Confessions of an Antinatalist [Paperback]

Jim Crawford (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 20, 2010

Life is a mixture of good and bad, or so they say. Trouble is, there's no way to determine where a particular life might fall along fortune's spectrum. For every child born into the lap of luxury, there's another born on the point of a knife. There are no guarantees as to what may transpire as the immediate present unfolds into the uncertain future. Things change in an instant. Two things, however, are certain. Everyone will suffer. And everyone will die. Back to where we came from. Knowing this, and understanding full well that any particular life embodies the potential for experiencing extreme pain and unhappiness unceasing in some cases is procreation really worth the risk?

Jim Crawford doesn t believe it is. In Confessions of an Antinatalist, Crawford reflects on what it means to exist in the belly of a ravening serpent-life whose only prey is itself, and whose teeth are very, very sharp.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Jim Crawford writes engagingly, persuasively, and (despite the grim topic) humorously. I hope that Confessions of an Antinatalist will enjoy the wide readership it deserves. --David Benatar, author of Better Never to Have Been: The Harm of Coming into Existence

In a world where few people side against the wisdom of producing children, Jim Crawford has done it for them, and done it well. The title of his book is Confessions of an Antinatalist, but it could just as well be Memoirs of a Humanist, for what could be more human than outrage at human suffering. Honesty, intelligence, and the courage to entertain us with the foibles of his own life are the prime markers of Crawford's book. Even if one loathes the idea of antinatalism on its face, the questions that Crawford raises are such that everyone would be well advised to confront, for someday they may be called upon by their offspring to answer them. And Confessions of an Antinatalist dares them to come up with answers they can stand by in good conscience. --Thomas Ligotti, author of The Conspiracy against the Human Race

Jim Crawford wishes he'd never been born. If that makes him sound like a bitter, angry misanthrope, he's not (at least, not all the time). Confessions of an Antinatalist is a wry, honest, and open-eyed introduction to a philosophy most people simply refuse to consider. After all, what could be wrong with human existence? Crawford answers clearly: Everything. --Mikita Brottman, author of The Solitary Vice: Against Reading

--Mikita Brottman, author of The Solitary Vice: Against Reading

--Mikita Brottman, author of The Solitary Vice: Against Reading

In a world where few people side against the wisdom of producing children, Jim Crawford has done it for them, and done it well. The title of his book is Confessions of an Antinatalist, but it could just as well be Memoirs of a Humanist, for what could be more human than outrage at human suffering. Honesty, intelligence, and the courage to entertain us with the foibles of his own life are the prime markers of Crawford's book. Even if one loathes the idea of antinatalism on its face, the questions that Crawford raises are such that everyone would be well advised to confront, for someday they may be called upon by their offspring to answer them. And Confessions of an Antinatalist dares them to come up with answers they can stand by in good conscience. --Thomas Ligotti, author of The Conspiracy against the Human Race

Jim Crawford wishes he'd never been born. If that makes him sound like a bitter, angry misanthrope, he's not (at least, not all the time). Confessions of an Antinatalist is a wry, honest, and open-eyed introduction to a philosophy most people simply refuse to consider. After all, what could be wrong with human existence? Crawford answers clearly: Everything. --Mikita Brottman, author of The Solitary Vice: Against Reading

--Mikita Brottman, author of The Solitary Vice: Against Reading

Product Details

• Paperback: 180 pages
• Publisher: Nine-Banded Books; First edition (April 20, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1616583452
• ISBN-13: 978-1616583453
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #568,040 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A Universal Humanistic Sensibility June 18, 2010

By CM

If you've ever heard of people who think coming into existence is always a serious harm, and no one should ever reproduce, statistical probability suggests that you are wondering what planet such absurd and monstrous beings come from. They must be the epitome of "otherness". In this case, you are advised to read Confessions of an Antinatalist. You'll be surprised by how relatable Jim Crawford's experiences are no matter what your age or cultural background. The description of his life, done in an intimate and moving manner, evokes profound empathy, and you might find yourself agreeing with him that there is a common ground between most pro- and antinatalists - what he calls a universal humanistic sensibility. It is a significant bonus that Jim Crawford has a very entertaining writing style, and you will find several striking poems of his own creation throughout the book that give an emotional facet to his logical arguments about the ethics of procreation.

What makes the book still more interesting is the fact that the author has tried both commonly used methods of avoiding existential despair (or, in other words, a realistic outlook on life): religion and reproduction, so he speaks from experience when he concludes that these methods 1)fail to compensate for our own mortality and suffering and 2)encourage, rationalize and/or result in inflicting even more suffering and death on those we care about most - our children.

Confessions of an Antinatalist is a hybrid between a memoir and a philosophical essay. There is the path from the author's premises to his conclusions; he offers his own arguments and revisits those of such proponents of antinatalism as David Benatar and Arthur Schopenhauer. Then there is the personal windy road he took in quest for identity and meaning that ultimately led him to peer over the edge of the metaphorical cliff described in the prologue and see the reality of what lay beneath - a valley stained with the blood of everyone who has ever been born, where his own children are ultimately destined to end up.

Finally, there is a Q&A section that addresses some common objections and questions that antinatalists often get asked (if the query about why the author hasn't killed himself is already at the tip of your tongue, rest assured that it will be answered). Even if you walk away unconvinced that bringing people into existence harms them, you will at least understand antinatalists' reasons for espousing this position, and hopefully consider your potential child's well-being before deciding to procreate.

12 of 14 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Heartbreaking and Important June 15, 2010

By glorified lungfish

Anyone thinking of becoming a parent needs to read this book.

Confessions of an Antinatalist is a tragic book. Like books about childhood cancer and the Holocaust, readers would almost certainly be more comfortable NOT reading it. It's heartbreaking. But anyone considering whether to bring a child into the world owes it to the child to at least consider the author's argument.

Does it seem insane to you that it could be WRONG to have a baby? You're happy to have been born, so it must be okay, right? The author addresses this and other arguments and intuitions about the ethics of reproduction, all in a very accessible manner. The author's humility is perceptible in every section. This is a great popular alternative and/or supplement to the more formal treatment of the antinatalism question in David Benatar's book Better Never to Have Been: The Harm of Coming into Existence.

11 of 13 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Gentler than I could have ever been July 5, 2010

By Felix Oupopote

A beautiful and truly philanthropic example for those of us whose horror at the callousness with which mombies and dadbies throw their dolls into the abyss threatens to turn us less than generous.