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Keeping Ourselves in the Dark
In Keeping Ourselves in the Dark, psychotherapist cum "anthropathologist" Colin Feltham mounts a freewheeling inquiry into the myriad superstitions, illusions, maladies, and derangements that bedevil us. Rejecting rose-tinted clichés and niceties on all fronts, Feltham affirms the pessimist's Every glass is empty, and there is nothing to be done. Our search for "meaning," much less "enlightenment," was doomed from the start. Our most earnest questions are posed before the entropic churn of an indifferent universe, an abyss that only yawns back.
So be it. Feltham's assessment of the human predicament may be bleak, but he isn't ready to throw in the towel just yet. Raising a glass in death's antechamber, he instead brings his refreshingly undisciplined insight to bear on a dizzying range of subjects from depressive realism to fringe ecology, from the madness of religion to the folly of psychotherapy, from the mystery of existence to the vicissitudes of the Danish tax code. While asking impertinent questions concerning the raft of social anxieties, absurdities, anomalies, and taboos that vex and perplex us, Feltham even struggles to understand brighter views.
In a gallows tour sustained by conversational buoyancy and threaded with provocative (and often disarmingly funny) digressions, Feltham rests his pronouncement that while much of life is dark, and indeed hopeless, it can at least be interesting. There are yet choices to be made. And unless we bail out early, we are left to find ways to survive and retain our sanity.
If you do not count yourself among the cheery-minded billions, if you can't bring yourself to swallow the blue pill, if you scoff at the propaganda of religion and positive psychology, if you re not "lovin' it" as much as you re entreated to, enter this portal of ironic Zapffean consolation now.
So be it. Feltham's assessment of the human predicament may be bleak, but he isn't ready to throw in the towel just yet. Raising a glass in death's antechamber, he instead brings his refreshingly undisciplined insight to bear on a dizzying range of subjects from depressive realism to fringe ecology, from the madness of religion to the folly of psychotherapy, from the mystery of existence to the vicissitudes of the Danish tax code. While asking impertinent questions concerning the raft of social anxieties, absurdities, anomalies, and taboos that vex and perplex us, Feltham even struggles to understand brighter views.
In a gallows tour sustained by conversational buoyancy and threaded with provocative (and often disarmingly funny) digressions, Feltham rests his pronouncement that while much of life is dark, and indeed hopeless, it can at least be interesting. There are yet choices to be made. And unless we bail out early, we are left to find ways to survive and retain our sanity.
If you do not count yourself among the cheery-minded billions, if you can't bring yourself to swallow the blue pill, if you scoff at the propaganda of religion and positive psychology, if you re not "lovin' it" as much as you re entreated to, enter this portal of ironic Zapffean consolation now.
- GenresPhilosophyNonfiction
270 pages, Paperback
First published March 22, 2015
8 people are currently reading
230 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
October 17, 2025
Colin Feltham was formerly professor of Psychology at Sheffield University and seeks to dispel our many illusions in this absorbing work. He claims that we keep ourselves in the dark on so many issues as to maintain some semblance of sanity.
He starts with the impossibility of making an objective view of our reality and what is to be done or thought. Anthropathology is Colin's term for many of our seemingly intractable problems. This literally identifies an inherent failing of our species. What's Wrong with Us?: The Anthropathology Thesis
Why is there something rather than nothing? All species may need to accept this mind-boggling question as unanswerable, and also grade the 'something' as undesirable. Colin also has a book entitled Depressive Realism: Interdisciplinary perspectives. He points to the studies from the 1970s and 1980s that suggest depressed people have a more accurate grasp on reality. The partial elimination of illusions is unpopular and, if expressed, is likely to be designated killjoy behaviour.
Feltham looks to the representations of suffering found in Buddhism, the Greek tragedies and novels such as Candide, and Thomas Hardy's oeuvre. He cites the Pollyanna delusions of America and key figures such as Schopenhauer, Leopardi, Beckett and primarily Zapffe.
