Death

by Julian Barnes

When it comes to death, is there ever a best case scenario? In this disarmingly witty book, Julian Barnes confronts our unending obsession with the end. He reflects on what it means to miss God, whether death can be good for our careers and why we eventually turn into our parents. Barnes is the perfect guide to the weirdness of the only thing that binds us all.

Selected from the book Nothing to be Frightened Of by Julian Barnes

VINTAGE MINIS: GREAT MINDS. BIG IDEAS. LITTLE BOOKS.

A series of short books by the world’s greatest writers on the experiences that make us human

Also in the Vintage Minis series:
Calm by Tim Parks
Drinking by John Cheever
Babies by Anne Enright
Psychedelics by Aldous Huxley

Genres: Nonfiction, Philosophy, Death, Essays, Memoir

128 pages, Paperback

First published June 8, 2017

About the author

Julian Patrick Barnes is an English writer. He won the Man Booker Prize in 2011 with The Sense of an Ending, having been shortlisted three times previously with Flaubert's Parrot, England, England, and Arthur & George. Barnes has also written crime fiction under the pseudonym Dan Kavanagh (having married Pat Kavanagh). In addition to novels, Barnes has published collections of essays and short stories.
In 2004 he became a Commandeur of L'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres. His honours also include the Somerset Maugham Award and the Geoffrey Faber Memorial Prize. He was awarded the 2021 Jerusalem Prize.

Reviews

[sAmAnE · Rating 4 out of 5]

.
کتاب شامل گزیده‌هایی از کتاب «چیزی برای ترسیدن وجود ندارد» نوشته‌ی جولین بارنز است.
💀
این کتاب درباره‌ی مرگ است، چگونگی مُردن، اینکه وقتی می‌میریم هوشیاریم و نسبت به اطرافمون آگاهیم یا نه و اینکه کلا ایده‌آل‌ترین حالت مردن چگونه است؟ تجربه‌هایی از نویسندگان مختلف در مقابل مرگ هم بیان شده بود، که برام جالب بودند.
💀
این کتاب به شدت من رو یاد کتاب سطوح زندگی از بارنز انداخت؛ کتابی که خیلی دوستش دارم. به نظرم میتونه برای هرکسی که به نوعی ذهنش با مسئله‌ی مرگ درگیره مفید باشه. البته کتاب نه تنها درباره‌ی مرگ که درباره‌ی زندگی هم هست؛ خب زندگی بدون مرگ مفهومی نداره.
💀
کتاب کم‌حجم و خوش‌خوانی بود، ولی ممکنه خوندنش برای همه خوشایند نباشه!
💀
کتاب درباره‌ی همه چیز از تاملات بارنز پیرامون مرگ و معنای آن است. به نوعی یادآور اینه که از لحظه‌ لحظه‌ی زندگیمون به خوبی استفاده کنیم و درگیر زمانی نباشیم که نمی‌دونیم کی میرسه!
💀
شاید هیچ‌چیز برای ترسیدن وجود نداره!
خلاصه که وحشتناک، پیچیده، غم‌انگیز، باورنکردنی، غیرقابل درک، معماگونه ... این مرگ است!

[Kaila · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5/5 stars

"In the hierarchy of the dead it is visitor numbers that count. Is there anything sadder than an unvisited grave?

This was a very witty and insightful piece on one of the most morbid subjects that could be discussed. Instead of leaving this book saddened or downtrodden, I felt philosophical and insightful on all the ways to look at Death. The author had a very intelligent and curious tone, and I can't exactly put my finger on why I was so drawn to his voice, but I was. I wouldn't say that this was just about death, to be honest, I think this book was about life in general, and generations. My only criticism is that there was too many quote by other authors, artists etc. in times that I would have wanted this authors insight on a subject. Nonetheless, I really enjoyed this book and the philosophy that I took from it.

[Kirti Upreti · Rating 5 out of 5]

As for most things in my life, I have realised that a book never happens to me when I want it, but when I'm ready for it.

I am someone who ponders upon death quite often, sometimes to an unhealthy extent. But as Julian Barnes confirms, there is no healthy way to it either. I found this book accidentally, almost two years ago, while going through the worst phase of my life. Few pages into it and I knew that my mind wasn't ready for it as I miserably failed at mustering the strength to confront its deepest questions and its darkest fear.

