In the tradition of Mary Roach's bestselling
Stiff and Jessica Mitford's classic expose,
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 anxiety-is your fear of death normal or off the scale?
You can't take it with you . . . or can you? Wacky wills and bizarre bequests
The hospice experience-going out in comfort and style
Deathbed and funeral etiquette-how to help the dying and mourn the dead with dignity
Death on demand-why the right-to-die movement may be the next big thing
"Good-bye everybody"-famous last words
The embalmer's art-all dressed up and nowhere to go
Behind the scenes at your local funeral home
Alternative burial choices-from 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 body's 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.
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