Indeed, in my work as a therapist, I take as my intellectual ancestors not so much the great psychiatrists and psychologists of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries-Pinel, Freud, Jung, Pavlov, Rorschach, and Skinner-but classical Greek philosophers, particularly Epicurus. As a psychotherapist treating many individuals struggling with death anxiety, I have found that ancient wisdom, particularly that of the ancient Greek philosophers, is thoroughly relevant today. For some of us the fear of death manifests only indirectly, either as generalized unrest or masqueraded as another psychological symptom other individuals experience an explicit and conscious stream of anxiety about death and for some of us the fear of death erupts into terror that negates all happiness and fulfillment.įor eons, thoughtful philosophers have attempted to dress the wound of mortality and to help us fashion lives of harmony and peace. As he feared death, so do we all-each and every man, woman, and child. When I die shall I not be like Enkidu? Sorrow enters my heart. Four thousand years ago, the Babylonian hero Gilgamesh reflected on the death of his friend Enkidu with the words from the epigraph above: "Thou hast become dark and cannot hear me. Mortality has haunted us from the beginning of history. Our existence is forever shadowed by the knowledge that we will grow, blossom, and, inevitably, diminish and die. But it comes with a costly price: the wound of mortality. Self-awareness is a supreme gift, a treasure as precious as life. Yalom John Wiley & Sons Copyright © 2008 Irvin D. Staring at the Sun Overcoming the Terror of Death By Irvin D. Compassionate connection, combined with the wisdom of the great thinkers who have wrestled with mortality, enables us to overcome the terror of death and lead happier, more meaningful lives. Yalom encourages us to strive for more direct engagement with others. Yalom writes, we are inspired to rearrange our priorities, communicate more deeply with those we love, appreciate more keenly the beauty of life, and increase our willingness to take the risks necessary for personal fulfillment.įilled with touching personal stories of people who are grappling with the terror of death-including the author-Staring at the Sun offers specific methods to cope with terror and is ultimately life affirming. Such recognition is often catalyzed by an "awakening experience"-a dream, or loss (the death of a loved one, divorce, loss of a job or home), illness, trauma, or aging. Yalom helps us recognize that the fear of death is at the heart of much of our anxiety. In this magisterial opus, capping a lifetime of work and personal experience, Dr. Written in Irv Yalom's inimitable story-telling style, Staring at the Sun is a profoundly encouraging approach to the universal issue of mortality. "Yalom is the Scheherazade of the couch.From the acclaimed author of the best-selling Love's Executioner, The Gift of Therapy, and When Nietzsche Wept comes an inspiring book that confronts the most demanding challenge we all face: overcoming the terror of death. ![]() I honor his courage and rare insight." Erica Jong, author, Fear of Flying, Shylock′s Daughter, Inventing Memory, and Sappho′s Leap "Irvin Yalom has written a brave, intelligent book on the last forbidden subject death. Robin Meyers, minister of Mayflower UCC Church of Oklahoma City, professor of rhetoric in the philosophy department at Oklahoma City University, and author, Why the Christian Right Is Wrong This is a wise book by a wise man about the most taboo of all subjects. "Although written from a psychotherapeutic perspective, this thoughtful treatment of the ultimate fear has much to offer people of faith. It should give comfort to the dying and to those they leave behind." Andrew Solomon, author, The Noonday Demon, winner of the National Book Award The book is witty and kind and unflinching, a generous meditation that shows us not how to defeat our fear but how to become wise enough to tolerate it. "Staring at the Sun looks experientially and psychodynamically at our deepest fear and describes with uncommon eloquence and deep humanity how we may arrive at a form of peace. ![]() It will benefit anyone who reads it." Rabbi Harold Kushner, author, When Bad Things Happen to Good People ![]() "One of America′s finest therapists guides us through one of life′s most challenging tasks in this profoundly helpful book. "Always enlightening and often quite moving." Washington Post IRVIN YALOM WHOSE BOOKS HAVE SOLD MORE THAN FIVE MILLION COPIES WORLDWIDE
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