Thomas Ligotti - The Conspiracy Against the Human Race BOOK REVIEW

[@stingerlvl3]

I've read the book multiple times in the past few years. Hilarious/excellent review. Unfortunately, humor is probably only but one of a few things we can use to successfully get through our lives without going totally insane with existential fear and despair. Subscribed.

[@danielchilds8327]

“To my mind, a well-developed sense of humor is the surest indication of a person's humanity, no matter how black and bitter that humor may be.” ― Thomas Ligotti

[@AREZD1]

Oh Humor is what both Zapffe, Ligotti or Shoppenhauer for example missed. Acutally even Pizolatto understood very well that the story wouldn't work without Marty. Rust without Marty rolling his eyes isn't what is loved so much about TD. its both. The Depressed antisocial rebel loner and the "what the fucks wrong with you man" and honestly... i would ask Schoppenhauer the same thing. Ligotti is clearly more an artist then an Heideger or Schopenhauer yet he nails it. Aem.. also Albert Camus wrote way better answers to these Questions that arent soaked in "pls all go away". I also love "pls all go away", but from a philosophical standpoint = naja. *need to write comment. need to distract me from absurd reality, war and the fact that smoking and drinking costs more then I have. hahaha

[@Dunge0n]

@@AREZD1 You don't know the human animal enough to hate it yet. Read Evola. Then examine the differences in rape, assault and 'hate crime' statistics among Western populations. The boat is sinking, wretches are stabbing at the floor and the rest are too cowardly to throw them overboard.

[@AREZD1]

​@@Dunge0n Materialism is quite boring, just my opinion. And the human suffering is a deep ocean my friend, shrug. And idk im german, i dont need a lecture about "evil", im good.

[@mildredalayon7095]

I read Ernest Becker's The Denial of Death when I was 18. I loved it and no, it didn't make me depressed. Didn't we always know that we wouldn't make out of here alive?

[@mikhael.j7]

Lucky man

[@Birmanncat]

This is what I needed. Thank you

[@konyvnyelv.]

Read Yuval Noah harari. He will annihilate any possibility of making sense of your life

[@Dunge0n]

It's made me more insane, hateful and my anger issues 10x worse. I love it. It's great having my coworkers shut up whenever they see me and get on edge. I used to be so terrified of people. Now people wonder when I'm going to snap, again.

[@jerryrichardson2799]

I had a copy of it a long time ago, he was an interesting guy who died kind of young.

[@AlchemicalForge91]

pessimism is paradoxically a life saver. it releases deep deep subconscious grips and tangled threads.

[@BNK2442]

I discovered Ligotti is a bad period of my life. Werdly, it made me less depressed. Before it was hard to want to get out of bed. Then I read about him and finally had the confront my feelings: I didn't like being alive. This actually made me kind of proactive, in some paradoxical way.

[@user-sy3vk6cb3x]

Likewise, big time.

[@hansfrankfurter2903]

Validation and an outlet for expression really helps recovery.

[@Darniros]

In the great words of Cioran: "formulated, everything becomes more tolerable"

[@Narratorthefightclub]

im worse than i was before and i was really bad even before

[@farzinmoridi]

You didn't just summarize the book, but how it felt. Feels good to know someone else is going through the same things, and experienced it a similar way. Thanks man. Now time to leave this house and be MALIGNANTLY USELESS.

[@threeletteragent]

We went to see some little show That was staged in an old shed Past the edge of town And in its beginnings all seemed well The miniature curtain stage glowed in the darkness While those dolls bounced along on their strings before our eyes And in its beginnings all seemed well But then there came a subtle turning point which some have noticed And I was one Who quietly left the show No, I did not Because I could see where things were going As the antics of those dolls grew strange And the fragile strings grew taut With their tiny pullings, tiny limbs The others around me became appalled And turned away and abandoned the show That was staged in an old shed Past the edge of town But I wanted to witness what could never be I wanted to see what could not be seen But the moment of consummate disaster When puppets turn to face the puppet master Ligotti also writes some damn good free verse.

[@eduardoribeiroucv9630]

I have a special plan for this world

[@deplorableaussie6749]

​@@eduardoribeiroucv9630 well you better put it into action, quickly.

[@sanin3213]

Where is that from?

[@utqiagvik1991]

​@@sanin3213 Current 93 - I Have A Special Plan For This World.

[@EmilioVega-q3g]

this book didn’t really depress me, it made me realize I was already a pessimist.

