“The denial of death” by Ernest Becker

The author 🖋

Ernest Becker was an American cultural anthropologist, bestselling author, Pulitzer Prize winner and professor at several prestigious institutions (including the University of California, Berkeley).

Becker also served in World War II and was involved in liberating a Nazi concentration camp.

He died of cancer just after publishing this book.

Key takeaways 🎓

1. Fear of death drives human behavior

Being afraid of dying is a big part of what makes us human.

The author argues that much of what we do is an attempt to deny or transcend the reality of our mortality, often without our awareness.

This fear is so overwhelming that we develop psychological defenses to cope with it - they shape our personalities, our cultures and our societies.

2. Culture & religion as defense mechanisms

Religious beliefs, nationalism and even careers serve as tools for managing the reality that we will all die some day.

Based on Becker, these shared values and beliefs are nothing but symbolic structures that have been created to give life meaning, allowing humans to feel a sense of significance beyond our physical existence.

3. Everyone wants to be a hero

The concept of heroism, according to Becker, is an attempt to achieve a sense of immortality.

He suggests that we strive to be heroes - whether through our work or personal/family life - to feel like we matter and will be remembered.

In reality, it’s just another buffer against our anxiety of death.

Closing thoughts 🧠

The book explores how the fear of death shapes human behavior, our culture and society.

It has had a significant influence on fields of psychology and philosophy, but critics argue that Becker's theory explaining human behavior through the single lens of death anxiety is overly reductive.

I feel that ultimately, it highlights the importance of accepting our mortality to find peace in life.