Suicide: An Incisive Look at Self Destruction

by Jacques Choron

Book by Choron, Jacques

183 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1972

Reviews

[Biaru · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good introductory book into the sociology and philosophy of suicide. I appreciated Choron's recurring reference to Durkheim. That being said, because there is not much in terms of original analysis or expose, and you have to, at times, be dubious as to what Choron is saying. Choron doesn't usually specify where the statistics emerge from, while sometimes he explicitly focusses on the United States. Furthermore he fails to adequately address suicide attacks through a modern approach, racial and ethnic significations, and trends of suicide. Choron's own analyses are somewhat questionable, especially regarding women and suicide; at one point he said women didn't commit violent suicide because it ruined their appearance, which makes no sense because previously Choron had said women were more likely to attempt self harm (cutting). In my opinion his last two chapters, those being a detailing of different philosophies of suicide and the meaning of life, are the most profound.