Staring at the Sun

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.

Preface and Acknowledgments. Chapter 1. The Mortal Wound. Chapter 2. Recognizing Death Anxiety. Chapter 3. The Awakening Experience. Chapter 4. The Power of Ideas. Chapter 5. Overcoming Death Terror Through Connection. Chapter 6. Death Awareness: A Memoir. Chapter 7. Addressing Death Anxiety: Advice for Therapists. Afterword. Notes. About the Author. A Reader’s Guide to Staring at the Sun. Index.