At first glance, Ernest Becker's Denial of Death looks like a self-help book for dealing with the grieving process. However, it is actually much more philosophical than that. From Soren Kierkegaard to Sigmund Freud, Becker appropriates his historical breakdown of philosophy and psychoanalysis to better understand human anxiety in response to mortality. Even though his profession was cultural anthropology, Becker's work has had a profound impact in social psychology theories. The Denial of Death is controversial to some people because it brushes sides with nihilism. This is because he directly challenges established socially accepted ideologies in religion and politics.