Pessimistic books recommendations
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Pessimistic books recommendations
- G Duda
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'All is for the best, in the best of all possible worlds.'
It is a great read indeed.
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A semi-autobiographical novel that provides a bleak portrayal of mental illness and societal expectations.
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Can I ask what exactly you mean by a pessimistic book?Danna Vergara wrote: ↑04 Sep 2023, 23:18 Hi, I'd like to read some pessimistic books now that I'm feeling tired of those motivational authors.
- Ceildric
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As far as fiction goes, I would recommend Bret Easton Ellis' books, particularly Less than Zero and American Psycho. While they are probably more accurately called nihilist, one can certainly walk away with a feeling of pessimism for the state of humanity. They do a wonderful job of capturing and dramatizing certain cultural trends which, in some ways, have only gotten worse since the time of original publication.
I think the H.P. Lovecraft's work also can be taken as often pessimistic, as his stories frequently feature individuals confronting horrors that are horrific, not because they are morally evil, but because they are so beyond human comprehension. Lovecraft was troubled most of his life by a crushing awareness of how small humanity's place in the universe is.
As far as non-fiction, I would start with the works of Arthur Schopenhauer.