Editorial Review

This true story about the love between a spiritual mentor and his pupil has soared to the bestseller list for many reasons. For starters: it reminds us of the affection and gratitude that many of us still feel for the significant mentors of our past. It also plays out a fantasy many of us have entertained: what would it be like to look those people up again, tell them how much they meant to us, maybe even resume the mentorship? Plus, we meet Morrie Schwartz--a one of a kind professor, whom the author describes as looking like a cross between a biblical prophet and Christmas elf. And finally we are privy to intimate moments of Morrie's final days as he lies dying from a terminal illness. Even on his deathbed, this twinkling-eyed mensch manages to teach us all about living robustly and fully. Kudos to author and acclaimed sports columnist Mitch Albom for telling this universally touching story with such grace and humility. Read more

Reviews (1946)

Brought back feelings....
This book was definitely one of those works where you can identify with what they are going through, yet you still have something to learn. I am a cargiver for a lady who has a disease almost identical to that of ALS (Lou Gehrigs) and the symptoms he describes in this book are ones that I am facing everyday I work with her.
Tuesdays At Morrie's, Fridays At The Bank
This book is not inspiring, it is unfortunate.Morrie sounded like a great man who knew how to live his life.However, it is unfortunate that media vultures like Oprah Winfrey, Ted Koppel, and the author (another Oprah-manufactured "celebrity" like Dr. Phil) took everything that was probably special about this man and trivialized his words, commercialized his life, and exploited him and his values purely for financial gain.Albom mentions that the advance money for the book paid for Morrie's medical bills...what about all the money after he died?Hmm...he kind of left that part out.Seems that Mitch didn't really learn that much about greed from his old professor after all, which makes him sort of a hypocrite.What could have been a very special book in the hands of a competent author, instead gets a 200-page shlock treatment, from a sixth-grade caliber sports-writer (who apparently can't write many words longer than two syllables) that is watered down so that the masses can swallow it without too much critical thought.If I'd have known this was one of "Oprah's Picks" I wouldn't have even bothered with it, but I have also heard so much praise for this book that I figured it was at least worth a read.It wasn't.It was not inspiring, it was trite, contrived, shallow, preachy, poorly written...which seems to be a trademark of all of Albom's books.Morrie, you deserved better and I hope you are resting peacefully.I suppose it is good that this book is at least inspiring people, but at the same time you have to wonder about the types of people who would be inspired by this simple-minded shlock.Anyone raised in any decent, civilized background probably knew all this stuff already.I think the only people on this earth who have a true sense of what Morrie was about are his surviving friends, family, cohorts and students.I felt no connection to Morrie with this tacky treatment of a powerful subject, which is very unfortunate.I agree with another review that said that if you want some really great, inspiring words, read the Bible, Koran, Torah, etc. and keep away from this tacky book.Heck, read Siddhartha, thats probably a much better choice.Mitch, your grade on this thesis is an "F -"

A Lifetime with Morrie
As I sit down to write this review I find myself not looking into the book to see what I wrote in the margins, but trying to remember what I learned from the book.I once had a professor tell me "Shawn, you will never remember what the text tells you, but you will remember what the book taught you".This is one of those types of books and as you are reading it, you feel like you are a part of the story.Throughout the story Morrie tries to relay some of the lessons he has learned, and after reading the book I have realized that they are the most important kind of lessons: lessons on living life.I am not being vague about the content of this story in hopes of enticing you to read this, but I simply want you to sit down with this book without any expectations.Have a relationship with it and it will teach you amazing things. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis    2. Biography    3. Biography / Autobiography    4. Case studies    5. College And University Faculty    6. Death    7. Death & Dying    8. Death And Dying (Sociological Aspects)    9. Death, Grief, Bereavement    10. Educators    11. Higher    12. Patients    13. Personal Memoirs    14. Psychological aspects    15. Social Science    16. Sociology    17. Specific Groups - Special Needs    18. Teacher-student relationships    19. United States    20. Philosophy / General   

Reviews (7)

unplugged: reclaiming our right to die in america
unplugged delves into timely and essential subject matter with an entertaining, informative, wondrful style of writing.colby's insight to this pertinent topic is beneficial universally, as we all must confront these circumstances at some point in our lives.