[@jdstarek]

Somehow I am heartened that there are other completely jaded, cynical and emotionally lethargic people out there. All this time I've been concerned that I'm s sociopath, could it be that I'm simply a philosopher crippled by awareness?

[@BetterThanFoodBookReviews]

jason starek it's all meant to be taken with a metaphysical grain of salt. Some days are fully of darkness. Some days aren't. Both are true.

[@fnsilly8983]

Better Than Food: Book Reviews I thought they were influenced by Arthur Schopenhauer

[@hellinterface6721]

I think you're mixing up being a sociopath with one who has a philosophically pessimistic outlook on life.

[@mgway4661]

Does your realization of x,y,z cause you to have a desire to hurt others? I would think not

[@saxon8981]

@@BetterThanFoodBookReviews false only objective reality is true not our perceptions of it

[@kevinhellon4348]

Another thing to consider is Tom Ligotti has the condition Anhedonia. His inability to feel any degree of happiness or contentment must be considered. Not to say many of his ideas don't have bearing on my existence. Good stuff. I would be interested in your ideas regarding antinatalist writers. Many of the titles you seem to admire, at the very least, rub elbows with the philosophy.

[@afikanto4126]

Most people who come to this conclusion start to suffer from anhedonia. It's a result not the cause.

[@Dzanarika1]

Anhedonia is a symptom. This life causes that in people.

[@cidicorp]

As a counter-weight of sorts to this book I highly recommend "The End of All Evil" by Jeremy Locke. I heard of it initially from Mark Passio. It's a book that completely changed my life and made me reevaluate everything I was thinking and doing. In short summary it basically states that morality is not relative, as we are taught to believe, and authority is a construct(which stems from the basic human fear of predators). It's almost impossible to find an english physical copy, but it's readily available online for free. I hope you enjoy it and reap some interesting thoughts from it.

[@beingsshepherd]

I say authority's a whip, to satisfy society's sadistic unconscious.

[@haleywilson520]

I'm reading this now and I'm not very far in yet, but weirdly it's not as depressing as I thought it'd be. The man has got some good points, and whether I agree fully or not, I'm finding that opening myself up to go along with the premises he's presenting is weirdly illuminating.

[@pseudohuman2645]

Both pessimism and optimism are just foggy lenses through which reality is interpreted. At the end of the day, reality just IS.

[@therenegades7329]

Yeah, I live like there's no tomorrow, so it motivates me to live life to the fullest

[@chaitalichatterjee4742]

How are so sure this is reality better'use the term consensus reality

[@talesofacrookedmouth]

@@chaitalichatterjee4742 in this analogy, better use the term consensus everything, because how are we so sure about anything resulting of reality? This is why existential philosophy has rules to keep being proactive

[@Dunge0n]

3.5% of non-familial violent assaults nationwide (black males aged 13 to 35). 65% of non-familial violent assaults nationwide.

[@Dunge0n]

Reality is SHIT

[@silverblue73]

The real question is, how does Ligotti continue to live?

[@kalashnikov1997]

I asked myself the same question. I think it's because comitting suicide is really difficult.

[@apersiannihilist5632]

silversaint it's simple Bcuz he doesn't wanna suicide and doesn't want anyone else to The whole point of his book is to admit the harsh truth which is the insignificance of our existence He had a point , he approved it ! The big question is , for someone who doesn't a give a shit about anything and for a nihilist! Why would u publish a book to prove ur point !?! It doesn't matter anyway !!!! The end is paradox !

[@strange_charm_x]

silversaint Who better to answer this question than Ligotti himself. Pg 50 of this book Some critics of the pessimist often think that they have their back to the wall when they blithely jeer, "If that is how this fellow feels, he should either kill himself or be declared a hypocrite." That the pessimist should kill himself in order to live up to his ideas may be counterattacked as betraying such a crass intellect that it does not deserve a response. Simply because someone has reached the conclusion that the amount of suffering in this world is enough that anyone would be better off never having been born does not mean that by force or sincerity he must kill himself. It only means he has concluded that the amount of suffering in this world is enough that anyone would be better off never having been born. Others may disagree on this point as it pleases them, but they must accept that if they believe themselves to have a stronger case than the pessimist, then they are mistaken.

[@benjaminhartwell9404]

" I tell myself I bear witness, but the real answer is that's it's... obviously my programming. And I lack the constitution for suicide."