Today the ever-evading courage found me as a captive in a two-hour flight. I must confess that it was palpably difficult but I somehow made it through the saddening yet liberating words that stamped their mark all across my heart. And I'm now sure that, despite my frequent late night musings over it, I am not ready for death. Not yet.

[Théo d'Or]

But what is death ? Is Death a friend, in strange disguise, a character in Barnes' wise eyes ? Or is a door to something more ? What is the fate, beyond life's gate ? Is there a sigh, in by and by , a silence deep, where all dreams sleep ? Is there a score, of less or more ? What is the rythm of the end, does it would break? Or does it bend ? Is it a solemn tune, under the moon ? What is the texture of the last sigh, is it soft, or is it dry ? Is death the answer to life's quest, or just a test of the soul's zest ? Is death a silent roar on the eternal shore , a final note from life's bellowing throat , or a quietus sung, by an unsung tongue ? What is the essence of the final glance, is it a fleeting chance for a last dance ? Is Death a painter's final stroke, a masterpiece, or just a mirror broke ?
Is Death a question, or an answer, a solemn dancer, or a final chancer ? I find all answers not in words, but in what's left, where all is gone, but not the painful theft.
Levels of life, levels of death, levels of joy, levels of breath, in each heartbeat , Barnes' narratives are bittersweet.

[Loredana (Bookinista08) · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very impactful read, for me at least. I was curious to see if this books would sadden me or not, and the answer is not. I see why the bigger memoir book from which these fragments are taken is entitled Nothing to Be Frightened of. Now I'm curious to read the whole thing, because I really gelled with Barnes' style. If you're scared or apprehensive to read Death, please don't be. It's a very pleasant and matter of factly text.

[Nat K · Rating 2 out of 5]

I had to admit defeat. For the first time in a long time a book is ending up on the DNF shelf.

"Memory is identity."
That's all that stood out to me.

I'd been reading this off and on for several weeks (or was it months?). I couldn't really say. I'd read a few pages and put it down, convinced that the next time I resumed it, all would be ok. I'd get back on track.

The portions about his parents as they aged and the difficulty surrounding this fact was sad and genuinely touching. I appreciated that part of the book. I understood. I felt the disbelief and the sadness. Wanting to pretend it wasn't happening.

But the remainder of what I read was meandering thoughts about the fate that awaits us all. And not terribly interesting thoughts at that. Anecdotes about what other writers and composers thoughts were on leaving this mortal coil. It should have captured my attention. I love pondering. The questions for which there are no answers. The existential crisis. But this just bored me. For which I am very disappointed as I adored his book Metroland. I carried it with me in my handbag for months after reading it. It travelled with me to and from work daily, I loved it so, and enjoyed just looking at it. Weird, I know.

So where is the spark? I know that death is a solemn and confronting subject. And that perhaps I was expecting more from this than I should. But I know how well he can write. I kept waiting for that moment where I would be in simpatico with his thoughts, but it didn't happen.

Just this week I've read Notes On Grief by Nigerian author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. It was stunning. Heartfelt and devastating. It was filled with emotion. My suggestion would be that if you're looking for some sort of answers - for which there are none - is to read that instead.

[Charlotte · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.25/5

A short book of musings about how society perceives death, in different ways and contexts.

Though I found the writing a little dry when it came to quoting other authors and the likes too often, I believe the stories told did make valid and interesting points to ponder.

At times, it felt as if it were trying too hard to be something unique and profound, however the inquisitive tone kept a seriousness to it that should be appreciated with the solemn and dark topic.

[Flavia · Rating 5 out of 5]

9/10
As a death-haunted writer - I loved this one.

[Razieh mehdizadeh · Rating 3 out of 5]

جولین بارنز نویسنده ی انگلیسی برای تور یکی از کتاب هابش به نیویوکر می آید و هنگام ورود به شهر از یکی از بزگرتریسن قبرستان هایی می گذرد که تاکنون دیده است و می نویسد: به شهر خودپسند و پرجنب و جوش نیویورک رسیدم و این بار چیز دیگری توجه مرا به خود جلب کرد: یک قبرستان وسیع که در آن هیچ کس نبود. شبیه به یک روستای مدرن که در آن انتظار دیدن یک دهقان داس بر دست و یک پرچین سبز را نداری. هکتارها فضای خالی که نبود فعالیت محض اناسنی در صنعت کشاورزی بر سر چمنزارها و مرغزارها آورده است نوعی دیگر از مرگ بود. واضح بود که از فعالاان قدیمی(مردگان گذشته) به خاطر جایگزینی فعالان جدید شهر بسیار پرجنب و جوش بازدید نشده است. با این حال، اگر چیزی محزون تر و غم انگیزتر از یک گورستان وجود داشته باشد قبرستان بدون بازدیدکننده است.

