutely loved everything about this book. It handles everything perfectly and you can relate to at least some of the things and at the very least you will get a change in perspective.

At first i thought the book was describing me..

I have to listen to it one more time ... It was so hooking I couldn't stop listening to it.

I keep relistening to it over and over again

although this book was relatively a small book of 177p, it took me several days to look through it, not because it was not good but quite the contrary, this book captivated me to my core, how the writer explicitly displayed his emotions, how sometimes brutal and utterly honest he was, it was something quite unique in this world where everyone tries extra hard to be "nice", he was.. real, to himself and to the world around him, to me he was the abseloute human, a truthful one.

Good but confusing

A great book about the struggles of a man. I didn't understand everything but some.

Very Adult

The book dealt with intense feelings of isolation similarly to Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness.

Disqualified as a Human Being

i am surprised and glad an audiobook was produced of No Longer Human in English in 2016. i for more japanese literature of this period is produced at such a high quality.

2 of 5 people found this review helpful

Born miserable and selfish apparently.

Self-centred, pathetic, depressed, privileged idiot. Nothing interesting or relatable about his miserable life. I don't see any value in reading this book. The story is completely pointless and doesn't shed much light into anything. It's just a young guy who seems to have been born with a mental illness. The whole time he is miserable for no good reason. Couldnt empathise with him or understand why he's constantly unhappy despite being born into privilege and even getting plenty of women throwing themselves at him.

Waste of time.

0 of 2 people found this review helpful