I recommend Emil Cioran, probably the most based author regarding depression and suicide

[Plentiful_Despair]

His by far best book in my opinion is "The trouble with being born". The way this guy writes is not only beautiful and (mostly) simple to understand compared to other philosophers, it feels like I'm looking at my own thoughts, so much stuff that I feel deeply but couldn't consciously express in words. He basically burns all bridges with existence and advocates for suicide as being always the best choice anyone can make. And he does this by writing about his thoughts regarding human culture, society, existence itself and why it all sucks.

 

[Lost Magic]

Interesting. I'll be sure to look into his work. Thanks for sharing!

 

[opheliaoveragain]

Found a PDF of it—many thanks. I love it already. You worded my feelings perfectly as well OP

 

[Plentiful_Despair]

Found a PDF of it—many thanks. I love it already. You worded my feelings perfectly as well OP

Nice! :)

 

[CatLvr]

Found a PDF of it—many thanks. I love it already. You worded my feelings perfectly as well OP

Do you mind sharing a link?? I was just fixing to skip over to Amazon when I saw your post. If not, it's cool -- I kinda like hard copy when I'm reading anyway. Very much old school that way.

 

[_AllCatsAreGrey_]

I'm a huge fan and appreciate the reminder of him. Thanks OP.

This quote of his is a personal fave:


Here is a reading of The Fall into Time:
(Note, link is a playlist of videos. They don't need to be "read" in order. Cioran wrote in fragments.)


I recommend both "The Temptation to Exist" and "A Short History of Decay".

 

[banger12]

Thanks for the book rec(s). I always like a good read. Ive heard the name a lot and ive been interested but never got around to him. I think my local B&N has a Cioran book on hand but idk if it's the same one. If I were to get the title and ask would you be able to tell me it's worth a purchase?

 

[Plentiful_Despair]

Thanks for the book rec(s). I always like a good read. Ive heard the name a lot and ive been interested but never got around to him. I think my local B&N has a Cioran book on hand but idk if it's the same one. If I were to get the title and ask would you be able to tell me it's worth a purchase?

You can find most of his stuff for free on the web too, but yes, its definetely worth a purchase. Amazon sells the ebook version of "The trouble with being born" for 11 dollar

 

[banger12]

You can find most of his stuff for free on the web too, but yes, its definetely worth a purchase. Amazon sells the ebook version of "The trouble with being born" for 11 dollar

Fair. But I have a gift card rn and I prefer a physical copy when I can afford one.

 

[Holu]

Nothing will ever beat the insanity that was Mitchel Herman's suicide note. Incredibly based lmao. That said I do recommend reading the second chapter "an experiment on nihilism" if your bored. That parts a quick read and the best portion.

 

[Plentiful_Despair]

Nothing will ever beat the insanity that was Mitchel Herman's suicide note. Incredibly based lmao. That said I do recommend reading the second chapter "an experiment on nihilism" if your bored. That parts a quick read and the best portion.

I don't understand why he felt the need to write 1900 pages, thats way too much. I have no intention to write any note. If people dont understand already why someone would kill themselves they are anyway not going to change their mind. Its a fundamental difference in logic and perception. I like Ciorans writing because its like poetry, its quick and simple and unrelated between "chapters"

 

[lamargue]

Nothing will ever beat the insanity that was Mitchel Herman's suicide note. Incredibly based lmao.

i always found it incredibly sad how so many are quick to chide the work as a popinjay's word-salad that holds no inherent value. i think the antagonism partly derives from a prejudice against promortalist philosophy; people prefer bromides over all else, so long as it satiates their own thoughts. even if many perceive him to be wrong, it's very clear that he dedicated a great deal of his time and effort into his suicide note, which i think demands some form of respect, independent of whether or not you agree with him

 

[Plentiful_Despair]

i always found it incredibly sad how so many are quick to chide the work as a popinjay's word-salad that holds no inherent value. i think the antagonism partly derives from a prejudice against promortalist philosophy; people prefer bromides over all else, so long as it satiates their own thoughts. even if many perceive him to be wrong, it's very clear that he dedicated a great deal of his time and effort into his suicide note, which i think demands some form of respect, independent of whether or not you agree with him

It's certainly impressive to write that much, but I can't take the content seriously. The overview section alone is just...insane, I don't know how else to say it. So much stuff about jews, jesus, religion in general is mentioned so much. I don't believe in any of this schizo crap, sorry. Religion has brought nothing but suffering to my family and untold others all over the world, any religion, its all the same at their core.

 

[mateusz432]

My plan is to read some Emil Cioran books, but I don't know where to start. I can recommend another pessimistic philosopher - Peter Wessel Zapffe and his short essay "The Last Messiah".

 

[_AllCatsAreGrey_]

I just stumbled upon this old doc about Cioran:



Also, this is an episode on a philosophy podcast about Cioran:

 

[Ah.ow]

Nothing will ever beat the insanity that was Mitchel Herman's suicide note. Incredibly based lmao. That said I do recommend reading the second chapter "an experiment on nihilism" if your bored. That parts a quick read and the best portion.

I couldn't find the note, can you share it or help me find it?

 

[Circles]

When I was at my worst reading Cioran was cathartic. My favorite quote from him is this:

"It is not worth the bother of killing yourself, since you always kill yourself too late."

 

[Holu]

I couldn't find the note, can you share it or help me find it?

https://legacy.gscdn.nl/archives/images/suicide_note.pdf

 

[Kavka]

Yeah, he's the kind of friend you need when you're feeling depressed and need someone to commiserate with, but without the usual hopeful and optimistic platitudes. Someone who's even more of a drama queen than you are in their bleak outlook on life, but who's also more eloquent and witty.

He's more of a thinking in problems than thinking in solutions kind of guy, but the main solution to his problems in life (e.g. insomnia) that he accidentally stumbled upon actually works.

Buy a bike and ride it until you're completely exhausted.