The Birth and Death of Meaning

An Interdisciplinary Perspective on the Problem of Man; 2nd Edition

By: Ernest Becker

Narrated by: Chris Sorensen

The Birth and Death of Meaning uses the disciplines of psychology, anthropology, sociology, and psychiatry to explain what makes people act the way they do.

©1971 The Free Press (P)2020 Tantor

Very interesting

Old book but still so deep. Who are we. Why? Goes deep into us. Narrator wasn't good but you get used to him. Def read

Legendary thinker paired with a goofy reader

What an odd experience. Becker’s final trilogy is essential for anyone trying to understand our place in the cosmos, what the human drama is all about. It is as serious as serious gets. And yet this narrator sounds like a robotic Jeff Goldblum who has a naughty thought at the end of every sentence.

Narrator ruins it

The narrator is good...for a comedy book. He speaks clearly but his tone is for a fun adventure book or a kids book. This book should be read by another narrator like the denial of death by the same author. I could not get past one hour

Great Book - Terrible Narration

Great content but the narrator made me want to rip out my hair and scream. I bought a paperback instead.

An introduction to his masterpiece

As always with Becker: 50% of the time I'm asking myself: what is this guy's talking about with all this psychoanalytical mumbo jumbo? and then the rest 50% of the time I just stand in awe and wish I could say it with precisely those words. A must read if you have any philosophical inklings, and of course this is an introduction to his masterpiece. And remember: this the conclusions of Becker's line of thought is true for any sentient being, any locus of consciousness, no matter how advanced or godlike. Therefore would hold even if the technological apotheosis of mankind forecasted by the trashumanist movement/cult comes to happen. It could be said that it is "a feature of creatureliness".
Narration leaves a lot to be desired, so much so that only a true curiosity about his work would give you the strength to endure the dissonance that will be aroused in your auditory cortex.

get to know yourself

this book is great for getting a better understanding of who you are and what you do.

thought-provoking study of human cognitive develop

the narration is very difficult to listen to. the narrator finishes every other sentence as if it were a question.
the content of the book is thought-provoking. similar in concept to Carl Sagan's Dragons of Eden. both books are slightly outdated but great interdisciplinary explorations of the development of human consciousness.

Brilliant summation of psychology

Seems to really get to the heart of the human condition and lay out in a clear, precise way how man came to be what he is and the ways we must act in order to find meaning and value in our lives.

It was okay

The beginning of the book was slow rolling and repetitive. Second half of the book picked up and was more interesting. Appreciated the take on man and his meaning. The voice actor was hard to listen to at times. Did not prefer

This Is A Good Book...

and Becker is always worth reading, but even in this new edition, there is still too much Rousseau and not enough Freud. And he is just dead wrong in places, like stating that chimpanzees do not cooperate. There is footage from the 40s proving that they do, in fact, cooperate, even when it does not directly benefit both members immediately. And I never comment on narrators, but PRAH!bably having someone who sounds like Wally Shawn's half wit cousin was not the best choice here.