The Denial of Death [Paperback]

 

 

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"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.

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.

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 previous evaluators. Before you check the box marked 'unhelpful', let me tell you who I am. I obtained a professional degree in Psychology about the same time that this book was published and since then have spent my career working in the field of Mental Health. I have been a psychotherapist for nearly thirty years and operated counseling and rehabilitation programs for the past twenty five.

Just as one cannot state that the 1958 Edsel was the pinnacle of the auto industry, one cannot state that the psychological theories of the early to mid 1900s is the endpoint of understanding the dynamics of human personalities. If one is to solely read this book, as one would read an encyclopedia or any other authoritarian publication, one would come to that false conclusion. Some of the materials in this book, in spite of the fact that the theories behind them are nearly forty years old, have withstood the test of time and are as relevant today as they were in 1973. Maslow's self-actualization process and theory remains to be the most recognizable source for individual growth theory. The author's perception that man's universal reaction to his 'fear of life' is repression has proven itself to be true even more so now that our society has become more complex. Although the term was dropped from APA jargon decades ago, 'neurosis' does partially come from the fact that a person's defense mechanisms have failed to keep his psyche secure and must be reworked in a therapeutic setting. And, most importantly, the blurring of the lines between psychology and spirituality has increased over the past decade and a half.

In spite of the fact that the fiscal cutbacks in the area of mental health services has been severely levied over the past decades, strong advancements have been made in spite of this hindrance. While there have been more recent theorizations such as Rational Emotive Therapy, the Behavioral Model and Reality Therapy, the main driving agents to this improvement have been in the areas of ancestoral genetics, psychopharmacology and the melding of the spirit and the psyche. And while the theories of Adler, Fromm, Rank and even Kierkegaard stirred a high level of excitement prior to their release and were given serious consideration, the field has moved on rapidly since that point. The issue of Freud's credibility was settled decades ago; he correctly identified the existence of a subconscious but failed miserably in proposing that it was soley driven by sexual 'instincts'. This text makes it appear as if the constroversy is still raging on. The diagnosis manual for mental health (DSM IV) dropped their misnomer of homosexuality as being a mental illness in the early 1980s and I find it most disturbing that Becker refers to it as being an 'illness and a fettish' in this outdated book. His chapter entitled "A General View of Mental Illness", while citing himself as not being an expert on its contents, reads like something out of the psychological stone ages! Psychosis is not simply and solely caused by a person unsuccessfully experiencing the totality of the world as the text suggests. OCD and what the author calls 'other fettishes' are not solely caused by a person's vain attempt to run away from and/or repress the world around himself. A person's state of emotional health is not solely caused by his/her view of how much 'courage' one shows in his/her environment. Depression is not the direct result of a person's voluntary retreat from the confusion of the world environment. And, last but certainly not least, there are far greater and numerous causes to emotional instability other than one's fear of death and one's fear of life. While all the premises that the author states as being primary do remain as factors in the overall mental health of an individual, they do fit into the overall picture of a person's psyche but do so in a MINOR role at best. They are only one piece in a very complex puzzle. They are not the solution to the puzzle itself. A person's emotional stability in society is based on numerous factors besides these; ancestoral genetics, the biochical physical makeup of the person, psychosocial factors of various developmental stages, income levels throughout life, intelligence quotients, other significant disabilities, etc... Man has a history of seeking easy answers to very complex questions. This author is no exception. The sad part is that while making a few points that have stood up well to the test of time, he makes numerous others that have been reduced to mere footnotes in current textbooks.

If any reader takes these 1973 writings and view them as being anything but one of the many steps that has been taken in the past to the ongoing path of understanding human dynamics, you are not only mistaken but are doing yourself a serious injustice. Just like the auto makers, we have moved on from the Edsel and are looking forward to what the future of psychological research can provide for us in the future.

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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 19 months ago by K. Jolly

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the best books I have ever read
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... Read more

Published on Mar 18 2010 by B. Peters

5.0 out of 5 stars The appetizer is quite the pleaser. (Worm Food)
This book was highley recommended by a professor of mine and I first read it a good eight years ago, only to pick it up again recently. Read more

Published on April 28 2004 by M. Hand

4.0 out of 5 stars HONESTY: a terrifying black well, even for Becker.
In Becker's The Denial Of Death, death, as it turns out in the book, equals ultimate helplessness , that is to say, man is a creature who lives in fantasizing denial of the fact... Read more

Published on Mar 27 2004 by artist with no country

5.0 out of 5 stars most important book i've ever read
I think all the reviews say this but I will reiterate it again: this book changed my life. It forced to ponder every important question in life, for me and for all of mankind, in... Read more

Published on Dec 6 2003 by Anthony K. Tshering

5.0 out of 5 stars ...
I ve read lots of books i dont understand and quite a few wich were "cool" to Read (neitche) this is probably the only book i have read wich is almost always in my mind and in my... Read more

Published on July 2 2003 by Jonathan Fantucchio

5.0 out of 5 stars Life Changing
The book changed my life. Truly.

Published on May 25 2003 by David Debow

5.0 out of 5 stars Life-Changing
This is one of the most important books I've ever read.

My father was dying. I nearly had a breakdown. Read more

Published on Mar 30 2003

5.0 out of 5 stars A great summary of psychology
Reading this book I was floored time and time again at how accurately Becker describes the condition of the modern man.Chapter Eight alone is worth the price of the book. Read more

Published on Jun 12 2002 by timothy hilliard

4.0 out of 5 stars Immortalist Manifesto Great Companion for Becker
I love Becker's Denial of Death. And I'll let you in on a big secret. An undiscovered gem called THE IMMORTALIST MANIFESTO by ELIXXIR (available on Amazon) takes Becker's thesis... Read more

Published on Jun 12 2002

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