The Denial of Death
Failed to add items
Add to Cart failed.
Add to Wish List failed.
Remove from wish list failed.
Follow podcast failed
Unfollow podcast failed
The Denial of Death
Buy Now for $23.18
No default payment method selected.
We are sorry. We are not allowed to sell this product with the selected payment method
-
Narrated by:
-
Raymond Todd
-
Written by:
-
Ernest Becker
About this listen
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 AudiobooksYou may also enjoy...
-
The Worm at the Core
- On the Role of Death in Life
- Written by: Jeff Greenberg, Sheldon Solomon, Tom Pyszczynski
- Narrated by: John Pruden
- Length: 8 hrs and 20 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 24
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 21
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 21
More than 100 years ago, the American philosopher William James wrote that the knowledge that we must die is "the worm at the core" of the human condition - a universally shared fear that informs all our thoughts and actions, from the great art we create to the devastating wars we wage.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Just for the daring
- By Amazon Customer on 2020-11-28
Written by: Jeff Greenberg, and others
-
The Mosquito
- A Human History of Our Deadliest Predator
- Written by: Timothy C. Winegard
- Narrated by: Mark Deakins
- Length: 19 hrs and 7 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 33
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 29
-
Story4 out of 5 stars 29
Why was gin and tonic the cocktail of choice for British colonists in India and Africa? What does Starbucks have to thank for its global domination? What has protected the lives of popes for millennia? Why did Scotland surrender its sovereignty to England? What was George Washington's secret weapon during the American Revolution? The answer to all these questions, and many more, is the mosquito. Driven by surprising insights and fast-paced storytelling, The Mosquito is the extraordinary untold story of the mosquito’s reign through human history.
-
3 out of 5 stars
-
very informative, but...
- By A on 2019-10-06
Written by: Timothy C. Winegard
-
The Social Leap
- The New Evolutionary Science of Who We Are, Where We Come from, and What Makes Us Happy
- Written by: William von Hippel
- Narrated by: Michael David Axtell
- Length: 8 hrs and 36 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 44
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 34
-
Story5 out of 5 stars 33
In The Social Leap, William von Hippel lays out a revolutionary hypothesis, tracing human development through three critical evolutionary inflection points to explain how events in our distant past shape our lives today. From the mundane, such as why we exaggerate, to the surprising, such as why we believe our own lies and why fame and fortune are as likely to bring misery as happiness, the implications are far-reaching and extraordinary.
-
4 out of 5 stars
-
interesting concepts
- By Lorne Robert Beck on 2020-05-23
Written by: William von Hippel
-
Notes from Underground
- Written by: Fyodor Dostoyevsky
- Narrated by: Peter Batchelor
- Length: 5 hrs and 44 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 5
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 5
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 5
Richard Pevear and Larissa Volokhonsky, whose Dostoevsky translations have become the standard, give us a brilliantly faithful edition of this classic novel, conveying all the tragedy and tormented comedy of the original. This audio edition of Notes from Underground is the only recording of Pevear and Volokhonsky's translation of Dostoevsky’s classic work.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
New to Dostoevsky
- By Kevin Wigglesworth on 2021-01-25
Written by: Fyodor Dostoyevsky
-
The Birth and Death of Meaning
- An Interdisciplinary Perspective on the Problem of Man; 2nd Edition
- Written by: Ernest Becker
- Narrated by: Chris Sorensen
- Length: 8 hrs and 35 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars 2
-
Performance2 out of 5 stars 1
-
Story4 out of 5 stars 1
The Birth and Death of Meaning uses the disciplines of psychology, anthropology, sociology, and psychiatry to explain what makes people act the way they do.
-
4 out of 5 stars
-
Interesting but outdated
- By Thom Tisher on 2023-01-23
Written by: Ernest Becker
-
The Paradox of Choice
- Why More is Less
- Written by: Barry Schwartz
- Narrated by: Ken Kliban
- Length: 7 hrs and 2 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars 53
-
Performance4 out of 5 stars 41
-
Story4 out of 5 stars 41
By synthesizing current research in the social sciences, Schwartz makes the counterintuitive case that eliminating choices can greatly reduce the stress, anxiety, and busyness of our lives. He offers eleven practical steps on how to limit choices to a manageable number, have the discipline to focus on the important ones and ignore the rest, and ultimately derive greater satisfaction from the choices you have to make.
