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james_j_igoe's review against another edition
5.0
Although the first half of the book, devoted to ideas of philosophical pessimism was overly long - so many seemingly repeated ideas - it redeemed itself repeatedly with shots of brilliant laugh-out-loud dark humor. The second half, comprised of mini-biographies of great 'pessimist' philosophers, was straightforward providing background and insight, but again, accompanied with a sharp wit.
_tourist's review against another edition
2.0
Caused me to physically roll my eyes on a regular basis. A 400 page recommendation for better books.
jhhughes's review
challenging
dark
slow-paced
3.0
Others have said better than I why this book is not a recommended read. There are glimpses of good writing, but 200 pages of aphorisms suggests the potential for further editing. But there are glimpses of interesting, original thought and the odd refreshing turn of phrase that keeps you reading in the hope for more.
roaming_enn's review against another edition
4.0
This book contains meditations, aphorisms, and fragments of Thacker's ideas on pessimism. For example: "The logic of pessimism [who knew that such a thing as 'pessimism' would have a logic] moves through three refusals: saying no to the world as it is (or, Schopenhauer's tears); saying yes to the world as it is (or, Nietzsche's laughter); and refusing to say either 'yes' or 'no' (or, Cioran's sleep). Crying, laughing, sleeping--what other responses are adequate to a world that seems so indifferent?"
The second half contains meditations of the figures Thacker chooses to be patron saints of pessimism: Nicolas Chamfort, E.M. Cioran, Joseph Joubert, Søren Kierkegaard, Giacomo Leopardi, Georg Christoph Lichtenberg, Philipp Mainländer, Michel de Montaigne, Friedrich Nietzsche, Blaise Pascal, Arthur Schopenhauer, and Miguel de Unamuno, the date centered around a turning point with each of the individuals.
The second half contains meditations of the figures Thacker chooses to be patron saints of pessimism: Nicolas Chamfort, E.M. Cioran, Joseph Joubert, Søren Kierkegaard, Giacomo Leopardi, Georg Christoph Lichtenberg, Philipp Mainländer, Michel de Montaigne, Friedrich Nietzsche, Blaise Pascal, Arthur Schopenhauer, and Miguel de Unamuno, the date centered around a turning point with each of the individuals.
bibliocyclist's review
Silence is the most adequate form of expression.
A philosophy exists between the axiom and the sigh. Pessimism is the wavering, the hovering.
A philosophy exists between the axiom and the sigh. Pessimism is the wavering, the hovering.
stephen_coulon's review against another edition
3.0
The first half of this work incorporates pessimistic proverbs and aphorisms original from Thacker and borrowed from sundry literary, religious, and philosophical sources throughout time. It's a morose and depressing melange, enjoyable in small measures for fellow pessimists and para-misanthropists, but its lack of narrative direction dissolves interest rather quickly. The real strength of the book is the second half which sketches out the lives and work of a dozen "Patron Saints of Pessimism," mostly existential philosophers (reflecting Thacker's scholarly expertise) mixed in with some literary and religious figures. These profoundly written summaries are engaging and often humorous, and importantly they highlight how pessimism, despair, anxiety, and depression serve as necessary elements in the aggregate of any truly authentic approach to individual living and to the shaping of societies.
gotterdammerung's review
4.0
An excellent collection of aphorisms and brief biographical sketches of the great pessimists.
Largely, the aphorisms or brief sentences were hit and miss, but that is due to the impossibly high bar established by better thinkers and writers. Don Paterson is a much better source of aphorisms in English, for example.
The real jewel of this book comes in the latter half when Thacker tries to analyze the great pessimists. This was enough to convince me to start reading the rest of Thacker's books.
Largely, the aphorisms or brief sentences were hit and miss, but that is due to the impossibly high bar established by better thinkers and writers. Don Paterson is a much better source of aphorisms in English, for example.
The real jewel of this book comes in the latter half when Thacker tries to analyze the great pessimists. This was enough to convince me to start reading the rest of Thacker's books.
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