Other illusions he calls out include the concept of the self, free will, progress, democracy, religions and gods. Our cultural beliefs on taboos of thoughts, words and deeds, political correctness, and blasphemy are arbitrarily applied. However, we must be smart in which ones we challenge, as challenging blasphemy in particular might enrage the homicidal homosapiens who live among us.
Returning to anthropathology, the author delves into nature, we simultaneously need it but also fear it, destroy it and can't exist within or without it. An amusing chapter is on his experiences living in Denmark, a country many people erroneously believe to be a socialist utopia. He pops many falsehoods, reminding us that there are no utopias to be found, only flawed systems attempting to balance unavoidable problems.
A critic of his former discipline, he contrasts the line between the credibility afforded to religion, superstition and psychology. What makes one worthy of study and another pseudoscience? Many called Jungism a cult, and Freud shunned non-believers.
Colin is a perpetual truth seeker who studied religions, travelled to LA to learn primal therapy etc. He expects us to be as skeptical about the tenets of psychotherapy in the future as many are now regarding religion. Some forms of self-help may be easier to enact for different personalities, but whether they will keep up the hard work in the big, bad world and find positive results is another matter. There is no evidence that psychologists are happier or better adjusted than the rest of us.
So, what advice or possible solutions can he offer us? Pick your own favoured set of illusions, religion or psychology, and perhaps something will click for you. Or stare into the abyss, descend into the disconcerting truths of nihilism and depressive realism. Either way, you will inevitably suffer.
Norwegian philosopher Peter Zapffe is a frequent reference point, particularly the idea of finding comforts to anchor ourselves to and keep madness at bay. For example, in the film Shadowlands, C.S. Lewis remarks that he requires his Christian faith to create a reason for all the senseless suffering. T.S. Eliot famously wrote that humans cannot stand too much reality.
So, any solutions will vary due to our own genetic, environmental and temperamental dispositions. To dispel the question of suicide Feltham suggests taking an interest in the mysteries of our predicament and resolving to cause as little harm as possible to other sentient beings.
Colin has a penchant for creating his own terms, and with "hobophobia" he references those who opted out of civilization in a show of sanity, leading us to resent their freedoms from miserable, absurd institutions and repetitive dirge of rituals such as grooming, cleaning, tidying, etc. He warns that anchoring only keeps us sane by the skin of our teeth.
Feltham reflects that we are oxytocin addicts, finding or indeed making loved ones to secrete the bonding hormone. Indeed, with all of the concern regarding elusive coping strategies, we might reconsider the act of breeding another human into existence, whether it be for philanthropic or misanthropic reasons.
Samuel Beckett warned us that "You're on Earth. There's no cure for that", so what answer for the children who are already here? Perhaps it must involve toughening them up for the bleak and challenging lives they shall face, while sparing them the worst tortures of beatings and genital mutilation, obviously.
Also, we could nurture a Buddha-like, compassionate nihilism for our fellow travellers. We all need pleasurable goals and distractions. However, Feltham quotes a "harmless" hobby of visiting the world's rollercoasters, and even this would cause consternation for those who avow we shouldn't be wasting fossil fuels on frivolous activities.
Feltham also talks up techno-optimism and, in particular, space exploration, but huge fossil fuel requirements aside, we are also finding it harder to leave Earth due to the dangerous space junk (discarded satellites etc) orbiting the planet. Likewise, so many concepts of doing the right thing can have unintended negative outcomes.
Laughter can constitute a good medicine; the philosophy of John Marmysz urges us to try to make light of the absurdity of existence in Laughing at Nothing. We are unlikely to become well adjusted to death and ageing, though, with death-defying mantras being standard terror management.
It's not all perfect, there are a few typos, an incorrect definition of Efilism, and an odd statement that terrorism isn't consistent with the koran. He also dismisses antinatalism without explaining why; obviously, it isn't practical for the heaving billions, but optimistic coping strategies alone will be more likely to lead to the creation of new beings who also suffer and lack meaning. For those who can face Feltham's harsh truths, they might well choose to opt out of this Ponzi scheme.
These flaws only add to the journal-style nature of the author's search for wisdom. Colin writes in a thoughtful and personal way, always attempting to be as honest as possible. He challenges his own motivations and lays bare his own flaws and failings. Whether you agree with his conclusions or not, this intent for investigation makes for an important and worthy read.
