Name: Book of Disquiet
ISBN: 9780811226943

Book of Disquiet

For the first time—and in the best translation ever—the complete Book of Disquiet, a masterpiece beyond comparison The Book of Disquiet is the Portuguese modernist master Fernando Pessoa’s greatest literary achievement. An “autobiography” or “diary” containing exquisite melancholy observations, aphorisms, and ruminations, this classic work grapples with all the eternal questions. Now, for the first time the texts are presented chronologically, in a complete English edition by master translator Margaret Jull Costa. Most of the texts in The Book of Disquiet are written under the semi-heteronym Bernardo Soares, an assistant bookkeeper. This existential masterpiece was first published in Portuguese in 1982, forty-seven years after Pessoa’s death. A monumental literary event, this exciting, new, complete edition spans Fernando Pessoa’s entire writing life.

What Hacker News says

Eric_GullichsenOct 2026

I had hoped the letter might be both conciliatory and provocative. For those troubled by the coexistence of apparent opposites, I recommend Hegel's sublation (Aufhebung), Crowley's crossing of the Abyss, and Pessoa's Book of Disquiet, in that order.

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ofalkaedMar 2026

I finally started reading The Book of Disquiet, which I have had sitting about for years. Quite surprised by it, has a far greater range than people make it out to have and some amazing humor. It is turning out to be one of the most fascinating books I have read.

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jorl17Nov 2025

Oh, sure!

1. The Book of Disquiet by Bernardo Soares/Fernando Pessoa ("Livro do Desassossego" in the original Portuguese)

2. 1984 by George Orwell

3. The Unbearable Lightness of Being by Milan Kundera

4. The Design of Everyday Things by Don Norman

5. (As mentioned) The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde

It doesn't make much sense, but between 1. and 2. I'd put all of the currently known poetry and prose by Álvaro de Campos, Alberto Caeiro, and Ricardo Reis (in that order). I have a 3-book collection with this.

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nathiasAug 2021

I won't read NYT, but I do recommend the Book of Disquiet to anyone with a soul

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pmohunJul 2021

Excited to see Fernando Pessoa on HN. He's easily my favorite poet. The Book of Disquiet is under appreciated and I've recommended it to many friends.

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travelbyphoneApr 2021

I recommend everyone to read “The Book of Disquiet” by Bernardo Soares, a semi-heteronym of Fernando Pessoa.

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