The book is often considered "useful" for its ability to explain hidden motivations behind both individual actions and societal structures.
Ernest Becker’s is a profound, Pulitzer Prize-winning work that argues the fundamental drive behind human behavior is an unconscious, paralyzing fear of death . Becker posits that because humans are the only animals aware of their own mortality, we create "immortality projects"—like religion, art, and careers—to give our lives a sense of heroic meaning that will outlast our physical bodies. Core Concepts and "Useful" Takeaways The Denial of Death