[@theslyngl]

Out of spite for idiotic optimists

[@Smashing_Bumpkin]

I’m actually the complete opposite of a pessimist. I’ve had such the troubled life early on, that now I’m just truly positive and thrive off of ambition. I will be starting on this book soon. Hopefully I come out with a stronger and positive outlook on life.. Or maybe I’ll become undoubtedly depressed.. we’ll see!

[@amimir1561]

How did it go?

[@majimasmajimemes1156]

Uh oh. I don't think it went well.

[@uvindukulathunga3860]

Its not about depression otherhumans caised on you Its the depression about your verry exhistance If you deny it , you are just naive 🤷

[@whoareweforrealwhatsthetruth]

bro committed suic!0e

[@carlos66965]

@@uvindukulathunga3860 Dude, "i'm right and you're wrong" is not a valid philosophical debate. Which is basically what ALL philosophical debate is anyway.

[@colbysmith2668]

Penguin has recently re-released Ligotti's first two short story collections -- Songs of a Dead Dreamer and Grimscribe -- in a single volume for their Classics line. Potential review?

[@ConvincingPeople]

G. R. R. Tolkien Songs of a Dead Dreamer is one of my favourite collections of short stories ever, and is arguably up there as one of the most important horror collections of the last fifty years.

[@Tennantude]

"Can I just pretend I didn't read it and be happy again?" That should pretty much be the forward for the book.

[@gero3015]

And it fits in perfectly to Zapffe's proposition that we have to limit parts of our awareness and try to keep the exisitential dread that seeps in from an overly conscious mind (or so that's the idea im getting right now as I'm reading through Ligotti's excerpts of him in the book)

[@LightningBearer12]

People like Ligotti present an interesting angle, and I can't say I think they're entirely wrong. The problem is, any assessment of human existence as something inherently bad implies some standard of "good" that isn't being met. It seems to stem from disappointment that life isn't behaving the way we think it should. Yet, if life is as fundamentally meaningless as we're led to believe, that sense of disappointment is, itself, a delusion. Existence merely is. Good and bad doesn't enter into it. Our experience /of/ existence, whether positive or negative, is literally all in our head. In the end, it doesn't make sense to me /not/ to find some kind of happiness or enjoyment. Maybe it's all a distraction. Maybe it won't change the inevitability of our demise. But neither will the existential equivalent of pouting about it. If it's all in our head anyway, we might as well make In-Our-Head a pleasant place to be. Because what's the alternative?

[@BetterThanFoodBookReviews]

"If life is an illusion, it's a pretty painful one." - Michel Houellebecq Thanks for watching/commenting mate ;)

[@Vindsvelle]

I ain't yo' Houellebecq Girl.

[@1000yearswordling]

when people say "life is inherently bad" what they mean is "the reality we have to experience isn't very nice." I agree that there's nothing inherently good or bad because those are social constructs, but your response to it seems to sidestep what's being talked about more than address it. who cares if it's all in our heads? it's unacceptable nonetheless also the alternative to finding happiness, or more likely failing to find happiness, is suicide and I encourage everyone to kill themselves as quickly and painlessly as possible. though the treachery of existence and our evolution ensures that suicide is often out of our reach, but books like these help us ease into the idea that we should destroy everything around us as thoroughly as possible until we can ensure our total destruction and preferably the destruction of all things

[@BetterThanFoodBookReviews]

justaguy500 I completely agree. Certainly my review is cynical, but I can't even take myself seriously in this review now a days. Seems profoundly self absorbed, but still sarcastically humorous.

[@haben9464]

Glad to hear that, cause this book sounds like an angsty teenage boy wrote the thesis. The only upside to this review is that it makes me want to read this and really take it apart. Encountering material that challenges my worldview is such fun: In life it's a choice what meaning you take out of your existence. Until I saw your recent comment I was really worried to see how broken you seemed by this book in the review. That's the tragedy of smart people writing stupid shit, they're persuasive and hard to argue with, especially if you're in a vulnerable state to listen and absorb their bullshit. Just cause someone sounds smart doesn't mean their arguing for the truth. Just cause something sounds depressing doesn't mean it's closer to the truth than something more uplifting. You tend to believe what you read based on what state of mind you're in while reading it. Therefore, don't read sad shit when you're sad and challenge yourself with some darker stuff when you're strong enough to contemplate it without putting out your own light.

[@Torgo1969]

The amount of suffering in the natural world and in the human world is beyond our endurance to contemplate, so we have to radically limit our consciousness in order to get through the day. Yet our consciousness is that which separates us from the rest of the natural world. It's no secret that human happiness is greatest when we are consumed with the mundane requirements of workaday survival and sexual reproduction or else in distraction or escapism instead of using our full consciousness to confront the suffering of the world.

