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A review by mirandaleighhhh
Staring at the Sun: Overcoming the Terror of Death by Irvin D. Yalom
medium-paced
2.5
This year I am on a reading journey to explore death and grief to cope with my death anxiety, and there were definitely kernels within this book that I found helpful, but that I didn't necessarily need to read this book to find. The concept of rippling particularly resonated with me. I think it is a comforting truth.
I also wholeheartedly support the reasons this book was published - there is a lot of avoidance surrounding death, at least in America. We have separated ourselves from it as much as is possible, and I think it's a disservice to our ability to live, love, and connect.
However...
This book would probably be better received by someone just starting to dip their toe into conversations and considerations about death (and psychology). I did not care for the constant philosophy references (personal preference) in part because every individual referenced was a man. Overall it read very much like it was written by a man, which probably contributed to it not resonating deeply with me. I was uncomfortable with the whole chapter (also the longest chapter) with personal anecdotes, especially as it pertained to his therapist-client-turned-friends and the individual who couldn't stop having sexual thoughts about a current client. HOW does that have anything to do with the topic and WHY ON EARTH did that man keep seeing that client?
Therapists are just human beings, I know! My own father is one. And sure, that man didn't act on his feelings and sought therapy, but I did not need to read about it in a book about coping with death anxiety, and it made my trust of the author waver in that he didn't recommend that client/friend stop seeing the client they were having thoughts about. He even referred another client to him during the same time!
I was very tired with the dreams. It seemed every client listed 'coincidentally' had a dream which, after analyzing it, was a breakthrough for their therapy? *eye roll*
Not saying there is no benefit to talking about and analyzing dreams, but...come on.
There were other little things that didn't sit right with me, such as the way some people were described depending on their walk in life.
I also wholeheartedly support the reasons this book was published - there is a lot of avoidance surrounding death, at least in America. We have separated ourselves from it as much as is possible, and I think it's a disservice to our ability to live, love, and connect.
However...
This book would probably be better received by someone just starting to dip their toe into conversations and considerations about death (and psychology). I did not care for the constant philosophy references (personal preference) in part because every individual referenced was a man. Overall it read very much like it was written by a man, which probably contributed to it not resonating deeply with me. I was uncomfortable with the whole chapter (also the longest chapter) with personal anecdotes, especially as it pertained to his therapist-client-turned-friends and the individual who couldn't stop having sexual thoughts about a current client. HOW does that have anything to do with the topic and WHY ON EARTH did that man keep seeing that client?
Therapists are just human beings, I know! My own father is one. And sure, that man didn't act on his feelings and sought therapy, but I did not need to read about it in a book about coping with death anxiety, and it made my trust of the author waver in that he didn't recommend that client/friend stop seeing the client they were having thoughts about. He even referred another client to him during the same time!
I was very tired with the dreams. It seemed every client listed 'coincidentally' had a dream which, after analyzing it, was a breakthrough for their therapy? *eye roll*
Not saying there is no benefit to talking about and analyzing dreams, but...come on.
There were other little things that didn't sit right with me, such as the way some people were described depending on their walk in life.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death and Drug use