[Silvia · Rating 5 out of 5]

A brilliant and witty novel where I found laying all of the questions I have about death, and even more.

[Georgie · Rating 3 out of 5]

A 3.5. Easy (very short) read and pretty interesting but I was hoping for a bit more. Lots of tad bits to think about though— “death is sweet; it delivers us from us from the fear of death” (Renard phrasing) was a fave.

[phero_nike · Rating 3 out of 5]

gdyby tylko on nie wpadal w takie randomowe rabbit holes

[Babis Kokovidis · Rating 5 out of 5]

An amazing short book not only about death but also about life because those two are inseparable! I loved his witty writing style and how he approached the topics.

[Livia · Rating 4 out of 5]

“When we are young, we think we are inventing the world as we are inventing ourselves; later, we discover how much the past holds us, and always did.”

[Angela Young · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a witty book which is, perhaps, surprising. Julian Barnes writes about facing his own death and how he might be when the time comes as much as, if not more than, death in general. To be witty is a fine thing when contemplating the certainty of our own death. Clive James said words to effect of 'To die a good death, first you need to have lived a good life'. He meant, I think, an eventful, fulfilled life, as opposed to a bad one.

Julian Barnes talks much about life and the writing life in particular, and I - who often fail to remember novels I've read, events from childhood that my sisters can recall with clarity and much more - was cheered to read that when confronted with different versions of a childhood story that he could not remember, Barnes concludes that his informants' stories:

Might almost have been scripted to cast doubt on the reliability of oral history. And I am left with a new proposed definition of what I do: a novelist is someone who remembers nothing yet records and manipulates different versions of what he doesn't remember.

So that's how I do what I do ... .

Here are a couple of quotations that made me laugh:

I may be dead by the time you are reading this sentence. In which case, any complaints about the book will not be answered. On the other hand, we may both be alive now (you by definition), but you could die before me. Had you thought of that? Sorry to bring it up, but it is a possibility ... and there's still that other possibility - that I might die in the middle of writing this book. Which would be unsatisfactory for both of us - unless you were about to give up anyway, at exactly the point where the narrative breaks off. I might die in the middle of a sentence, even. Perhaps right in the middle of a wo

When a niece of Barnes's tells him how his mother is (she'd just had a stroke) she says:

Completely bonkers when I got there, but once we started talking about make-up, completely sane.

Barnes suspects the 'harshness of youth' in her assessment, and so he asks:

- perhaps a little stiffly - what form being 'bonkers' had taken. 'Oh she was very angry with you. She said you'd stood her up three days running for tennis, and left her there on court.' OK, bonkers

And here are a couple that made me think:

For me, death is the one appalling fact which defines life: unless you are constantly aware of it, you cannot begin to understand what life is about; unless you know and feel that the days of wine and roses are limited, that the wine will madeirize and the roses turn brown in their stinking water before all are thrown out for ever - including the jug - there is no context to such pleasures and interests as come your way on the road to the grave.

That one I vow to live by from now on.

And from Sigmund Freud, in Thoughts for the Times on War and Death

It is indeed impossible to imagine our own death, and whenever we attempt to do so, we can perceive that we are in fact still present as spectators.

But we can think about it, often, and so value the great gift that is life.

[Med]

Fear no more the heat o’ the sun,
Nor the furious winter’s rages;
Thou thy worldly task hast done,
Home art gone, and ta’en thy wages:
Golden lads and girls all must,
As chimney-sweepers, come to dust.

Fear no more the frown o’ the great;
Thou art past the tyrant’s stroke;
Care no more to clothe and eat;
To thee the reed is as the oak:
The scepter, learning, physic, must
All follow this, and come to dust.

Fear no more the lightning flash,
Nor the all-dreaded thunder stone;
Fear not slander, censure rash;
Thou hast finished joy and moan:
All lovers young, all lovers must
Consign to thee, and come to dust.