-
2 out of 5 stars
-
Find a summary article instead
- By Nathan Lamont on 2020-01-29
Written by: Barry Schwartz
-
The Worm at the Core
- On the Role of Death in Life
- Written by: Jeff Greenberg, Sheldon Solomon, Tom Pyszczynski
- Narrated by: John Pruden
- Length: 8 hrs and 20 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 24
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 21
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 21
More than 100 years ago, the American philosopher William James wrote that the knowledge that we must die is "the worm at the core" of the human condition - a universally shared fear that informs all our thoughts and actions, from the great art we create to the devastating wars we wage.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Just for the daring
- By Amazon Customer on 2020-11-28
Written by: Jeff Greenberg, and others
-
The Mosquito
- A Human History of Our Deadliest Predator
- Written by: Timothy C. Winegard
- Narrated by: Mark Deakins
- Length: 19 hrs and 7 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 33
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 29
-
Story4 out of 5 stars 29
Why was gin and tonic the cocktail of choice for British colonists in India and Africa? What does Starbucks have to thank for its global domination? What has protected the lives of popes for millennia? Why did Scotland surrender its sovereignty to England? What was George Washington's secret weapon during the American Revolution? The answer to all these questions, and many more, is the mosquito. Driven by surprising insights and fast-paced storytelling, The Mosquito is the extraordinary untold story of the mosquito’s reign through human history.
-
3 out of 5 stars
-
very informative, but...
- By A on 2019-10-06
Written by: Timothy C. Winegard
-
The Social Leap
- The New Evolutionary Science of Who We Are, Where We Come from, and What Makes Us Happy
- Written by: William von Hippel
- Narrated by: Michael David Axtell
- Length: 8 hrs and 36 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 44
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 34
-
Story5 out of 5 stars 33
In The Social Leap, William von Hippel lays out a revolutionary hypothesis, tracing human development through three critical evolutionary inflection points to explain how events in our distant past shape our lives today. From the mundane, such as why we exaggerate, to the surprising, such as why we believe our own lies and why fame and fortune are as likely to bring misery as happiness, the implications are far-reaching and extraordinary.
-
4 out of 5 stars
-
interesting concepts
- By Lorne Robert Beck on 2020-05-23
Written by: William von Hippel
-
Notes from Underground
- Written by: Fyodor Dostoyevsky
- Narrated by: Peter Batchelor
- Length: 5 hrs and 44 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 5
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 5
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 5
Richard Pevear and Larissa Volokhonsky, whose Dostoevsky translations have become the standard, give us a brilliantly faithful edition of this classic novel, conveying all the tragedy and tormented comedy of the original. This audio edition of Notes from Underground is the only recording of Pevear and Volokhonsky's translation of Dostoevsky’s classic work.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
New to Dostoevsky
- By Kevin Wigglesworth on 2021-01-25
Written by: Fyodor Dostoyevsky
-
The Birth and Death of Meaning
- An Interdisciplinary Perspective on the Problem of Man; 2nd Edition
- Written by: Ernest Becker
- Narrated by: Chris Sorensen
- Length: 8 hrs and 35 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars 2
-
Performance2 out of 5 stars 1
-
Story4 out of 5 stars 1
The Birth and Death of Meaning uses the disciplines of psychology, anthropology, sociology, and psychiatry to explain what makes people act the way they do.
-
4 out of 5 stars
-
Interesting but outdated
- By Thom Tisher on 2023-01-23
Written by: Ernest Becker
-
The Paradox of Choice
- Why More is Less
- Written by: Barry Schwartz
- Narrated by: Ken Kliban
- Length: 7 hrs and 2 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars 53
-
Performance4 out of 5 stars 41
-
Story4 out of 5 stars 41
By synthesizing current research in the social sciences, Schwartz makes the counterintuitive case that eliminating choices can greatly reduce the stress, anxiety, and busyness of our lives. He offers eleven practical steps on how to limit choices to a manageable number, have the discipline to focus on the important ones and ignore the rest, and ultimately derive greater satisfaction from the choices you have to make.
