Super Short Summary

The Denial of Death by Ernest Becker, published in 1973, explores the human fear of death and the psychological mechanisms developed to cope with it, including rituals, beliefs, and hero-systems that provide a sense of significance and oneness with the universe. Becker argues that with the decline of traditional religion, modern substitutes like romantic love, consumer capitalism, and science fail to offer the same metaphysical power. The book contains references to sexually explicit content and includes controversial assertions about mental health and people with mental health conditions.