He starts with the impossibility of making an objective view of our reality and what is to be done or thought. Anthropathology is Colin's term for many of our seemingly intractable problems. This literally identifies an inherent failing of our species. What's Wrong with Us?: The Anthropathology Thesis
Why is there something rather than nothing? All species may need to accept this mind-boggling question as unanswerable, and also grade the 'something' as undesirable. Colin also has a book entitled Depressive Realism: Interdisciplinary perspectives. He points to the studies from the 1970s and 1980s that suggest depressed people have a more accurate grasp on reality. The partial elimination of illusions is unpopular and, if expressed, is likely to be designated killjoy behaviour.
Feltham looks to the representations of suffering found in Buddhism, the Greek tragedies and novels such as Candide, and Thomas Hardy's oeuvre. He cites the Pollyanna delusions of America and key figures such as Schopenhauer, Leopardi, Beckett and primarily Zapffe.
Other illusions he calls out include the concept of the self, free will, progress, democracy, religions and gods. Our cultural beliefs on taboos of thoughts, words and deeds, political correctness, and blasphemy are arbitrarily applied. However, we must be smart in which ones we challenge, as challenging blasphemy in particular might enrage the homicidal homosapiens who live among us.
Returning to anthropathology, the author delves into nature, we simultaneously need it but also fear it, destroy it and can't exist within or without it. An amusing chapter is on his experiences living in Denmark, a country many people erroneously believe to be a socialist utopia. He pops many falsehoods, reminding us that there are no utopias to be found, only flawed systems attempting to balance unavoidable problems.
A critic of his former discipline, he contrasts the line between the credibility afforded to religion, superstition and psychology. What makes one worthy of study and another pseudoscience? Many called Jungism a cult, and Freud shunned non-believers.
Colin is a perpetual truth seeker who studied religions, travelled to LA to learn primal therapy etc. He expects us to be as skeptical about the tenets of psychotherapy in the future as many are now regarding religion. Some forms of self-help may be easier to enact for different personalities, but whether they will keep up the hard work in the big, bad world and find positive results is another matter. There is no evidence that psychologists are happier or better adjusted than the rest of us.
So, what advice or possible solutions can he offer us? Pick your own favoured set of illusions, religion or psychology, and perhaps something will click for you. Or stare into the abyss, descend into the disconcerting truths of nihilism and depressive realism. Either way, you will inevitably suffer.
Norwegian philosopher Peter Zapffe is a frequent reference point, particularly the idea of finding comforts to anchor ourselves to and keep madness at bay. For example, in the film Shadowlands, C.S. Lewis remarks that he requires his Christian faith to create a reason for all the senseless suffering. T.S. Eliot famously wrote that humans cannot stand too much reality.
So, any solutions will vary due to our own genetic, environmental and temperamental dispositions. To dispel the question of suicide Feltham suggests taking an interest in the mysteries of our predicament and resolving to cause as little harm as possible to other sentient beings.
Colin has a penchant for creating his own terms, and with "hobophobia" he references those who opted out of civilization in a show of sanity, leading us to resent their freedoms from miserable, absurd institutions and repetitive dirge of rituals such as grooming, cleaning, tidying, etc. He warns that anchoring only keeps us sane by the skin of our teeth.
Feltham reflects that we are oxytocin addicts, finding or indeed making loved ones to secrete the bonding hormone. Indeed, with all of the concern regarding elusive coping strategies, we might reconsider the act of breeding another human into existence, whether it be for philanthropic or misanthropic reasons.
Samuel Beckett warned us that "You're on Earth. There's no cure for that", so what answer for the children who are already here? Perhaps it must involve toughening them up for the bleak and challenging lives they shall face, while sparing them the worst tortures of beatings and genital mutilation, obviously.
Also, we could nurture a Buddha-like, compassionate nihilism for our fellow travellers. We all need pleasurable goals and distractions. However, Feltham quotes a "harmless" hobby of visiting the world's rollercoasters, and even this would cause consternation for those who avow we shouldn't be wasting fossil fuels on frivolous activities.
