Cover -- A Philosophy of Pessimism -- Imprint Page -- Contents -- Preface -- One: The Glass is Always Half-full? Countering the Optimists -- Two: The 'Doomsday Clock' is Always with Us: Pessimism in History -- Three: Optimists v. Pessimists: Economics and Politics -- Four: I Think, Therefore I Expect the Worst: Pessimism in Philosophy -- Five: A World Without Meaning: Pessimism in Literary Fiction -- Six: Visions of Despair: Pessimism in the Arts -- Seven: The Benefits of a Half-empty Glass: Pessimism as a Lifestyle -- References -- Bibliography -- Acknowledgements -- Index.