Final Rights: Reclaiming the American Way of Death by Joshua Slocum and Lisa Carlson (2011)—Slocum—once an investigative reporter who was shocked to learn how difficult it is to apprehend information the funeral industry routinely keeps from the public it serves—is now the executive director of the Funeral Consumers Alliance. Carlson is the executive director of … Read more
Grave Matters: A Journey Through the American Funeral Industry to a Natural Way of Burial by Mark Harris (2008)—Environmental journalist Harris follows families who opted out of chemical embalming and fancy caskets, elaborate and costly funerals, and who embraced instead a range of natural options. In Harris’s preface he says that green burials are “just … Read more
The American Way of Death by Jessica Mitford (1964)—the classic exposé that reveals the inner workings of the American funeral industry with humour and insight. Robert Gottlieb says in his editor’s note in the edition of Mitford’s book published 36 years after the original (in 2000), “Unfortunately, the corrective is as necessary today as it … Read more
Dr. Penny Sartori’s book is based on her extensive doctoral research and her 17 years of experience as a nurse in intensive care. Through documented research, anecdotal evidence and case studies, Sartori shares rich details from those who have reported near-death experiences while in hospital and makes the argument that those who have navigated this … Read more
Brayne’s The D-Word is another practical guide to navigating a part of life that can arouse fear, awkwardness, even embarrassment. This in turn can “cause us to shy away from connecting with those who are grieving or those who are dying.” With anecdotes and direct guidance, this book helps us all prepare to open ourselves … Read more
Sue Brayne’s Nearing the End of Life, written with Peter Fenwick, provides an unvarnished yet sensitive guide to what to expect during the dying process of a loved one. The guide focuses not on the minutiae of, for example, funeral planning, but on topics such as how to listen well and “what happens if my … Read more
purpose right now, without waiting until our last breaths,” says author Dr. Karen M. Wyatt, M.D. “This is the gift left behind by those who have already passed on before us: the knowledge that there is hope for negotiating the dangerous waters of suffering. There is a way through the darkness of illness and loss and it … Read more
This is an intimate and honest conversation with palliative-care pioneer Larry Librach throughout his own journey from cancer diagnosis to his death in 2013. Librach dedicated his life to helping patients navigate their final stages—with this book, author Phil Dwyer compassionately documents how Librach faced and prepared for his own death. http://conversationsondying.com/ Tags Books on Death, … Read more
Caitlin Doughty is out to reclaim death. The Los Angeles mortician, author, and founder of the ‘Order of the Good Death’ and ‘Undertaking LA’ speaks to Fresh Air’s Terry Gross about our society’s reluctant relationship to death and how honesty is the cure. Audio Source: www.npr.org Tags A Good Death, death conversation, Death Culture, Death … Read more
What do you say to someone when they have lost a loved one? Here are a few helpful hints when it comes to offering your support. Ann Nemann, from the New York Times Taylor Pittman, from the Huffington Post The Advice Columnist, Ellie, from The Star Tags Dealing with Loss, death community, death conversation
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