Hope as a Choice: How to Maintain Clarity and Resilience in Difficult Times

The world is going through a series of crises — climate, political, technological — and it increasingly feels like there is nothing left to hope for. Many succumb to this feeling, retreat into cynicism, and give up. German philosopher, journalist, and writer Philipp Blom offers a rethinking of the very essence of hope. It is not a comforting illusion, not a sign of frivolity, and not a habit of closing one’s eyes, but a mature, sober effort — to recognize a troubling reality and not give in. For Blom, hope is not a feeling, but a stance: a refusal to be cynical, a willingness to act, and the ability to imagine a different future, even if the alternative is not yet visible. He shows how a shared past, art, and personal experience can become sources of meanings and inner support. This book is a call to maintain hope, for today it is needed more than ever. Yes, hope does not guarantee success, but its absence always leads to defeat. To hope is to give oneself a chance, which, though small, makes victory possible.