The Denial of Death: Amazon.ca: Ernest Becker: Books

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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 twenty years after its writing. --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

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The first thing we have to do with heroism is to lay bare its underside, show what gives human heroics its specific nature and impetus. Read the first page

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Customer Reviews

25 Reviews

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4.7 out of 5 stars (25 customer reviews)

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7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Beyond brilliant, absolutely unforgettable masterpiece, Oct 29 2001

By

J from NY (New York) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Denial of Death (Paperback)

"The Denial of Death" is one of the most brilliant books I've ever read, without a doubt. It is a work of absolute passion and brilliance, and it is obviously Becker's 'magnum opus', the product of a lifetime's worth of study and reflection on the mystery and underlying meaning of human existence. First, Becker courageously faces what he knows to be true: that human culture and everyday activitity is a 'frantic sedative' of sorts and is not at all what it appears to be. Second, he admits that the human condition is in some ways terrifying and maddeningly paradoxical, in that human beings are quite vulnerable animals unfortunate enough to have the capacity to reflect on their horrid fate:death. He has no illusions about what so called 'neurosis' actually is--Becker knows that the people society call 'neurotic' or 'weird' are precisely those who have a deeper philosophical insight into the nearly paralyzing fundamental questions of human existence. His 'answers', (although as Sam Keen puts it, they are really only palliative solutions) are mostly pragmatic in nature and require what Kierkegaard (to whom a chapter is devoted)termed 'the leap of faith'. The only consolation Becker offers, really, is the acknowledgment that these agonizing ultimate questions are what all the great souls in the history of man (Tolstoy, Peguy, Nietzsche are just a few of those mentioned), have struggled with. The book's reputation as being depressing and heavy handed is not entirely unjustified, but this in no way detracts from its beauty or undeniable importance. Sometimes chilling, but nonetheless a supreme work of perfection, beauty, and authenticity.

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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Helps you be human, Jun 27 2003

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cinnamongirl "Lola" (Portland, OR) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Denial of Death (Paperback)

Book Review / The Denial of Death by Ernest Becker

Nearly 60 reviews have already been posted on this book, many delving into the ins and outs of the psychological theories Becker proposes. So, I simply want to report the impact this book had on me.

Over decades of reading, I have sought authors who will admit the truth. Becker does.

To find a book that insightfully examines -- with a clear, steady gaze -- the profoundest fundamentals of human existence is quite rare. I have read thousands of books in my life, and Becker's is one of the few that genuinely qualifies. He dares go where many fear to tread. But, death and our denial of it, he establishes, is at the core of human existence and a root force shaping both human personality and human society. I imagine it is impossible to understand life without grasping this. Becker brilliantly analyzes why and how we avoid acknowledging this fact at all costs.

If you have the courage to look at the core of things; to examine your own denial of death and how it has -- and currently is -- shaping your life; then this book is for you. It is for readers who find the truth fundamentally more liberating, than intimidating.

Becker helped me become more honestly human. He also helped me feel less weird, ( i.e. neurotic) by acknowledging that much neurosis stems from being constantly and painfully aware of the actual facts of existence.

Despite the "heavy" topic, Becker's overall writing style is lucid, accessible, even engaging, and without posturing. Only occasional sections lapse into rather turgid debate of psychological theory.

If you want a book that calmly stares you straight in the face, while dissecting what really matters; if you are looking for a book that can help ground you in the center of reality, here it is.

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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the best books I have ever read, Mar 18 2010

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B. Peters - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)

This review is from: The Denial of Death (Paperback)

As a psychologist, I believe this book should be essential reading for my profession. Unfortunately, existential and psychodynamic ideas continue to remain unpopular within the field of clinical psychology. I believe I have become a more rounded clinician as a result of being exposed to this piece of work and I would recommend it to anyone in the helping profession and anyone wanting to learn more about what makes us human and about becoming more aware of our existential realities and learning to live a more open life. Unlike many academic works that I have read, Becker's synthesis and style of writing is engaging and soaked with meaning. Every word serves puropose and some sentences, paragraphs, and ideas will leave one's spine tingling.

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Most recent customer reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic Read ... The Best Ever!
This is the most incredible book I have ever read or will ever hope to read. It is a book everyone must plan to read in their lifetime. Read more

Published 16 months ago by K. Jolly

2.0 out of 5 stars Only reflective of psychology as it existed in 1973
At the risk of being labeled "unhelpful" by the readers of Amazon's book evaluations, I feel I must offer a less naive and more experienced review of "The Denial of Death" than... Read more

Published 22 months ago by Ronald W. Maron