Ernest Becker

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 twenty years after its writing.

From the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of The Denial of Death, a penetrating and insightful perspective on the source of evil in our world."A profound, nourishing book…absolutely essential to the understanding of our troubled times." —Anais Nin"An urgent essay that bears all the marks of a final philosophical raging against the dying of the light." —Newsweek

Uses the disciplines of psychology, anthropology, sociology and psychiatry to explain what makes people act the way they do.

From back "In this book, Ernest Becker challenges the 'disinterested' approach of contemporary social science. He seeks to fulfill the urgent need for a science which is humanly significant--a 'science of man' which truly works for the benefit of human beings. Here, he pulls together the critical ideas of psychology, sociology, psychiatry, history and philosophy in a unified science of man, offering a vivid call to action for anyone concerned with the future development of the human community. The book bristles with astonishing insights and keen judgments. A work of vast historical sweep, it is grand in scope yet intensely human in perspective. ERNEST BECKER (1924-1974) won the Pulitzer Prize for General Nonfiction in 1974 for 'The Denial of Death.' A distinguished social theorist and popular teacher of anthropology, sociology, and social psychology he was also the author of "the birth and Death of Meaning', 'Revolution in Psychiatry', 'Angel in Armor and 'Escape from Evil.'

Angel in Armor. Free Press Paperback Edition, issued 1975. Includes essays the pathology of normalcy; the Oedipus complex; the demonic; paranoia; and “What is Basic Human Nature?: Further Notes on the Central Problem of the Science of Man.”

Becker's attempt to devise a theory of psychopathology. He incorporate the philosophy of John Dewey, using the active-passive dichotomy to distinguish those who have retreated into either (1) a depressive symbol system versus (2) those whose proneness to over activity lead to a lack of substance.

Beyond A Philosophy of Education for the Crisis of Democracy

Book by Becker, Ernest

Please Note That The Following Individual Books As Per Original ISBN and Cover Image In this Listing shall be Dispatched Collectively: On Grief and Grieving, The Denial of Death, You'll Get Over It 3 Books Collection Set: On Grief and Grieving: One of the most important psychological studies of the late twentieth century,OnDeath and Dyinggrew out of Dr. Elisabeth Kubler-Ross's famous interdisciplinary seminar on death, life and transition. In this remarkable book, Dr. Kubler-Ross first explores the now-famous stages of death: denial and isolation, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance. Through sample interviews and conversations, she gives the reader a better understanding of how imminent death affects the patient, the professionals who serve that patient, and the patient's family, bringing hope to all who are involved. The Denial of Death: The Denial of Death is one of the twentieth-century s great works. In it Ernest Becker s passionately seeks to understand the basis of human existence. Addressing 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 as mankind seeks heroic acts (a sense of heroism is the central fact of human nature) to become part of something eternal. You'll Get Over It: The death of a loved one is the most traumatic experience any of us face. No two people cope with it the same way: some cry while others remain dry-eyed; some discover growth through pain, others find arid wastes; some feel angry, others feel numb. Virginia Ironside deals with this complicated and sensitive issue with great frankness and insight, drawing on other's people's accounts as well as her own experiences.