So, what's this little book about? Let's break it down.

The Story

Memnon is a regular guy who wakes up one day with a grand idea: he will become perfectly wise. He makes a list of rules. No strong emotions. No getting involved in other people's business. No trusting flatterers. He will be a rock of reason. Almost immediately, his plan unravels. He tries to help his neighbor and gets entangled in a lawsuit. He decides to give wise advice to a prince and ends up exiled. He falls for a beautiful woman who turns out to be a con artist, taking him for everything he's worth. Each step he takes toward his ideal of wisdom leads him deeper into folly and disaster. By the end, a celestial being (a sort of angel or spirit) shows up to deliver the punchline: aiming for perfect, divine wisdom as a human is a fool's errand. We're built to be imperfect.

Why You Should Read It

I love this story because it's so relatable. Who hasn't made a New Year's resolution or a big life plan that crumbled by February? Voltaire isn't just making fun of Memnon; he's highlighting the beautiful, frustrating comedy of being human. Our best intentions often clash with the unpredictable world and our own flawed natures. The writing is crisp and witty—there's no extra fat on this story. Every sentence drives the joke and the lesson home. It's a masterclass in satire that doesn't feel preachy. You laugh at Memnon's misfortunes, but you also see yourself in his stubborn desire to control the uncontrollable.

Final Verdict

This is a perfect bite-sized piece of Voltaire. It's ideal for anyone who enjoys sharp humor, philosophical ideas wrapped in a good story, or classic literature but doesn't want to commit to a huge novel. If you like fables, parables, or stories with a moral that doesn't hit you over the head, you'll get a kick out of Memnon. It's also great for book clubs—there's so much to discuss in so few pages. Think of it as a espresso shot of Enlightenment thinking: strong, quick, and wonderfully bracing.