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. IRVIN YALOM--WHOSE BOOKS HAVE SOLD MORE THAN FIVE MILLION COPIES WORLDWIDE Always enlightening and often quite moving.--Washington Post One of America's finest therapists guides us through one of life's most challenging tasks in this profoundly helpful book. It will benefit anyone who reads it.--Rabbi Harold Kushner, author, When Bad Things Happen to Good People 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. 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. 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 Although written from a psychotherapeutic perspective, this thoughtful treatment of the ultimate fear has much to offer people of faith. This is a wise book by a wise man about the most taboo of all subjects. Read it, and fear not.--Dr. 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 Irvin Yalom has written a brave, intelligent book on the last forbidden subject--death. I honor his courage and rare insight.--Erica Jong, author, Fear of Flying, Shylock's Daughter, Inventing Memory, and Sappho's Leap Yalom is the Scheherazade of the couch.--Laura Miller, New York Times IRVIN YALOM WHOSE BOOKS HAVE SOLD MORE THAN FIVE MILLION COPIES WORLDWIDE "Always enlightening and often quite moving." Washington Post "One of America's finest therapists guides us through one of life's most challenging tasks in this profoundly helpful book. It will benefit anyone who reads it." Rabbi Harold Kushner, author, When Bad Things Happen to Good People "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. 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. 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 "Although written from a psychotherapeutic perspective, this thoughtful treatment of the ultimate fear has much to offer people of faith. This is a wise book by a wise man about the most taboo of all subjects. Read it, and fear not." Dr. 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 "Irvin Yalom has written a brave, intelligent book on the last forbidden subject death. I honor his courage and rare insight." Erica Jong, author, Fear of Flying, Shylock's Daughter, Inventing Memory, and Sappho's Leap "Yalom is the Scheherazade of the couch." Laura Miller, New York Times Irvin D. Yalom is a highly regarded psychiatrist and the author of numerous books including the New York Times best-selling Love's Executioner and the international best-selling novel When Nietzsche Wept. Staring at the Sun Overcoming the Terror of Death By Irvin D. Yalom John Wiley & Sons Copyright © 2008 Irvin D. Yalom All right reserved. ISBN: 978-0-470-40181-1 Chapter One THE MORTAL WOUND * * * Sorrow enters my heart. I am afraid of death. Gilgamesh Self-awareness is a supreme gift, a treasure as precious as life. This is what makes us human. But it comes with a costly price: the wound of mortality. Our existence is forever shadowed by the knowledge that we will grow, blossom, and, inevitably, diminish and die. Mortality has haunted us from the beginning of history. 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. When I die shall I not be like Enkidu? Sorrow enters my heart. I am afraid of death." Gilgamesh speaks for all of us. As he feared