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)

Brillant, Timeless and Riveting

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

One of the deepest and yet very accessible books that I have ever heard. Since listening to it I have purchased the book and read it cover to cover. Superb.

What was the most compelling aspect of this narrative?

Too many to mention. I believe each person who listens to this book will be moved and permanently changed.

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

He is very good. Reads quickly and clearly.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Loved the stories regarding Freud and Jung. Enlightening

Any additional comments?

A must read if you are interested in the core of our human being. This book absolutely deserved the Pulitzer Prize.

Not what I expected

psychoanalysis basic history and overview spending a great deal of time on their collective obsessions with body parts. good listen, great reader.

Existentially thought provoking

incredibly heavy psycho analytic assessment of human psychology and existentialism. Becker draws from many well known psycho analysts to present his own views on human psychology and the searches for life's meaning.

Mature analysis of life and theories

I love this book as it provides a mature analysis of basic life questions, building an strong argument upon available theories from renamed psychologists.
Highly recommended as you might find yourself identified in several passages of the book and understand, hopefully, the behavior and rationale behind many people and life.
It also offers a very good critic of those theories and pushes the reader to recognize the world we live in and can’t escape from reality

Worthwhile in its humorlessness & anachronism

Life is a search for something to die for. Should we not engage in the search we will deaden ourselves to pursuit with distraction and cheap answers.

To frame that question is the power of the book but also the start of its shortcoming.

I won't quote here the sections on perversions including fetishes and homosexuality because they are so cruelty abhorrent, but they represent a greater flaw in the book. A consequence of Becker's broad reading and citing of other minds leaves him little room to be clear about what he agrees with and what he doesn't.

A key point (besides quoting Freud at length on sexuality) is the treatment of eastern religion. While Becket spends ten pages on psycoanaliais of Freud fainting twice, he dismisses all eastern religion with a quote from Tillic claiming it is not for the Western man because it is cowardly and scepticism is more manly than mysticism.

In all, an important read. Skip the chapter on mental illness. Perhaps just put it aside when it stops fulling you. It gets progressively more clumsy with no redeeming parts worth working towards.

Psychology and Religion great cutting edge concept

Covered the questions of the contemporary set of our time cutting edge with a clear break down look summing the story of psychology and religion mergence onto the topic of death as taking the overall questions and looks to where we as man are. Great listen! Insightful balanced look at the topic objectively given for a listeners view how deaths ways are seen and dealt with in mental models. A 4 Star ✨ Spiritual Review!!!!

An odd couple marriage of Psychiatry and Religion

As in the Fight Club Paper Street Soap Company, Becker sells us back our rich fat asses, and we should line up to buy it even knowing it for what it really is: A brilliant and profane scheme to make our dirty secret-selves clean. -raw

Heady but Necessary

Great book, just need to repeat so some concepts are not lost. Otherwise, definitely recommended!

Very interesting

not really a book for the closed minded. Interesting theory that Iagree with to an extent, but not wholeheartedly. narrator has a pleasant voice.

Great review of man’s search for meaning

Death and psychoanalysis sex, and its role in the formation of a complete human. This book is a testament to all western thought relating to the subject of death and men’s dual nature as both animal and symbolic entity.