[@beingsshepherd]

How does one measure the suffering of another?

[@grandgrundle6662]

Have you read "The King in Yellow" by Chambers?

[@josephmalatesta9513]

Thomas Ligotti is a genius.

[@gregentertainment3372]

Emil Cioran was before Ligotti. Cioran is a brilliant writer and thinker

[@Dionysiandreams]

gregentertainment Schopenhauer was before that winey romanian

[@gregentertainment3372]

@@Dionysiandreams Ok, but Cioran is so specific, and he is such a talented writer that he is completely unique. I would recommend.

[@Dionysiandreams]

gregentertainment Specific? In what way? I have red him. He has some useful observations but most of it is just whining in my ears. Get some courage man! Id like to tell him. Just try and look at reality without judging for one time in your life. But we cant do that...

[@gregentertainment3372]

@@Dionysiandreams You believe in sense. I do not and Cioran did not. He was very consistent in it.

[@michaelshannon9169]

Your air of superiority is revolting, the wearisome smugness that emanates from your gaze and the occasional wry, condescending smile is more than I can bare! It must be hard having to share space with us degenerate smooth brainers! Subbed.

[@jerryrichardson2799]

_The Unnamable Present_ by Roberto Calasso, The Immortalization Commission_ and _Black Mass_ by John Gray, and _The Pusuit of the Millennium_ by Norman Kohn. I have _The Conspiracy Against the Human Race,_ but I haven't read it yet. Ligotti's weird fiction is excellent, and I think of him as _the_ inheritor of Poe and Lovecraft.

[@dontcare843]

Been my avatar since day one. One of three major influences on my only published book. Perhaps I should have read it a few more times before each of my other books. Very well-done vid/review.

[@mrhay6904]

I just started this book a few days ago after references from True Detective as well as Ligotti's interest in H.P. Lovecraft. It's very interesting. I wouldn't suggest anyone with a history of depression or suicidal tendencies read this book. Otherwise I think it makes some very interesting points.

[@johnmiller7453]

I see no reason that anyone should forgo this book for any reason. The issue with most of the suffering in humanity is denial of reality imo.

[@allahbless2278]

Lmao those people should be the main ones to read it,stop being weak and petty

[@sultanaljuhani1571]

too late, I'm half way through the book haha

[@klegend0]

There doesn’t need to be a point to life , stop and smell the flowers whenever you are near them and that’s it , why do we feel the need to be remembered or important, I believe life is a buffet and the person that wins taste the most foods or at least spend most time on foods worth eating

[@konyvnyelv.]

We don't need meaning for pleasure but for suffering

[@BayardRandel]

Ligotti is one of a handful of writers that I hold dear, but can rarely in good conscience recommend. Thanks for the review. Your assertion that *any* book could possibly be better than Hakata style tonkotsu ramen though is pretty sketchy.

[@seeuathebeach]

Then recommend him in bad conscience man!

[@onelasttenderplace]

This book sounds so good. Can't wait to read it. I find the theories of pessimism and anti-natalism so interesting. p.s. I like your face. a lot.

[@BetterThanFoodBookReviews]

+nadja jukič ;)

[@bwrp7977]

How you just going to flash a copy of Fanged Noumena like that? Would love to see a review, although I know that would be a huge undertaking. Do you follow either of his blogs?

[@michealhuxel268]

If anyone sees this recent comment, there's a podcast on Spotify, goes by the name "Philosophize This". Now, he doesn't mention this book at all, it's unrelated to anything Ligotti. But he has a brief overview of the Philosophy of Suffering which gives a brief overview of some very basic ideas in Ligotti's book. And there's also a philosopher by the name of Schopenhauer that Ligotti discussed frequently in the book, and the podcast has a two or three part series, maybe an hour in total, thats really worth a listen.

[@timpadleki8384]

This is a dangerous read. My brain still can't fathom such conclusions. Read at your own risk!

[@dsmluck]

I could see how this book could really throw people off into a dark place. Then there are people like me who were depressed most of their lives trying to make meaning out of the madness. This book provided the answer. Life is useless and meaningless. I wish I would have come to that conclusion earlier in life. In some respects letting go of trying to find meaning has freed me from that suffering. I no longer question why life is the way it is, I just simply accept it and move on.

