Unprepared For Death

"Unprepared for Death is a magnificent and profoundly insightful exploration of "the dynamic relationship between life and death". Drawing on a lifetime of interdisciplinary scholarship and deeply personal reflection, Professor Hubert Hermans encourages readers toward a dialogical and wisdom-based approach that transforms mortality from a source of debilitating existential terror into a wellspring of happiness, meaning, and psychological richness." -Sheldon Solomon, co-founder of Terror Management Theory. "Hubert Hermans' Unprepared for Death is a profoundly wise and compassionate exploration of mortality. Far from being morbid, this is a rich and enriching book that redefines death as the essential source of life's "psychological richness." Hermans masterfully weaves together ancient epics and modern neuroscience, death metal bands and classical philosophy, African ancestor veneration and Terror Management Theory, childhood play and cosmic insignificance therapy--all in service of providing a powerful framework for self-discovery and transformation. This remarkable book offers a gift to anyone seeking to confront their own finitude with courage and self-compassion." -Pelin Kesebir, author of the article A quiet ego quiets death anxiety . The book offers a profound insight into the reasons why a great many people feel disconnected from the concept of death and, as a remedy, offers a series of pathways to reconcile them. As an inner abyss, the prospect of death reflects our deepest anxieties about the end of our life, its inevitability, and the mystery that surrounds it. However, this awareness also holds a contradictory promise: by accepting this shadow and exploring it, we might find a greater appreciation for life and a clearer vision of our true priorities. Central to personal development is the awareness that life and death are not mutually exclusive but inclusive states of mind. Death is an intrinsic feature of life. As this book will explore: at the interface of the two, we find a fertile ground for the emergence of psychological richness. Hubert J.M. Hermans is the founder of Dialogical Self Theory and one of the most prominent figures in narrative psychology, based in The Netherlands. As Full Professor of Psychology he was associated with the Radboud University of Nijmegen. In 2002 he was decorated as "Knight in the Order of the Netherlands Lion" for exceptional scientific achievements in the service of society. Hermans is the first author of around 200 publications, mainly on the Self-Confrontation Method and Dialogical Self Theory. His work has led to a series of international conferences on the dialogical self.