Feltham also talks up techno-optimism and, in particular, space exploration, but huge fossil fuel requirements aside, we are also finding it harder to leave Earth due to the dangerous space junk (discarded satellites etc) orbiting the planet. Likewise, so many concepts of doing the right thing can have unintended negative outcomes.
Laughter can constitute a good medicine; the philosophy of John Marmysz urges us to try to make light of the absurdity of existence in Laughing at Nothing. We are unlikely to become well adjusted to death and ageing, though, with death-defying mantras being standard terror management.
It's not all perfect, there are a few typos, an incorrect definition of Efilism, and an odd statement that terrorism isn't consistent with the koran. He also dismisses antinatalism without explaining why; obviously, it isn't practical for the heaving billions, but optimistic coping strategies alone will be more likely to lead to the creation of new beings who also suffer and lack meaning. For those who can face Feltham's harsh truths, they might well choose to opt out of this Ponzi scheme.
These flaws only add to the journal-style nature of the author's search for wisdom. Colin writes in a thoughtful and personal way, always attempting to be as honest as possible. He challenges his own motivations and lays bare his own flaws and failings. Whether you agree with his conclusions or not, this intent for investigation makes for an important and worthy read.
March 16, 2016
Perhaps not as visceral as The Conspiracy Against the Human Race by Thomas Ligotti or as focused as Better Never to Have Been by David Benatar, Keeping Ourselves in the Dark is still a must-read for pessimists and antinatalists out there. Colin Feltham does a great job at exposing the harsh truths of existence and the illusory aspect of our most cherished beliefs. I have only two qualms with the book: first there is no evidence to speak of that supports the notion that society is dominated by the patriarchy ( or that the patriarchy exists for that matter). Second, at the end of the book, instead of going for the kill I felt like the author pulled back a little ending in a slightly hopeful tone that I'm not sure was justified. Putting these small annoyances aside, this is a great book for those who recognize that life simply isn't worth it.
April 12, 2020
This was a five star book until I read the afterword. I find it odd that one of the most overwhelmingly pessimistic books I've ever read contains the line "Antinatalism isn't the answer." Am I being nit-picky? Yes. Am I slightly upset because I thought I had found another great antinatalist author only to have my hopes dashed? Yeah, absolutely.
Either way, this is a great look into the philosophy of pessimism or, as Feltham likes to call it, depressive realism. Important reading.
Either way, this is a great look into the philosophy of pessimism or, as Feltham likes to call it, depressive realism. Important reading.
Read
March 13, 2024Well. Surprised with myself because I don't know exactly what I expected from this book. So there's some interesting stuff here. But really nothing new at all; at least not for those who are not engulfed in bread and circuses.
The book is like the personal diary or stream of thoughts from the author, and there is no attemtp to proselytize (except in a few paragraphs against religion, but I do believe that was mostly because ppl like him are jealous - ignorance is bliss). The negative, for those who like story-telling and escapism, is that there is no thesis. :)
I know for a fact that the book will appear, and probably is, very pessimistic and negative, dark, depressive, for the average human, but IMO the overall theme is like a funny, absurdist attempt at describing the self-deception that surrounds almost everything we do.
I was expecting him to go harder on those that have stronger, more primitive deceptive mechanisms that keep them away from even entertaining critical thoughts about life and its meaning, but he was fair overall.
I must say I didn't like the parts where he talks about technology and especially his recommendation "of being a techoptimist". He has a realistic approach when it comes to the illusion of happiness that life extending technologies create but not on the overall effect that technology has on society and human happiness and freedom.
One thing that made an impression was that he equated psychology/psychotherapy with religion, as both being at war with reality, both trying to install positive illusions on our heads etc. He was hard on both, yet he had a particular distaste for religion. He even appeared to neutrally quote Sam Harris and the like (total hacks and empty "thinkers" - guess a reflection of humanity today) which left a bad taste. (I'm a non believer too.)