No exorciser harm thee!
Nor no witchcraft charm thee!
Ghost unlaid forbear thee!
Nothing ill come near thee!
Quiet consummation have;
And renownèd be thy grave!

- William Shakespeare

[Spencer Fancutt · Rating 3 out of 5]

Crossing a road carrying Death in your pocket gives one pause and a quickening of the pulse, but thrillseeking is not the only reason for reading this Vintage Mini. Part personal memoir, part biography of the Renard family, and part survey of the thoughts on (and) death of great authors over time, this extended essay on the anticipation of popping our clogs is by turns light-hearted and serious, and Barnes' pithy anecdotes take the reader on an enjoyable diversion, while at the same time preventing depression from throwing Death's readers under buses.
Toward the end (of the book), the thesis doesn't quite hang together as it is an excerpt from a longer text (Nothing to be Frightened Of), but a worthwhile read nonetheless.

[bajwa · Rating 5 out of 5]

A close friend gave it to me a few days not telling me anything about it, now I realize he did a huge favour to me.

The most striking thing about this book is, ofcourse, the title. DEATH. The inevitable, 100% guaranteed phenomenon. Inescapable no matter what. What should be done about it. Should we give up on this life and be remorseful about the oblivion. Or the fear of oblivion to be precise... Why not just commit suicide and be done with it? Tough questions...

This short or mini book is worth reading for anyone struggling with the questions mentioned above. Especially writers, who suffer the most of it. There are some very interesting insights about the process of writing and about writers. Looking forward to read other works from this brilliant author.

[Michael · Rating 2 out of 5]

Julian Barnes' addition to the Vintage mini collection. Whilst discussing personal circumstances, and thoughts spanning art and Philosophy - all related to death - Julian Barnes writes in such a way that feels less emotive and passionate, and more like a rambling man desperate to get money in the bank. He never stops to flesh out personal stories, to create something moving, and oftentimes the book is doused with examples with little connectivity to progress the book. Oftentimes we are left on the outside as a viewer, and not invited into his thoughts.

[Bahareh · Rating 1 out of 5]

اول این که این خلاصه کردن کتاب های نویسنده هایی که قلم روونی دارند رو اصلا درک نمیکنم! چرا باید اجازه داشته باشیم کتابی از یه نویسنده رو خلاصه کنیم؟ اهمیت این حذف و اضافه هارو کی مشخص میکنه؟
دوم مطالب کتاب کاملا تکراری و بی هدف کنار هم قرار گرفته بودند یک سری گفته های پراکنده
در کل در رابطه با مرگ خیلی کتاب های جذاب تر میتونید بخونید اصلا توصیه نمیکنم

[Isabel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved it. Clever and somewhat funny take on death.

[Kyle van Oosterum · Rating 3 out of 5]

"God might be dead, but Death is well alive."
I wasn't really sure what I was looking for in this book - some consolations, some interesting perspectives or mere quote fodder, but what I did find is a curious stream of thoughts about the most certain of events in a person's life - death. While I didn't capitalize it there, Death is the subject of this 100-page leaflet, simple to read and difficult to digest - Barnes offers no consolation, just the sobering memento mori we all should have in mind.

[Saber · Rating 1 out of 5]

انقدددر ترجمه و ویراستاری این کتاب افتضاح بود که به زور فقط تحملش کردم تا تموم شه.
نمی دونم واقعا با متن اصلیش چقدر متفاوته، ولی اصلا انتظار من از بارنز وقتی راجع به مرگ قراره حرف بزنه این نبود.

[Vartika · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book way more than I expected to, especially given the morbidity of the topic. This Vintage Mini edition contains [selections from] Barnes' meditations on death, god, life, writing and dying itself: insightful, funny and stunningly compelling in the way they have been presented. The author's confident statements about wanting to conjoin the experience of music and death together, and those about memory and identity, are rather touching. In fact, although I am a purist in terms of maintaining the appearance of my books, I felt; and acted on; the strong urges to pencil certain lines, and even whole paragraphs, every now and then.

"Death" can be seen as Barnes' mature philosophising on the book's phenomenal namesake; he approaches the topic through lived experiences, anecdotes from the lives of The Greats, and poetic, novelistic logic. Unlike the way most people write about death, his ideas and derivations aren't grand or even consolatory. Since Barnes' Nothing To Be Frightened Of; the book from which material has been lifted and distilled into this Vintage Mini; is also the author's own literary coming -to-terms with his mortality and the sense of an ending, there is a peculiar haunting authenticity to this book that can not nearly be described unless experienced.

I expected to finish reading this book on the verge of a state of extreme existential questioning, but it makes me feel placidly different (if only for a while) about death; especially the prospect of my own. I suppose that's what brilliant writers do: make you feel while reading them what they cannot themselves feel as they write.

[Francisco · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the collection of Vintage Minis, taking famous contemporary authors' ideas on a subject and making 100 page long digestible collections, this one focuses on the idea of Death by taking excerpts from Barnes' "Nothing to be Frightened of".

Half history of how famous writers faced death and half autobiographical account of facing death not only of himself but of family and friends, the book manages to walk a fine line between comedic and depressive. A lot of gallows humor here, dark and funny.

Barnes' writing is never less than entertaining and the book goes by quickly with its well balanced mix of encyclopedic facts on death and famous deaths and how they relate to his own way of thinking and his observations. Full of bittersweet moments as he sees his parents decay and eventually die, it reveals that these moments can also have their own twisted humor and you almost feel bad chuckling at what must have been painful experiences which are objectively funny. A great and thoughtful read.

[Azra · Rating 3 out of 5]

Even though this book is fairly short, it took me a long time to finish it. As someone who is absolutely terrified of death; more specifically death, reading more than ten pages a day caused me to have a minor existenial crisis. This book gets you to think, what is more valuable; a small inconvenience you experienced a lifetime ago or your entire life ahead of you? Suprisingly I was somehow motivated to do more, breathe more and live more.
However as this book is taken from Julian Barnes book Nothing to Be Frightened of, the ideas are squeezed together and the amount of quotations is a lot, other people’s ideas are more present than Julian Barnes’,this made the book a little boring.

[Alice Pickersgill · Rating 4 out of 5]

A heavy yet quick read. Richly anecdotal and referential little book (better called an essay maybe?). Philosophical and introspective which inspired me to think more about whether I am afraid more of dying or of death.

[Richard · Rating 3 out of 5]

Can be annoying at times (the way old people are—sorry) but hard to resist Barnes's charm and the small byways that keep the book interesting.

[Ville Verkkapuro · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an absolute treat, pondering the most mundane yet crucial question of all time: what is death?
It does it in a very approachable and humorous way, though there's no jokes and it's pretty academical.
I'm very interested in this subject, been writing ((::something secret::)) about it for a long time now. And I guess everything I do I do because of DEATH, I'm not sure, though... could be that I'd be writing anyway. Who knows? I've been laying in my bed, staring at the ceiling and pondering on death since the mid-90's.
I think the basic notion is what the famous pedophile Woody Allen said: "I'm not afraid of death; I just don't want to be there when it happens", that's the thing – it's very rare to be afraid of the "Great Perhaps" like it's depicted here, but everybody's afraid of the moments leading up to it.
There's also many great random parts here: from the time Bertnand Russell realised he was not in love with his wife anymore while bicycling, the fact that memory is identity (knew that, but still!!)
I loved the part where Larkin said: "I am going to the inevitable"
That's the bottom line – the i n e v i t a b l e . . .
Nothing you can do. Absolutely nothing. Waste of time to even think about it.
This is also a great quote by Shostakovich in the book: "The irony lies in the fact that under the influence of that fear (death) people create poetry, prose and music; that is, they try to strengthen their ties with the living and increase their influence on them".
I guess that's why I wrote this review, too.

the end

[Cristina Sacarea · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Death” is a light account on how people approach its inevitability, whether it is a dreadful feeling that should be a daily part of our lives but so taboo nobody really wants to talk about it or just life as usual. A clear distinction is made between death and dying.
A deeply human account on a subject we all share but approach so differently – from the usual, but so-last-year mourning of an open casket followed by the burial ritual and grieving time (strictly imposed in some religions), today everything is handled by professionals, covered in gloss.
I disliked the way he excused his father for being distant and not saying “I love you”, by remarking he died with dignity, in character. It was an authentic death, though, in my opinion, perhaps not a dignified one.
The book gets 5 stars for the way Barnes always makes me feel very intense emotions without getting me into trouble.