-
2 out of 5 stars
-
Find a summary article instead
- By Nathan Lamont on 2020-01-29
Written by: Barry Schwartz
-
The Origins of Totalitarianism
- Written by: Hannah Arendt
- Narrated by: Nadia May
- Length: 23 hrs and 23 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 41
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 33
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 33
This classic, definitive account of totalitarianism traces the emergence of modern racism as an "ideological weapon for imperialism", beginning with the rise of anti-Semitism in Europe in the 19th century and continuing through the New Imperialism period from 1884 to World War I.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
A prescient warning for the 21st Century
- By Robert Hoople on 2022-01-28
Written by: Hannah Arendt
-
The Elephant in the Brain
- Hidden Motives in Everyday Life
- Written by: Kevin Simler, Robin Hanson
- Narrated by: Jeffrey Kafer
- Length: 10 hrs and 26 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 65
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 46
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 45
Human beings are primates, and primates are political animals. Our brains, therefore, are designed not just to hunt and gather but also to help us get ahead socially, often via deception and self-deception. But while we may be self-interested schemers, we benefit by pretending otherwise. The less we know about our own ugly motives, the better - and thus, we don't like to talk, or even think, about the extent of our selfishness. This is "the elephant in the brain".
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Insightful and challenging.
- By Amazon Customer on 2020-07-19
Written by: Kevin Simler, and others
-
Conscious
- A Brief Guide to the Fundamental Mystery of the Mind
- Written by: Annaka Harris
- Narrated by: Annaka Harris
- Length: 2 hrs and 22 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 174
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 135
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 135
This mind-expanding dive into the mystery of consciousness is an illuminating meditation on the self, free will, and felt experience.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Loved it
- By Lawrence on 2023-02-17
Written by: Annaka Harris
-
All Against All
- The Long Winter of 1933 and the Origins of the Second World War
- Written by: Paul Jankowski
- Narrated by: Dean Gallagher
- Length: 16 hrs and 6 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall0 out of 5 stars 0
-
Performance0 out of 5 stars 0
-
Story0 out of 5 stars 0
All Against All is the story of the season our world changed from postwar to prewar again. It is about the power of bad ideas - exploring why, during a single winter, between November 1932 and April 1933, so much went so wrong. Historian Paul Jankowski reveals that it was collective mentalities and popular beliefs that drove this crucial period that sent nations on the path to war, as much as any rational calculus called "national interest".
Written by: Paul Jankowski
-
A Year to Live
- Written by: Stephen Levine
- Narrated by: Stephen Levine
- Length: 3 hrs and 17 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars 9
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 7
-
Story5 out of 5 stars 7
If you only had a year to live, what would you do? In his work with the dying, author Stephen Levine observed the radical changes people can make in the face of death. Levine challenged himself to live an entire year as if it were his last - and in this revealing narrative he shares what he learned.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Excellent.
- By Randall on 2018-02-20
Written by: Stephen Levine
-
Emperor
- A New Life of Charles V
- Written by: Geoffrey Parker
- Narrated by: Nigel Patterson
- Length: 26 hrs and 24 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 3
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 2
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 2
The life of Emperor Charles V (1500-1558), ruler of Spain, Germany, the Netherlands, and much of Italy and Central and South America, has long intrigued biographers. But the elusive nature of the man (despite an abundance of documentation), his relentless travel and the control of his own image, together with the complexity of governing the world's first transatlantic empire, complicate the task.
