The Denial of Death

By: Ernest Becker

Narrated by: Raymond Todd

Length: 11 hrs and 46 mins

Publisher's summary

Winner of the Pulitzer Prize in 1974 and the culmination of a life's work, The Denial of Death is Ernest Becker's brilliant and impassioned answer to the "why" of human existence. In bold contrast to the predominant Freudian school of thought, Becker tackles the problem of the vital lie: man's refusal to acknowledge his own mortality. In doing so, he sheds new light on the nature of humanity and issues a call to life and its living that still resonates more than 30 years after its writing.

©1973 Free Press, a division of Simon & Schuster, Inc. (P)2005 Blackstone Audiobooks

Critic reviews

"A brave work of electrifying intelligence and passion, optimistic and revolutionary, destined to endure." (New York Times Book Review)

"Ranks among the truly important books of the year. Professor Becker writes with power and brilliant insight." (Publishers Weekly)

Complicated for people other than psychology students.

Very complicated language. May be because it meant for psychology students.

Also, the author thinks the Christian way of life is better while calling it lie and mortality project. Why ? Did I misunderstood? It would be nice if someone can explain.

Stimulating

Nice mesh between existentialism and psychoanalysis. Freud makes more sense if we switch the sex repression out for existential angst!

Good stuff

There is lots of good stuff in here. A in-depth look at life, available to the laymen. Not too heady but with enough aloofness for the scholarly type. As one my expect in 1960s/70s physiology literature there is some homophobia threading through some chapters. Not much but enough to take a star away. All in all I loved it.

Long winded

I finished the book but it was a difficult listen for sure . Separately from the review I disagree completely with the authors evaluation of the homosexual . We are not perverts and do not seek “ ourselves” in our mates .

Not a solution book. Nice thesis.

It lays out the issues well. But there is no solution. Maybe there is really no solution. Or if there is a solution in the book, it is not laid out in a 5 part plan or anything like that - you have to learn from contemplating on it.

very eye opening of your willing to be open

I'm listening to this the second time after finishing it . I need to take notes

My favorite book

Challenging and speculative, but thoroughly enjoyable. I love the way the narrator reads too. Cant recommend highly enough!

Dated but interesting

It’s an older book and it shows. With that said it is an interesting read.

Symbology is central to all human behavior

Where does The Denial of Death rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

The subject is the best, the performance by the reader is OK. Becker's book explains many of the symbols used in society and cultures to attach "meaning" to our lives. It's a fascinating study of human behavior and explains many of the polarizations in the world.

What did you like best about this story?

Becker was on his deathbed when his manuscript arrived at the publisher. The publisher rushed to his home to spend the last few hours with him. The poignancy of this moment is not lost on the publisher, nor the reader. As Becker faced his own death, his insights were enhanced and more clear.

What three words best describe Raymond Todd’s voice?

Subtle. Slow. Unemotive.

What’s the most interesting tidbit you’ve picked up from this book?

That man is basically animal. And, as the knowledge of our differences to animal (thought, emotion, rationale thought, opposable thumbs, design and intention) we created symbols to attach meaning to our lives. As we denied our own mortality the creation of symbols, heros and God's became a necessary coping mechanism. However, those same symbols (religion, nationality, race, gender, sports teams, etc.) became our undoing as we reified them and gave them power. This power has been used and abused over the millennia to manipulate and control the masses.

Any additional comments?

Read this book. So many aspects of the human existence become more clear.

***WARNING: APPROACH WITH CAUTION***

This book is profound, well written, and well narrated as well as being convincing in its central point that most puzzling human behavior stems from our own overwhelming, suppressed fear of death. (The author certainly deserves the Pulitzer Prize he was awarded for this outstanding work.). For some problems, DENIAL really is the best option...Fear of Death is one of those cases. Apparently some people find this book intellectually enjoyable but it is not a self help book. It does not propose a solution to death. Quite the contrary. For those who are predisposed to extraordinary fear of death this book can tear the lid off a very functional coping mechanism - our natural tendency to denial.

Approach this book with caution. You can’t easily return to denial once you read this and it can leave you freaked out for days, weeks, months, or more. That happened to me and I know at least three others with similar major reactions. One friend said it left him”seriously freaked out for a year and a half.”