Staring at the Sun: Overcoming the Terror of Death

"It's a hard topic to present to the general public since everyone will have a bias against the author's viewpoint. You might agree with his anti-religious views or not; however, the fact that he bases all his conclusions on this world view automatically excludes so much of the concept of death. I appreciate the atheist viewpoint in this presentation; however, it feels too one-sided. I wish this was a book tackling the same hard topics written by Yalom AND a person of faith.
Still, it is a good read - uncomfortable at times, but ultimately an experience worthwhile."
~ Written on 2008-08-22

"This is a more difficult read than most of Yalom's other books. His books are lucid and often inspirational. Death is not an easy subject. I kept putting it down. But something he does in most books is include very personal and meaningful anecdotes. One of the best parts is his inclusion of encounters close to death with 3 of his mentors. Those stories and his impressions of them are revealing and unforgettable. He tells his own early encounters with the deaths of his parents and friends in a way that any person can relate to. Although I don't like the subject, he is a great writer. I am glad that he has written so much."
~ Written on 2008-08-19

"Maybe the best book about our reaction to the 'terror of death' since the classic 'On Death And Dying' by Elisabeth Kubler-Ross. A psychology lecturer told me Elisabeth, a world expert on the topic of facing the end of life, ended up alone in a hospice in Arizona. I think no such fate faces Irvin Yalom. He will be surrounded by friends, and will know his powerful spirit will live through his writing. His bracing book is perfect for folks looking at the final stage of life without set fixed relgious mindsets.

Famous psychologist Erik Erikson's 8th stage of life is Ego Integrity vs. Despair, and this book gives great pointers on how we can realise our life was worthwhile, and how to avoid the despair that some find shadows what should be a life ending in the bright sunlight."
~ Written on 2008-08-19

"Since all of us face death, it is natural to view this passage with a near-irrational panic. Dr. Yalom is a most readable writer. If there is one message that one can take away from "Staring at the Sun," it is that living in the moment, savoring it, is an infinitely more life-affirming path than fearing what we may have no power to control. And following this message will help us help our loved ones and friends as well--no small thing."
~ Written on 2008-07-30

"I've read Irvin Yalom for years. I've read his text books while at college (I'm a group psychotherapist, which is his speciality) and loved his book Love's Executioner. I was less happy with Momma and the Meaning of Life. This book falls between the two. It has more of the poetry of Love's Executioner but is a little existential for me (which is not his fault at all, he's very up front about being an existential psychotherapist.)

I loved the philosophical background/analysis, and found a lot of it to be very valuable. But his dismissal of any fundamental religious beliefs to be 'death denial' (an echo of Freud) is something I just can't agree with and certainly nothing I would subtly pitch to a patient. I find the exact opposite - knowing that humans are not the top of the chain, but simply beings in it, and that there is a higher intelligence present can be just as calming and centering as facing death sternly knowing that there is nothing after it.

So I liked his writing and certainly learnt a lot, and that's always appreciated (I read plenty of books where I learn little!) I always admire Yalom and was pleased to him more 'back on track'. But if you have a deeply religious viewpoint or are (as I am) a bit new age in your thinking, then some of this book won't speak to you. "
~ Written on 2008-07-24