The Conspiracy against the Human Race

A Contrivance of Horror

By: Thomas Ligotti

Narrated by: Jon Padgett

In Thomas Ligotti's first nonfiction outing, an examination of the meaning (or meaninglessness) of life through an insightful, unsparing argument that proves the greatest horrors are not the products of our imagination but instead are found in reality.

"There is a signature motif discernible in both works of philosophical pessimism and supernatural horror. It may be stated thus: Behind the scenes of life lurks something pernicious that makes a nightmare of our world."

His fiction is known to be some of the most terrifying in the genre of supernatural horror, but Thomas Ligotti's first nonfiction book may be even scarier. Drawing on philosophy, literature, neuroscience, and other fields of study, Ligotti takes the penetrating lens of his imagination and turns it on his audience, causing them to grapple with the brutal reality that they are living a meaningless nightmare, and anyone who feels otherwise is simply acting out an optimistic fallacy. At once a guidebook to pessimistic thought and a relentless critique of humanity's employment of self-deception to cope with the pervasive suffering of their existence, The Conspiracy against the Human Race may just convince listeners that there is more than a measure of truth in the despairing yet unexpectedly liberating negativity that is widely considered a hallmark of Ligotti's work.

Critic reviews

“Ligotti, with the wit of a decadent and the eloquence of a funeral organ, guides us confidently through the grimmer corners of intellectual and cultural history…He exposits on horror’s themes and its canon with practitioner’s grace.”
—The Millions

Paints a Fascinating Picture

Two thumbs way up, if you’re into or curious about philosophical pessimism/realism. Great stuff!

Ligotti Co-Conspirator "Anti-narralates"

I'm a big fan of the mysterious Ligotti so I now have two versions of this audio book in my library. I would not recommend this book to anyone impressionable. The human mind can't theorize virtually anything, and the zombic masses will embrace it. So, antinatalism is a dark topic unless you're comfortable in your own intuitions of faith and purpose. it's the logical final element of current Democrat ideology: *nothing* is worthwhile (they've already told us to forget our histories and our biology). Ligotti has been spared the legwork for fame - no book signings, no video interviews - so it really makes you wonder who he is... Remember, it has been suggested a few times that even Cormac McCarthy is just a writing committee somewhere. Antinatalism is very much a topic that could be used to control people and draw them closer to dependence on the state. But the high quality prose is lush and intellectually rhythmic, as befits a philosophical 'Contrivance of Horror' from the author who is the best writer of dark fiction to appear since Clive Barker in the mid-Eighties. Ligotti's friend and celebrated narrator Jon Padgett does the honors of speaking out this unspeakable grimoire this time out. (Both audiobook versions of this title are wonderfully performed.) At worst, Padgett sounds like an older and more masculine version of the math teacher on South Park. He and Ligotti have earned their stripes as a phantasmagoric dream team. And Padgett actually sounds less sinister than the narrator of the previous CATHR audiobook, Eric Martin. I could never recommend this for anyone with deep depression or struggles with doubt, but if you're a horror fan and you have a strong constitution, you might very well love this magnificent word-trip into the dark night of the soul.

An outstanding tour of philosophical pessimism

Thomas Ligotti has written an astonishing body of horror fiction resting on the felt experience of living in a universe where all meaning is illusory and all illusions doomed to collapse. Here he steps out from behind the stories to explain that he means it and why he finds existence so. He lays out the ideas of philosophical and artistic predecessors from the famous to the very obscure, and writes plainly about the aspects of life most of us instinctively turn away from. Whether you end up agreeing or not, this book is engaging and thought-provoking.

Ligotti’s long-time friend and fellow horror author Jon Padgett narrates as Ligotti’s prose deserves. He ranges from calm exposition to impassioned misery and back. As with all his audiobook readings, he’s a delight to listen to.

Reader Beware

This book isn't for those seeking solace or hope. As a writer delving into the architecture of Pessimism, Nihilism, and Anti-natalism, I found "The Conspiracy Against the Human Race" to be an unsettlingly effective guide, and then some.

What consistently strikes me about authors exploring nihilistic and anti-natalist themes is the sheer force of their conviction, the undeniable energy poured into articulating meaninglessness. In crafting such meticulously argued works, they inadvertently expose a profound paradox, akin to the epiphany of the hunter in "The Last Messiah." The very act of passionately declaring life devoid of inherent meaning becomes a testament to the human drive for purpose, a pursuit that inherently imbues existence with it. The dedication, the intellectual labor, the emotional investment – all speak volumes against their central thesis.

It forces a step back, a conscious disengagement, to observe this profoundly inherent contradiction: the fervor with which meaninglessness is proclaimed highlights the inescapable reality of meaning itself, existing in dimensions far beyond our limited comprehension. Our minds, our language, our very concepts are inadequate tools to grasp the vast ocean of information that surrounds us. It’s a stark awakening.

I found myself captivated by the book, and the narrator's voice was particularly compelling. Yet, there’s a lingering disquiet. If the author’s perspective leans towards a certain darkness, the narrator plunges headfirst into that abyss, amplifying its unsettling nature. This book is exceptionally twisted and undeniably thought-provoking, leaving you with the unsettling sensation that while the writer explores the theoretical depths of despair, the narrator seems to revel in its practical implications. It’s a chilling and unforgettable read, one that will linger long after the final page.

Remember friends, our minds don't make meaning, we merely catagorize our experiences and form them in language. One can only hope the author will one day find the solace he needs, to recover from his hate and anguish.

Masterpiece

I couldn’t have enjoyed it more! I have a hard copy but listening to it was a different experience!