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)

A classic, but...

I missed this book in the 70s but was happy to see an Audible version when it was recently recommended to me. It’s something of a survey of psychoanalytic literature on the subject of death-terror as it impacts the struggle to be fully human, Freud, Adler, Otto Rank, and later lights like Fromm all out in conversation with philosophers and theologians like Kierkegaard and Tillich. Unsettling at times, bewildering at others, sometimes just obtuse, the book is nevertheless well worth the time.

However, as a Latin student of seven years I was constantly appalled by the reader’s lack of knowledge of basic Latin conventions, to the extent that every time he pronounced “causa sui” as “causa swee” I’d lose focus long enough to miss a paragraph or two of arcanities about anality.

Sorry. Off topic. Good insights, frustrating narrator.

A young widower's review

A little heavier on the psychology than I thought it would be. A lot of deep information but I did get a few nuggets out of it. I was hoping this book would help me cope with understanding death, especially since I lost my wife in the last couple years. I don't know that the book did but I hoped it would do but it has opened my eyes to a few new ideas.

great

Love the narrator, excellent theory.great book to pick up and listen.. wish there was more

woah

it's eye opening but requires a few go throughs. Incredible amount of accurate references inside.

I own 3 copies of this book

I've read it several times and recommend it every chance I get. It's not for everyone and it's difficult to get through in some places but it is worth it in so many ways.

It was ok.

Didn’t know what to think about this book and purchased it on a whim. It was ok but not great. A lot of the psychology of death and not the more spiritual literature I’m more so drawn to. I finished it but wasn’t too impressed by it.

Must read aka listen for therapist

I have been in practice for twenty five years and this audio taught me a lot and reaffirmed what had already been affirmed

Challenging and Worth It

While it is clear Becker greatly admired Otto Rank--- at times his references to Rank's work borders on advertisement--- his ability to fuse the findings of his and other notable pioneers work is incredibly insightful and thought provoking.
The depth of the book is found in the simplicity Becker brings to even the most complicated ideas.
Better for having read it.

This book let's you're thoughts pounder & wonder!

this book will really get you thinking depending on your school of thought in psychology

Edit needed

At the end remains a reference to “the book continues on Disc 10” that is not needed in this Audible version.