Written by: Geoffrey Parker
What the critics say
"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)
What listeners say about The Denial of Death
Average Customer RatingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
-
Overall3 out of 5 stars
-
Performance4 out of 5 stars
-
Story3 out of 5 stars
- alexis
- 2019-05-20
got bored near the end
i enjoyed it at the very begining, but after about 5-6 hours i got bored. Guess it wasn't my type
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
- Stefan Florinca
- 2022-03-24
Amazing
A must listen!! Truly a perspective altering body of work. Thankful to have had the chance to come across it.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- J Doh
- 2019-09-09
Brilliant book
This book surprised me at almost every turn. It frames how we look at the behaviour patterns that define our lives in a new light.
There were moments where I found myself having said aloud proclamations of it's brilliance - I will definitely give it another listen at some point.
The author gives a lot of credit to another author Otto Rank. He speaks highly of his work and often cites his discoveries.
This is the synopsis from Wikipedia...
"The Denial of Death is a 1973 work of psychology and philosophy by Ernest Becker, in which the author builds on the works of Søren Kierkegaard, Sigmund Freud, Norman O. Brown and Otto Rank. It was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for General Non-Fiction in 1974, two months after the author's death"
The narrator moves quickly through the material which I appreciate due to the volume of the text.
Great book. Don't miss this one.
Once it gets going you won't be able to stop listening to it and it will stay with you for awhile afterwards following your first listen.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
1 person found this helpful
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Amazon Customer
- 2023-08-18
an excellent intro to Philosophy
an excellent intro to Philosophy. this book takes you on a journey. be ready to be aroused
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Nicholas Gervais
- 2024-10-08
A pliar of neutrality: This book levels a forest of ideas to the ground
As the introduction mentions, humanity is choking on truth; everything is mentioned in a million ways, screaming for attention. It's hard to get meaningful ideas or whole perspectives that can stand solid these days, and this perspective is solid. The Denial of Death doesn't level a forest of ideals by picking up an axe but by giving latitude. To the point that even mountains look flat.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Zane Gates
- 2020-03-19
Well Researched and Thought Out
I listened to this book almost a year ago. I've been chewing on the ideas ever since. Many of them I intuitively knew since a young age, and my experiences in life and observations of culture have only reinforced them and helped me understand them deeper. As someone who lives to take physical risks and challenges, I've often found myself confused by so many of my peers who seem almost pathetically risk-averse. This book does a good job of articulating how many people busy themselves endlessly in a naive and vain attempt to avoid thinking or coming to terms with the fact that they will one day die.
If you've ever experimented with psychedelics and deep introspective thoughts, you'll likely have grappled with the subject matter in this book. This author does a great job of expanding upon and articulating those ideas, with plenty of anthropological support.
A must read for anyone who endeavours to live a meaningful life.
Also, if you were curious about why so many strange individuals went panic-shopping for toilet paper during the COVID-19 situation, this book elaborates on the psychology behind that type of behaviour.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
5 people found this helpful
-
Overall2 out of 5 stars
-
Performance1 out of 5 stars
-
Story2 out of 5 stars
- Kiril
- 2020-05-19
Good start, but could not continue...
The author is off to a good start but turns his story into musings about Freud's personality and features, which I don't care about. It seemed to me that at the time of writing it was important to refer to some important psych figures like Freud but it's completely irrelevant now. Sadly, I couldn't tolerate listening to these pointless musings...
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall1 out of 5 stars
-
Performance1 out of 5 stars
-
Story1 out of 5 stars
- Very Satisfied Amazon Customer
- 2020-06-03
Sadly far to old
So much of it is so incredibly out of date that it has lost it's relevance both scientifically and philosophically
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall1 out of 5 stars
-
Performance2 out of 5 stars
-
Story1 out of 5 stars
- A. Alderdice
- 2020-12-22
Outdated, offensive and disappointing.
I read 3-5 books a week, and this is the first one I've truly struggled to get through that initially seemed promising. The homophobia isn't acceptable, either. A boring narrator and boring subject matter that can't stop sucking up to outdated Freud.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
1 person found this helpful
-
Overall2 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story2 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 2022-07-31
Lacks reference to any evidence
Read (listened) to this for a second time since doing a degree, which was a different experience to the first time. This is really a very interesting series of opinions. If you don't like Freud because of the lack of evidence, you won't like this.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!