The Denial of Death
by Ernest Becker · first published 1973
66% recommend34% neutral
Why HN recommends it
Argues that awareness of mortality drives much human behavior, from ambition to cults, through immortality projects. Thought-provoking for founders and anyone wrestling with death anxiety or Freud, Rank, and Kierkegaard.
Summarised by Claude from recommending comments
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…to build towards a sane society Fromm's The Art Of Loving - an analysis of different kinds of loves, trying to dispel pop culture's lies about love, and love is actually hard work Ernest Becker's The Denial of Death - on how not our fear, but our complete denial of death existing leads to the weirdest outcomes in our society Then there's political stuff - Orwell's Essays, any large-ish collection. I find Orwell…
on “Ask HN: Mind bending books to read and never be the same as before?” ↗Denial of Death by Ernest Becker is a great read.
on “Terror management theory” ↗This post brings up the connection between desire for achievement and mortality. The book "The Denial of Death" by Ernest Becker is an excellent perspective on this phenomenon. The central premise of the book is that, in order to feel comfortable about our own inevitable mortality, we seek achievements that make…
on “Chris Crawford on Mortality” ↗my favorite literature on the subject is Ernest Becker The Denial of Death. A great book. This article is (not that I ever had expectations from the newyorker.com but even for their low standards) total pish. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Denial_of_Death
on “What Does It Mean to Die?” ↗The Denial of Death by Ernest Becker I was not prepared to read this book when I did, and its ideas have haunted me since. They have kept me awake many a night.
on “Ask HN: Which books have made you introspect?” ↗I recommend you read "The Denial of Death" by Ernest Becker. It is at length a book on death anxiety and how humans attempt to cope with the subject.
on “The future’s so bright, I gotta wear blinders” ↗I presume I am talking to the author right now of the book [1]. Anyway I find fascinating that you used Ernest Becker ideas (his book denial of death) and others overlooked ideas. I would check out the book.
on “Stoicism's Appeal to the Rich and Powerful” ↗…more ignorant to the suffering of others. I'd rather be dead than go through life like that. life without death is meaningless and we should cherish it the same way as we celebrate being born. edit: The Denial of Death by Ernest Becker, perfectly articulates how messed up our relationship with death/disease/dying has become in modern society.
on “How to Live to the Full While Dying: The Diary of Alice James (2017)” ↗'Denial of Death' by Ernest Becker really helped me make sense of our own mortality. Can't recommend it highly enough.
on “Regrets of the Dying (2010)” ↗The Denial Of Death by Ernest Becker. The Holy Bible by God.
on “Ask HN: Life Changing Books?” ↗Escape from Freedom by Erich Fromm The Denial of Death by Ernest Becker The Revolution of Everyday Life by Raoul Vaneigem The Society of the Spectacle by Debord Nihilist Communism by Monsieur Dupont The Dispossessed by Ursula K Le Guin On the Road by…
on “Books That Changed My Life” ↗…weren't stupid. Intellectually they were as capable as the successful founders of following all the implications of what one said to them. They just weren't eager to. Startup founders should read 'The Denial of Death' (http://www.amazon.com/Denial-Death-Ernest-Becker/dp/06848324...) Of course, as a founder, you could make it a point to embrace the reality not just of your inevitable death, but also your startup's…
on “A Word to the Resourceful” ↗…to delay the extinction of humanity to be a good reason. Joy would be, and is for some. I just requested the Myth of Sisyphus from the library. If you haven't read it, you might try Ernest Becker's "Denial of Death". http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Denial_of_Death --Cronopio cronopio cronopio. May your solitude be less embittered.
on “Depression lies” ↗One book I would recommend on the subject of death and its place in society is The Denial of Death by Ernest Becker. Although it uses a Freudian (or rather, Rankian) foundation you can appreciate its thinking and conclusions without buying into that whole framework. Its concept of individual "immortality…
on “Psilocybin shows success in medical trials” ↗The Denial of Death by Ernest Becker. It's about how death shapes life and human society. Completely changed how I view life and the world around me. Also launched me on a path that's resulted in me successfully combating…
on “Ask HN: What book changed your life in 2014?” ↗