• Staring at the Sun

  • Overcoming the Terror of Death
  • By: Irvin D. Yalom
  • Narrated by: Gregory Gorton
  • Length: 7 hrs and 41 mins
  • 4.6 out of 5 stars (675 ratings)

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Staring at the Sun  By  cover art

Staring at the Sun

By: Irvin D. Yalom
Narrated by: Gregory Gorton
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Publisher's summary

Irvin D. Yalom is an author whose best-selling trade books and novels tell compelling, dramatic, and illuminating stories with which readers can identify.

At 74, Yalom has penned a book that is the climax of his lifework, focusing on the universal human issues of mortality and death. He suggests that what he calls the "awakening experience" can help us acknowledge, accept, and utilize our fear of death in a very positive manner. Such an awakening experience can be as simple as a dream, or quick as a sudden insight. It is often a loss, a trauma, or just plain aging that can prompt an awakening experience that is a turning point for a more meaningful life. He discusses how people can make lasting changes in their lives, rearrange their priorities, communicate more deeply with those they love, eliminate interpersonal fears of rejection, and increase a willingness to take risks for personal fulfillment and a life filled with love.

©2009 Irvin D. Yalom (P)2009 BBC Audio

Featured Article: A Future Corpse's Guide to Death Acceptance


Confronting death does not necessitate a spiral into despondency. Instead we may come a realization that, in acknowledging and accepting this fate, we paradoxically lead fuller and more emotionally present lives. In this list, scholars, physicians, journalists, philosophers, and death professionals share their stories, perspectives, and advice, offering a glimpse into how we can prepare for the end with grace, heart, and humor.

What listeners say about Staring at the Sun

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Positive & Life Affirming

Let me start by saying that the title of this book and the publisher's summary makes it seem that it will be dark and scary territory. While there is an open discussion about fear, anxiety and death the book is very positive and life affirming.

Yalom offers a balanced, insightful and humane approach. More importantly his long career as a therapist and a professor/trainer of other therapists brings into play a rich background of actual experience. I really enjoyed the case study approach of this book. To me, hearing about the concerns and struggles of real people takes the material out of theory and makes it both tangible and useable.

Recommended if you are a therapist or are interested in working with panic and anxiety issues on a personal level. Fascinating and engaging concepts to assist in focusing on living life fully not fearfully.

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35 people found this helpful

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Performance (at times) was a distraction

The performance was a distraction at times. Each time Gorton imitated a female character, I was taken aback by the utter ridiculousness of his efforts. It was a distraction from the serious and weighty topic the book was addressing. Surely, there could have been another way to communicate the presence of a female character without resorting to a stereotypically bad drag queen imitation.

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pretty good, overall

This was a good book, but not as good as I was expecting from Dr. Yalom on the subject. I've enjoyed many of his other books more and felt like I got more from them. My real complaint was with the reader. I felt the accents he assumed for patients sounded silly and were distracting. Also, the voice inflection he gave Dr. Yalom as therapist sounded patronizing and insincere.

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Must read

This book is awesomely thought provoking and is greet for all aspiring counselors and therapists or anyone looking at working in the helping profession with those facing end of life and those who are grieving

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Confronting the Fear of Death Saved Me

I absolutely enjoyed this book. It’s was relevant, captive, and practical. A mix of philosophy, scholarship and the real world makes this easy attend and absorb. So many relatable case studies. I highly recommend and have shared with those I adore and love.

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Staring at the Sun

While another excellent book by Irvin Yalom, Staring at the Sun, falls short of maintaining the same momentum as other texts by Yalom like The Gift of Therapy, Love's Executioner, and Creatures of a Day. A useful tool for therapists and counselors, the book presents and engaging and thought provoking discussion about the death that does not allow you to look away from the sun.

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Thank you

The book was very insightful for me personally. I’m just at the beginning of acceptance, and disclosure of my own immortality. Dealing with metastatic Prostate cancer, treatment to treatment and week to week; keeping the faith and my sense of humor which the book, and wonderful audio performance, has helped me process my life

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Great book! For everyone, not just therapists.

This is really a great book that talks about the important issue of death and how we should live.

I like how Yalom explains a point and gives examples—usually personal ones. I also like how his interpretation of dreams helps in therapy. As an older therapist, Yalom talks about his own issues around death.

I read the hard copy of this book years ago and just listened to it. I’m glad I did because I have a best friend who may be going into chemotherapy soon. Life is short and I need to live it fully!

Great narration. Highly recommended!

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Every persons book for these Pandemic times

The title resonated with my "staring at the sun" in childhood following
harsh parental physical punishment; no doubt a way to regain control and express defiance and other feelings. A tough book for the average reader seeking escape. Irvin keeps reader "on the ropes" and repeating "there for the of love God" go I. Irvin makes you come down from being a "fly on his office wall"; instead wishing you were his patient. So glad to get acquainted with his beliefs and works. Plan to read or listen to all.

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Counsel for the Difficulty of Death

Where does Staring at the Sun rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Yalom is superb, helping the listener through the struggle. Massive and thoughtful!

What did you like best about this story?

The personal internal struggle Yalom reveals through his therapy is extraordinary.

Have you listened to any of Gregory Gorton’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

No

What’s an idea from the book that you will remember?

Hearing about living in the present, helps the tension of the future unknown.

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