[@cabellocorto5586]

@@dsmluck This has been my journey as well. A lot of the existential angst I felt was because I felt like such an odd one out for not being able to be "what I should be", I felt a lot of pain that my life wasn't "what it should be". But this was a very affirming book to me. I've listened to the audiobook perhaps 4-5 times by now, and each time it bolsters me. I don't find any hope or joy or motivation to go on when I read a book about some positive aphorisms to tell yourself when you're feeling blue. Instead I just stopped trying to struggle so much for what I think things 'should be'. Why not? Life is malignantly useless and consciousness is parent of all horrors.

[@jesseroundy]

A few years ago in a fairly dark time during my life where for a month every night I would smoke heroin and then read a few pages of Emil M. Cioran until I can't keep my eyes open, nod off and fall asleep.

[@dustiny.334]

Thanks to your Channel I picked up Teatro Grottesco and loved it! Totally unrelated: do you enjoy Zizek?

[@NickBoston]

The scene in "The Clown Puppet" where he demands from the puppet for some sort of identification had me bursting out laughing. Ligotti represents a very unique and refreshing voice in a sea of otherwise mediocre horror story writers.

[@Smoothbluehero]

Be sure to do a review over some of Nick Land's books! I can't seem to find any video over Nick Land which is strange when you just mentioned one of his books.

[@BetterThanFoodBookReviews]

Yeah that dudes comin soon

[@seashells2191]

On the topic of pessimism I wouldn’t say it’s the best way of thinking, but that’s just my opinion …there’s no reason for being a alive in the end, all you can do is give yourself one.

[@lieutnantEfz]

Time is a square triangle

[@CuriousMan22]

I have read it. I don't claim to understand it fully, I found later half of the book confusing (where he has added some excerpts) I have a question-- Has Mr.Ligotti's chronic depression colored his perspective/view in this way??? Any thoughts? I may read this book again in the future. I am now waiting for a new book going to be published this year which is on the similar lines- by David Benatar- 'The Human Predicament'.

[@johnmiller7453]

The question being which came first the chicken or egg. I think anxiety is more an issue for him than depression.

[@piotrnowak5473]

Check out Romanian philosopher Emil Cioran, its even more depressive than Ligotti

[@Firespectrum122]

But I'm just a joker!

[@NickBoston]

I've really enjoyed your reviews. This one has been on my to-read list for a long time now, and I've read many of Ligotti's other works. You've convinced me. I just ordered it a few moments ago. Enjoy your trip!

[@johndee3868]

Thanks for making these Cliff. Always great.

[@donaldcunningham7793]

What do you get when you cross philosophical pessimism, Greek metaphysics, with Christian sensibilities? Gnosticism. That's why I didn't shoot myself upon reading this book… Excellent review by the way.

[@michaeldelisieux5252]

@Don A Cunningham "All we can do is to substitute one belief for another belief"! This keeps YOU going...It gives momentum to YOU to survive and thrive!

[@sharpenuf4156]

First video of yours that I've watched, and I enjoyed it quite a bit! I very much like your review style.

[@dogman8442]

Best piece of advice: "Don't die, read".

[@chadwilliams9141]

Days begin and quickly dwindle Cell growth slowing age sets in And like the quickness of turning the light switch the experience of whatever you believed this life was is gone. It's easier to accept the game and play it than believe you are something special another minor character in the grand play.

[@brendongreene]

reluctant to like this as it makes me feel like shit

[@Fireneedsair]

Kudos brother from 2023. Went to burning man back in the 90s and there was an arch that said “all ye who enter give up hope”. This timeless phrase is deeper than it seems. For hope, also called “hopium” is always in the future about that which we cannot control. So it is useless. But…it’s still hard to live without hope as one can slip into despair. I like pessimism,skepticism but despair sucks deeply. Good job..

[@lilo19951995]

it's interesting - when i read this book it helped me feel more sure that i was someone who does think life is worth living. i'm very glad i read it so i could understand the point of view, however, and a lot of what he described about pessimism in the context of depression was true to the experience i went through during my lowest point. in a strange way it was life-affirming for me

[@deathdemonist]

Have you read The Stranger by Albert Camus?

[@BetterThanFoodBookReviews]

Yes, I enjoyed it very much.

[@apersiannihilist5632]

I f***** loved it Such a paradoxical journey The character is so powerful

[@jasonfinch3710]

Christian Eesa you fuck loved it?

[@enthdegree]

lmao

[@DiamorphineDeath]

Read this right after I finished high school, along withCrawford’s confessions of an antinatalist. All I remember is both books being finished during a particularly dark and stormy bit of Southern California rainstorms. Very interesting...dark, but interesting.