I'm certain some will think of this book as the typical pessimist book, made for other pessimists, to reinforce their thoughts and beliefs? Or maybe like a book written to convert more people to philosophical pessimism? Although I certainly and strongly doubt this because I'm fairly certain that philosophical pessimists are a bunch with certain psychological and metal characteristics, and over a certain threshold of IQ, that have already figured out how the word is and works, and just are searching for some consolation in learning that they are not alone, or thinking irrationally. The trick is to make other people read these type of writings; people who have strong anchoring mechanisms under several layers of wrongly held convictions.
The part where he criticised the illusion of democracy could have been better. No, let me rephrase this. Totally superficial take in his criticism. Guess he couldn't allow himself to speak more candidly.
The book is like the personal diary or stream of thoughts from the author, and there is no attemtp to proselytize (except in a few paragraphs against religion, but I do believe that was mostly because ppl like him are jealous - ignorance is bliss). The negative, for those who like story-telling and escapism, is that there is no thesis. :)
I know for a fact that the book will appear, and probably is, very pessimistic and negative, dark, depressive, for the average human, but IMO the overall theme is like a funny, absurdist attempt at describing the self-deception that surrounds almost everything we do.
I was expecting him to go harder on those that have stronger, more primitive deceptive mechanisms that keep them away from even entertaining critical thoughts about life and its meaning, but he was fair overall.
I must say I didn't like the parts where he talks about technology and especially his recommendation "of being a techoptimist". He has a realistic approach when it comes to the illusion of happiness that life extending technologies create but not on the overall effect that technology has on society and human happiness and freedom.
One thing that made an impression was that he equated psychology/psychotherapy with religion, as both being at war with reality, both trying to install positive illusions on our heads etc. He was hard on both, yet he had a particular distaste for religion. He even appeared to neutrally quote Sam Harris and the like (total hacks and empty "thinkers" - guess a reflection of humanity today) which left a bad taste. (I'm a non believer too.)
When a religious sermon (or a therapy session) concludes, the congregants (or clients or patients, etc.) must of course leave the protected hothouse atmosphere of the sacred setting and venture outside. A fairly clear gap exists between the ritualized world one inhabits during a couch session (or religious gathering) and the “real world” that awaits outside. In church, with your fellow communicants receiving guidance from a priest or other ministerial figure, you probably experience support, warmth, and a feeling of devout purpose and belonging. Your belief is reinforced in an intense spiritual communion. Similar feelings attend the more intimate atmosphere of the therapy session, as therapeutic beliefs are reinforced and the inflow of positive feelings culminates in a sense of renewal or resolution. Stepping back out into the everyday world, however, is a test of the strength of your commitment. Do the lessons from the scriptures, the sermons, the intense prayer and reflection yet resonate outside the hallowed sanctuary, as silence gives way to the din of car horns and teeming crowds? Does the therapist’s spell hold up well in the cut and thrust of relationships with your partner, your family members, your colleagues, and the face-shifting cast of bureaucrats, traders, and others with whom you are bound to contend? Can you maintain your inner glow of contentment or faithful stoicism in the face of those who do not share your beliefs, or even those who may broadly share your beliefs but are not now in church or therapy?
Most of us appear to need Zapffean anchoring. And although many of us have minimal superstructures to hang on to, we still seek love, or justice, or some other rooted idea. The quest continues—for the right man or woman, for the perfect career or the ultimate home or the final adventure or the next fix. Your problem is that you don’t love yourself, or you haven’t found the right church or therapist. Those who apparently have found the right church or whatever wait smugly or wisely for you to make a similar discovery. God will guide you, you still have lessons to learn, it isn’t your time yet, you are getting in the way of your own fulfilment. We love clichés and we have millions of them to help us along.
I'm certain some will think of this book as the typical pessimist book, made for other pessimists, to reinforce their thoughts and beliefs? Or maybe like a book written to convert more people to philosophical pessimism? Although I certainly and strongly doubt this because I'm fairly certain that philosophical pessimists are a bunch with certain psychological and metal characteristics, and over a certain threshold of IQ, that have already figured out how the word is and works, and just are searching for some consolation in learning that they are not alone, or thinking irrationally. The trick is to make other people read these type of writings; people who have strong anchoring mechanisms under several layers of wrongly held convictions.
