This is what it means to be human, I tell you: Freedom!

The Life and Times of Alexis Zorba is a story about spirit and flesh. It was first published in Greece in 1946 and is based on the life of Georgis Zorba, a friend and business associate of the author. In this book, the contradiction-filled soul of Kazantzakis takes shape in prose, as his contemplative mood is revealed once again.

However, with a significant difference: Kazantzakis manages to imbue his reflections with a lighthearted tone, transforming them into a free, unimpeded narrative. More specifically, the contradiction-filled soul, as it has been said, which directs his worldview, revolves mainly around the author's central concern in The Life and Times of Alexis Zorba: the struggle between man's will for freedom and, ultimately, the adversities he faces.

This call to Action is embodied by Zorba, who, as a model, perpetuates this Action. At the end of the day, however, the author returns to his truth, which is encapsulated in Zorba's phrase: "You too could have seen a beautiful green stone once in your life, you poor wretch, but you didn’t."

In my life, my greatest benefactors have been travel and dreams; very few people, alive or dead, have helped my struggle. However, if I wanted to highlight which people left deeper traces on my soul, I might single out three or four: Homer, Berxson, Nietzsche, and Zorba.