[@saxon8981]

edgy

[@johnmorris4914]

I must suggest that you take a look at Mitchell Heisman's Suicide Note.

[@Endlesnes]

I found this book after falling in love with S01 of true detective. I started reading this book and i felt the first part resonating with all my thoughts about life, having children et cetera. Now i'm depressed :) :D

[@Torgo1969]

What's depressing is how much the show writer Nick P stole from Ligotti with very little public acknowledgement.

[@keithhunt5328]

@@Torgo1969 Have your read Jon Padgett who called out Nick for stealing Ligotti'e ideas? He has only one book and it's awesome.

[@jackloo7233]

I am Catholic, so reading this was a very interesting experience! A good book, though, full of interesting ideas and good writing. Of course, Thomas would assert that I am furthering the conspiracy to the highest order. And that is fine. We all see the world uniquely.

[@ohdannyboy4727]

Man that book is great. I love it. I think it is an important work. Every human being should read it even if they dont agree with it. Just to experience a different argument that humans are not as great as we think we are. while the philosophy and thoughts in the book are depressing and morbid. There is a strange comfort in it. That consciousness is all we have. So it's just another outlook on life. An outlook most people wont ever care to acknowledge. You have to have a certain comprehension in how humans have acted on this planet to appreciate it. How we treat each other and the world we live on to appreciate it.

[@wyrdhorror6898]

I've been meaning to check out Conspiracy Against The Human Race. Thanks for the review.

[@teddydog6229]

Hey on a totally irrelevant note or maybe not so irrelevant considering its plot summary - have you read Melmoth the Wanderer ? It's a nice fat Gothic novel and the darker the better. Lewis's 'The Monk' shook me up in places I didn't know I had.

[@90RavenBlack]

I'd love to see you give an in-depth review to some of Ligotti's fiction. Anything by him really, it's all good. :)

[@273A411C]

what are the other books that the writer of True Detective was inspired by ?

[@Master-Roshi]

In The Dust Of This Planet

[@cupandmouse]

I wonder what's hard about kidding yourself about reality, human life and consciousness. Unless thinking like this makes you happy, why not be ignorantly bliss or 'delude' yourself into a more optimistic viewpoint. Because from this perspective I don't see any reason to live other than happiness, so use the most efficient means to attain this, or just die, because what's the point in anything else. Anyway purchasing the book now, hoping it won't let me down (Ligotti would probably tell me not to get my hopes up?)

[@sirvival8169]

I never understood the problem. If the truth only makes me suffer, then I don't want it.

[@Dapryor]

Many well thought out philosophies can be convincing if you spend enough time absorbing them. I think the trick is to adapt one that allows you to live a fulfilled existence without compromising your intelligence or self-respect.

[@redpyramidthing6586]

I know this video is a bit old but I would like to ask for a book recommendation to recover after reading The Conspiracy Against the Human Race. Thank you

[@LeaD2000]

Red Pyramid Thing Hey, I can’t offer any book recommendation to “recover” from this, but I can tell you what works for me. The contents of the book come as no surprise to me, so it’s not like I’m in any shock. There is nothing any of us can do to prevent our own existence - the only thing we can do is spare our potential descendents of it by not creating them. Now that we’re here, we might as well do something with our time, and make the most of it while we can. I hope this helped a little bit.

[@ryanxvx]

Would love to see you review some of his fiction.

[@mdf96]

This book feels like an absurd and disturbing joke, but the joke is on you and there's no laughter.

[@IAmVenix]

i’m no stranger to pessimist philosophy and LOVED this book. it could almost breed a genre of post-pessimism or something of the like. I got much more catharsis in this book than I did sadness or depression, it is one of the most honest philosophy books I’ve read on the subject.

[@DuffyJ1111]

I'm currently about halfway through this book right now. I have recently been trying to learn more about pessimistic philosophy. Thank you for the review.

[@dwhittz93]

Great review channel man! Been looking for this sort of book selection for a while now.

[@9-nine-ix528]

Ligotti's work somehow brings me comfort. Goddamn, but I'm jaded.

[@ПавелДёмин-щ9ц]

Понимаю

[@alpenlandhermit2181]

Nice review regardless of which stalemated side you uselessly stand on. By the way you should really check out emil cioran (a true pessimist with a wonderfully elegant aphoristic method of writing more similar to poetry than traditional pessimistic philosophy). On the heights of despair, the trouble with being born and a short history of decay are all great. Schopenhaur's essays and aphorisms (which you know about from reading ligotti's book) is amazing too. Have you ever read any of Zapffe? I have not yet.

[@agh0x01]

I found an ebook of Zappfe's The Last Messiah online somewhere. If you google a bit you probably will too.

[@saithegreat1]

This book really fucked me up and scared the shit out of me, anyone have any tips to make me forget about ever reading this or coming to terms with it, would be great to know there are other people out there who were like me and are now fine.

[@saithegreat1]

please

[@TheLysholdt]

Hang in there, buddy!

[@saithegreat1]

have you read it?

[@TheLysholdt]

+Sai Konan No, I have only read bits of it on the internet and videos like this on youtube. Just felt that you needed a pad on the shoulder :) I have no recipe for coping with the implications of reading it all, i'm afraid...

[@saithegreat1]

oh cool thanks man. dont read it though haha

[@vicicv985]

Tyvm for making mine day :) I lost hope in youtube then i found this channel. Im fan of books and pls tell me did you read anything from Amelie Nothomb? Sry for bad english..

[@BetterThanFoodBookReviews]

I'm very happy to hear it, I have not heard of Amelie Nothomb, I'll check it out, thanks for watching/recommending Vice!

[@sangyedorje]

Interestingly, the writing in this book is HILLARIOUS, I love it.

[@adampond6099]

Completely unrelated but have you ever read any Haruki Murakami? Be interested to know what you think?

[@andyandson3700]

"What happens when a puppet thinks it has an individual will and purpose". If a puppet *thinks* it has a will, it has a will. If something *thinks* it desires, it desires. If something *thinks* that it thinks, then it thinks. COGITO ERGO SUM or better still CUPIO ERGO SUM :-)

[@titchysalmon]

Hey, thank you for this. I'm actually reading this book right now. I sympathise with your shell-shock! ;) One suggestion for reading (though it's a mammoth text ...) is Robert Musil's "The Man Without Qualities." That, my friend, is a book. Very best. J

[@misslady2470]

I actually want to read this now !!!!! I WAS JUST Telling my bf these very things today wow ty ty ty ty like how does someone even get over these fax ?

[@sean..L]

I’m a fan of Shopenhaur and Lovecraft so this should be a good read.

[@lanenlson94]

Haven’t read the book yet but plan on it. Huge S1 true detective fan. Rust is by far one of my favorite fictional characters. I wonder tho if the book addresses various beliefs (not religion) of afterlife or multiple dimensions/universes. You can say all you want how pointless and miserable this life is but what if it’s just setting the stage for the next life?

[@davidaldridge9341]

Great review. Many thanks. Why not try "Haunted Universe" by Steven Norquist? Ligotti was very impressed by it, and in fact helped the author to produce the 2nd edition.

[@ZombieDragQueen]

It's like a review taken from "The Aperiodic Journal of Nihilism" magazine: "Book X by author Y certainly qualifies at being a book. It has pieces of paper bound in such a fashion that agrees upon the standards of book production. What sets this apart from a similarly bound notebook is that it already has words printed on the pages. The words are also put together in a cohesive and coherent way. I cannot say if this book is good or bad or if I recommend it or not. I can only say with certainty that based on my own empirical observations, this book exists."

[@sambad6539]

Just subbed!!! BTW have you read Father and son.

[@7eardstapa7]

Sardonic humor in the face of the yawning chasm of the horror of existence is the only way to endure it. Great review. 😁

[@KunjaBihariKrishna]

Damn.. I forgot I was reading this book. I got the gist of it, and it was a familiar way of thinking. It actually led me to a breakthrough and I ended up figuring out exactly what I want/need to do to help humanity

[@Sprite_525]

Check philosopher David Benatar’s book “better never to have been” if y’all liked this book

[@beammeupscotty3074]

I Loved This Book It Cheered Me Up (I love reading the truth but almost NEVER encounter it in our Bullship world_)

[@willytrolls]

This world is a hell hole.

[@Theexpectatior1745]

I am loving the book. Read it when I was feeling down. In the wrong (or right) person could be suicidaly inducing, but I have no regrets

[@cliffordbaker1323]

"You're probably sitting there on the other side, with your arms crossed, and a smirk on your face. You might even be laughing." HAH! Yes.. yes I am. Great video, I had to go kiss my family after reading this book with a crawling sense of dread.

[@BetterThanFoodBookReviews]

Thanks for watchin

[@breathevideopro]

This book is the only thing that has truly spoken to me when I've been at my worst. God save whichever coked up soul from last month's party stole my copy.

[@rustecohle591]

I like your channel. What's your favourite novel?

[@poeticdiscourse]

1:54 - *Fuck no* laughed so hard! Even though I think very similar thoughts to ligotti, I haven't read him or his ilk. Shits hard enough without speeding to a red light

[@PhoTo-so3tw]

Remember how 8 years ago there was no face tracking autofocus? God its hard to watch this in 2024 ))

[@pamelagemin2757]

Very enjoyable presentation! Pessimism does not, as many people feel, lead necessary turgid stagnation, nor is it antithetical to taking bold concerted action either. I'll try to paraphrase the best line from Bad of Brothers, the scene where a terrified trembling soldier, who can hardly control his behavior as he prepares to engage a formidable enemy is confronted by his cool and controlled sargeant. The sergeant tells him to "give up all hope/optimism of surviving the battle because hope is what is fueling your incapacitating fear. Instead, live as if you are already dead. Only then, with nothing to lose will you fight with the skill, strength, resolve, and discipline necessary to defeat the foe."

[@anshuman7113]

best lines ever...

[@RyuuRider]

That sounds like Stoicism's response to Pessimism. So I suppose any philosophy can attempt to answer the concerns of another, but I feel it's still a moot point whether or not the answer is correct.

[@zyxwfish]

At death is there anyone there to enjoy the non existence? Nope. We think of ourselves as units of perceiving but there is no such thing as a unit of un perceiving. Therefore a corpse exists within consciousness but actual death does not because there is no one there to experience it... I’m not saying there is an after life or reincarnation. I’m just saying no one has experienced death because in order to experience death there would have to be an after life. I haven’t read this book and don’t plan on it 🤷‍♂️

[@bensjammin92]

This book just made me understand the deep subconscious we all actually have yet most shy away from.

[@andysokayi]

You have just convinced me to buy this book, thank you lol. What a great therapy session I'm going to have with myself while reading this book.

[@MarcusTrawick]

This made me smile this morning. Good job! Realizing that we will die and born into a world of pain is only the first step toward nirvana, according to Buddhism.

[@paradiceislost9]

Have you ever read Blaise Cendrars's Moravagine?

[@BetterThanFoodBookReviews]

Nope, on the list, looks excellent, thanks!

[@Nico18_]

we are poisoned with time

[@JKfilmzor]

I enjoy these works because they represent a worthy existential challenge. While it is tempting to fall in with these ideas in my opinion life is more benevolent, cunning, adaptable and irrational than we acknowledge. It defies categorisation by any single philosophy.

[@TheTrueJuan]

Thank you ever so much for reviewing The Conspiracy Against the Human Race I adore Ligotti and was wondering if you had any recommendations for things to read similar in that pessimistic borderline nihilist fashion. Also what are others types of literature you enjoy? Also what are some writers you enjoy? From one bibliophile to another may you find something grand to read :)

[@BetterThanFoodBookReviews]

Thank you so much for watching Juan, other authors I'd recommend would be Nick Land's 'Thirst for Annihilation', Michel Houellebecq (anything and everything), Eden Eden Eden by Guyotat, Georges Bataille, 'Maldoror' by Lautreamont, Crash by J.G Ballard, 120 days of Sodom by Sade...Hope you get something out of these, please stay tuned. All of these folks I enjoy very much. I love all forms of literature but lately I just dash to the subversive stuff like a fat kid to cupcakes.

[@michellenachtigall7469]

***** Better Never to Have Been: The Harm of Coming into Existence by David Benatar

[@dinabda]

I've recently subscribed to your channel & I love your reviews! Please upload more videos!

[@Torgo1969]

I have always been an anti-natalist because I have always taken the concept of consent very seriously.

[@nietzschean3138]

Oh dear.

[@Needzzcoffy]

This book didn't really change much for me as I apparently Ive already adopted most of the ideas of what Thomas posits. I was an anti-natalist at least 8 years before I even knew what that meant. I say specifically 8 years because of an incident that happened once back then that most people would see and benign and ridiculous to even consider as a paradigm changing day. But it did affect me. Thanks for your review.

[@robertmoore8602]

I'm in the same boat as you. As George Orwell said "The best books, he perceived, are those that tell you what you know already." Another great part about this book was the references though for me. 2 in particular tolstoy's "a confession" and peter wessel zappfe's pessimistic philosophical work.