The part where he criticised the illusion of democracy could have been better. No, let me rephrase this. Totally superficial take in his criticism. Guess he couldn't allow himself to speak more candidly.
Is it melodramatic to imagine that if one stands for truth against hype, for parrhesia, satyagraha, or radical honesty, one risks ostracism and poverty? .
Read
February 8, 2017This book is so dark it's actually funny at times. It touches on many subjects that are frequently the domain of stand-up comedy. Ranty though.
July 20, 2021
semi-depressive realism
After having read David Benatar, Thomas Ligotti and Emil Cioran, I was expecting "Keeping ourselves in the dark" to be somewhat similar to the non-fiction works by these authors.
However I had mixed feelings when I finished this book. Feltham calls himself an "anthropathologist" and according to the back cover he is a psychotherapist too! (which seems very odd for someone who claims that man is doomed from the cradle to the grave)
The problem with "Keeping ourselves in the dark" is that the different chapters are of very varying quality. Feltham writes very eloquently in chapters 2 (Anthropathology for fellow dummies), 3 (Three cheers for depressive realism) and 10 (Deterioration, Dying, Death, That's all folks); but the other chapters were at best confusing or at worst pretty dull. Frankly, I don't care about the Danish tax system and I already know that many subjects are taboo in our society.
It all made me wonder if he really believes that the human predicament is dire and that there is no meaning to life. I suspect -though he probably won't admit it- that he loves his life and he hopes to be around for a long time and that is not what I expect from a 'proper' despressive realist.
After having read David Benatar, Thomas Ligotti and Emil Cioran, I was expecting "Keeping ourselves in the dark" to be somewhat similar to the non-fiction works by these authors.
However I had mixed feelings when I finished this book. Feltham calls himself an "anthropathologist" and according to the back cover he is a psychotherapist too! (which seems very odd for someone who claims that man is doomed from the cradle to the grave)
The problem with "Keeping ourselves in the dark" is that the different chapters are of very varying quality. Feltham writes very eloquently in chapters 2 (Anthropathology for fellow dummies), 3 (Three cheers for depressive realism) and 10 (Deterioration, Dying, Death, That's all folks); but the other chapters were at best confusing or at worst pretty dull. Frankly, I don't care about the Danish tax system and I already know that many subjects are taboo in our society.
It all made me wonder if he really believes that the human predicament is dire and that there is no meaning to life. I suspect -though he probably won't admit it- that he loves his life and he hopes to be around for a long time and that is not what I expect from a 'proper' despressive realist.
September 3, 2025
Pessimism is an interesting genre, its not a huge club of people that write about these topics. You'll find after sometime a closing of a window between the current and past authors in the dialogue of meaningless progress of the human race. For, as he states in the book, the people that would read this kind of book are unlikely to disagree with the discussions brought out in this book.- Feltham wonders about the use of connecting to any answer since in all aspects the human race is a horse with blinders moving fast and purposely keeping ourselves ignorant to stay sane. Not to say we can't say somethings can keep us grounded in reality, but we are mostly kidding around when we say we know anything for sure. People don't like how he seems to pull his punch in the afterword, but I found him consistent. Much like another book, On the Verge of Nothing: Pessimism’s Impossible Beyond by Gary J. Shipley, if we haven't kill ourselves yet we might as well enjoy the ride, just a little, as a treat.
March 10, 2023
I found Colin Feltham’s book a near-total delight. I am Christian by decision, sceptical by nature, and am used to looking out onto the world and its human inhabitants with an ever-varying mixture of admiration and terror. The writing is excellent. The observations sharp. I don’t agree with all his points – how would that be possible or desirable? But so many of them resonate with me, and with my own attempts to read the signs of the times and the behaviours and motivations of my own lovable and dodgy species. The book goes beyond pessimism/optimism. It is far more than that. At its heart it refuses to sign up to the platitudinous, sentimental or plain dumb interpretations we so often make, and are invited to make, by religions and ideologies of various kinds.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews