The Denial of Death
Published on 1. April 2011
Book
Paperback/Softback
336 pages
978-0-285-63897-6 (ISBN)
Description
Winner of the 1974 Pulitzer Prize and the culmination of Ernest Becker's life's work, The Denial of Death is one of the twentieth-century's great works. In it Ernest Becker passionately seeks to understand the basis of human existence. Taking the fundamental fact of existence as man's refusal to acknowledge his own mortality, Becker sheds new light on humanity and the meaning of life itself.
Becker views human civilisation and achievement as an attempt to transcend a sense of mortality. Mankind seeks heroic acts to become part of something eternal; even though the physical body will die one day, life can still have meaning and a greater significance. In the modern world much conflict between religions, nations and ideologies are the result of contradictory 'immortality projects' but Becker sees these as false and looks for alternative immortality projects that can restore the heroic sense, as well as bringing about a better world.
Becker views human civilisation and achievement as an attempt to transcend a sense of mortality. Mankind seeks heroic acts to become part of something eternal; even though the physical body will die one day, life can still have meaning and a greater significance. In the modern world much conflict between religions, nations and ideologies are the result of contradictory 'immortality projects' but Becker sees these as false and looks for alternative immortality projects that can restore the heroic sense, as well as bringing about a better world.
Reviews / Votes
An original, creative contribution to a synthesis of this generation's extensive explorations in psychology and theology. * Boston Herald * One of those rare masterpieces that will stimulate your thoughts, your intellectual curiosity, and last but not least, your soul. * Elisabeth Kubler-Ross, author, On Death and Dying * A brave work of electrifying intelligence and passion, optimistic and revolutionary, destined to endure. * New York Times Book Review * Concerns the 'universality of the fear of death'... Its approach is more philosophical than psychologically or medically empirical. -- Theology Meditating on death and its influence on our culture... that the fear of death is the single motivating fact of human endeavour and that all art and philosophy come from trying to deal with obsolescence. -- The Catholic Herald One of the few great books of the 20th or any other century. -- Albuquerque Journal Book Review It is hard to overestimate the importance of this book: Becker succeeds brilliantly in what he sets out to do, and the effort was necessary. -- The Chicago Sun-Times One hopes that every generation... will bring this brilliant book to the attention of new readers. * California Literary Review *More details
Edition
Main
Language
English
Place of publication
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Profile Books Ltd
Dimensions
Height: 216 mm
Width: 135 mm
Thickness: 23 mm
Weight
372 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-285-63897-6 (9780285638976)
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Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
Ernest Becker
The Denial of Death
E-Book
03/2011
1st Edition
Souvenir Press Ltd
from
€33.29
Available for download
Person
Ernest Becker taught at Simon Fraser University in Canada. His work drew on that of Kierkegaard, Freud, Wilhelm Reich and Otto Rank. He was awarded the Pulitzer Prize in 1974 for The Denial of Death.