Staring at the Sun
By Irvin D. Yalom
- Release Date: 2010-06-10
- Genre: Psychology
Description
Written in Irv Yalom's inimitable story-telling style, Staring at the Sun is a profoundly encouraging approach to the universal issue of mortality. In this magisterial opus, capping a lifetime of work and personal experience, Dr. Yalom helps us recognize that the fear of death is at the heart of much of our anxiety. 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.
Once we confront our own mortality, Dr. 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.
Reviews
Excellent tool for people with death anxiety, especially atheists
5By AustinHospitalistAs a person with some degree of death anxiety throughout my life, and without a belief in God, I felt that I had uniquely difficult worries that could not be helped or even approached. Previously, when I've been in the mood to discuss death anxiety with others, I encountered a focus on the "comfort" of an eternal afterlife, a notion that I have never been able to rationally accept, yet somehow managed to cause me extreme distress. This is the first time I have read a book that resonated with me so solidly from start to finish. I feel indebted to Dr. Yalom for providing me, personally, such a generous gift. This book promises no miracles (in fact it is very clear that Dr. Yalom does not believe in miracles), yet it lays a framework for understanding death and our anxiety about it that is of enormous worth. Thank you, Dr. Yalom.Wonderful book
5By HebatallagFull of "aha" moments where you understand yourself or someone close to you. The kind of book you read more than once.
