The Dark Side: Thoughts on the Futility of Life from the Ancient Greeks to the Present

by Alan R. Pratt (Compiler)

Briefly traces the history of nihilism, offers a chronological selection of quotes describing the meaninglessness of life, and includes brief profiles of the darkest thinkers

Genres: Philosophy, Nonfiction

286 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 1994

Reviews

[Zeke Chase · Rating 3 out of 5]

“Listen to the herd’s ever-louder bleating for order, equality and entertainment. Potent narcotics, frightening cults, and stupefying non-participatory amusements – more vapid than anyone ever thought possible – pander to the geometrically multiplying masses.” - From “Interview with a Nihilist”, in the preface section.

That portion of the preface alone made this book worth it. I can’t quote the entire thing, but it’s brilliant. The rest of the book is a collection of negative or nihilistic quotes throughout the ages. It can be perused with a waning interest. Hardly worth it, I’m tempted to say, for the price (books on nihilism tend to go out of print fairly quickly, and you’ll be hard pressed to find a copy for a $1.12 on Alibris), but then again, there’s that “Interview with a Nihilist”.

[Awet Moges · Rating 5 out of 5]

Comprehensive collection of nihilistic quotes written or said by thinkers from the Book of the Dead to Richard Rorty. The quotes range from the skeptical to pessimistic, but they add up to a nihilistic litany of insights. Pratt contributed with short paragraphs detailing the dark underbelly of each succeeding zeitgeist, particularly well done and wide ranging. A must for any personal or public library.

[James Henderson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an entertaining (using the word somewhat loosely) selection of thoughts on the futility of life. The thinkers represented include both famous and not so famous names. I found the brief quotes or aphorisms sometimes resonated with my outlook on life, but just as often did not.