In the tradition of Mary Roachâs bestselling Stiff and Jessica Mitfordâs classic exposĂŠ The American Way of Death comes this meticulously researched, refreshingly irreverent, and lavishly illustrated look at death from acclaimed author Harold Schechter. With his trademark fearlessness and bracing sense of humor, Schechter digs deep into a wealth of sources to unearth a treasure trove of surprising facts, amusing anecdotes, practical information, and timeless wisdom about that undiscovered country to which we will all one day travel. Topics include
⢠Death anxietyâis your fear of death normal or off the scale? ⢠You canât take it with you . . . or can you? Wacky wills and bizarre bequests ⢠The hospice experienceâgoing out in comfort and style ⢠Deathbed and funeral etiquetteâhow to help the dying and mourn the dead with dignity ⢠Death on demandâwhy the right-to-die movement may be the next big thing ⢠âGood-bye everybodyââfamous last words ⢠The embalmerâs artâall dressed up and nowhere to go ⢠Behind the scenes at your local funeral home ⢠Alternative burial choicesâfrom coral reefs to outer space
From the cold, hard facts of death to lessons in the art of dying well, from what happens in the bodyâs last living moments to what transpires in the ground or in the furnace, from near-death experiences to speculation on the afterlife, The Whole Death Catalog leaves no gravestone unturned.
In the tradition of Mary Roachâs bestselling Stiff and Jessica Mitfordâs classic exposĂŠ The American Way of Death comes this meticulously researched, refreshingly irreverent, and lavishly illustrated look at death from acclaimed author Harold Schechter. With his trademark fearlessness and bracing sense of humor, Schechter digs deep into a wealth of sources to unearth a treasure trove of surprising facts, amusing anecdotes, practical information, and timeless wisdom about that undiscovered country to which we will all one day travel. Topics include
⢠Death anxietyâis your fear of death normal or off the scale? ⢠You canât take it with you . . . or can you? Wacky wills and bizarre bequests ⢠The hospice experienceâgoing out in comfort and style ⢠Deathbed and funeral etiquetteâhow to help the dying and mourn the dead with dignity ⢠Death on demandâwhy the right-to-die movement may be the next big thing ⢠âGood-bye everybodyââfamous last words ⢠The embalmerâs artâall dressed up and nowhere to go ⢠Behind the scenes at your local funeral home ⢠Alternative burial choicesâfrom coral reefs to outer space
From the cold, hard facts of death to lessons in the art of dying well, from what happens in the bodyâs last living moments to what transpires in the ground or in the furnace, from near-death experiences to speculation on the afterlife, The Whole Death Catalog leaves no gravestone unturned.