Super Short Summary

Zorba the Greek by Nikos Kazantzakis follows an intellectual narrator and his friendship with the exuberant and life-loving Zorba during their venture to operate a lignite mine in Crete. The novel highlights their differing personalities and philosophies of life, as the bookish narrator learns from Zorba's passionate approach to living and experiences conflict between his intellectual pursuits and worldly desires. The book contains instances of violence and discusses themes of death and grief.