Have you ever felt like something is missing, even when life looks fine on the outside? Søren Kierkegaard called that feeling despair—not the dramatic, movie-scene type, but the quiet unease that comes from not living as your true self. He argued that despair isn’t just an emotion but a condition of the soul, a mismatch between who you are and who you could be.
What makes his work so engaging is how practical it feels, even today. He explains that you can be stuck in despair without knowing it—drifting through life on autopilot, chasing pleasure or busyness while avoiding real responsibility. Sound familiar? The wake-up call comes when you begin to see yourself more clearly. At that point, despair can deepen into defiance, or it can spark change.
Kierkegaard believed that the way out isn’t about finding easy answers but taking a leap of faith—choosing to trust that you can live authentically despite life’s contradictions. That idea has shaped psychology, therapy, and the way we think about meaning.
If you’ve ever questioned what it really means to be yourself, The Sickness Unto Death is worth reading. It’s challenging, yes, but it might also be the most honest conversation you’ll ever have with yourself.

ISBN Paperback: 9781915449597

ISBN Hardcover: 9781915449733

eBook: 9781915449603

Imprint: Chanthology

Pages: 152 pages