The right-to-die debate is once again tackled
The right-to-die debate is once again tackled; this time by a lawyer who represented Nancy Cruzan in the first right- to-die case heard by the Supreme Court. While Nancy Cruzan's struggles were chronicled in a prior book by Colby, Unplugged: Reclaiming Our Right To Die In America offers a broader perspective on the topic, moving beyond Cruzan's struggle to offer answers to legal, ethical, medical and personal issues involved in the debate. Court records, interviews and the authors' own experiences lend to the discussion of current laws, proposed changes, and their effects on society.
A Book for Everyone
"Unplugged" is a book everyone who is going to die should read.It tells you what you need to do to make sure your wishes are respected when it comes to end-of-life decisions.Doing that will spare your loved ones unnecessary anguish.This book, believe it or not, is an engaging page turner and my 90-year-old mother just read it.We took its advice, talked about her wishes, and she now has a notarized health care power-of-attorney, giving us both much peace of mind.All this thanks to Colby's wonderfully written, timely, important book. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Death & Dying    2. Ethics    3. Life and death, Power over    4. Medical / Nursing    5. Medical Law & Legislation    6. Moral and ethical aspects    7. Right to Die    8. Social Science    9. Sociology    10. Terminal care    11. Coping with personal problems    12. Euthanasia    13. USA   

Editorial Review

As CEO at accounting giant KPMG, Eugene O'Kelly was so immersed in his job that over thecourse of a decade, he managed to have lunch with his wife on weekdays just twice. His travelschedule was set 18 months out. Once, he was so obsessed with impressing a potential client that hetracked down the man's travel schedule, booked the seat next to him on a flight, schmoozed the guyall the way to Australia, landed the account, and flew immediately back to Manhattan. His Type-A ways vanished when, at age 53, a top neurosurgeon in New York told him he had late- stage brain cancer. "His eyes told me I would die soon. It was late spring. I had seen my last autumnin New York." [p.7] Read more

Reviews (51)

Meaningful message for all who read...
Having just lost my own mother to Glioblastoma multiforme grade IV, I found this book comforting and relevant. It had a great message to share "take the time to tell those you love about the perfect moments you will remember about them". I have purchased a dozen copies since my first to send out to friends in memory of my own mother.

Must read for accountant!
What an inspirational book! I read this book few days prior to a job interview with KPMG. Well good news is.. I got the job! but the message behind this book is "balance" and purpose of life. Life is too short and many people knew that, but we need a reminder once a while to put us into perspective again. Gene is a visionary behind KPMG and to lost someone like him is definitely a lesson to learn. As an accountant, we know how many hours we have to spend at work, but think it this way to balance it out.. treat your family like your client. They need as much time as your other clients need you too. I would recommend this book for any accounting major college students.

Courageous
This book is phenomenal.Those with a Type A personality will certainly appreciate the approach the author took to put closure on his impending death.Since another reader had mentioned that Joan Didion's "The Year of Magical Thinking" was better, I had decided to read both books.I absolutely loved Chasing Daylight better although both books have value.
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Subjects:  1. Brain    2. Cancer    3. Cancer (Psychosocial Aspects)    4. Consumer Health    5. Death    6. Death And Dying (Sociological Aspects)    7. Death, Grief, Bereavement    8. Diseases - Cancer    9. General    10. Health & Fitness    11. Health/Fitness    12. Patients    13. Psychological aspects    14. Psychology    15. Terminally ill    16. Coping with illness    17. Death & dying    18. Self-Help / Death, Grief, Bereavement    19. True Stories   

Reviews (3)

Boilerplate plus
For those readers who have not done much reading or thinking about death, this book offers an easy to read and thoughtful introduction to looking at death vis a vis topics. In addition, this book provides for the scaffolded reading experience by asking the reader many questions, summarizing the main points of chapters and providing resources for further exploration.
excellent
This book accomplishes a rare feat--appealing to those who would use it as a teaching guide but also so readable that the average reader will find it fascinating and invaluable. It is packed with illustrationsas well assolid advice and history--from ancient funeral practices to today'sarguments on assisted suicide.In between is every conceivable questionand answer you could want on the subject of dying and death.

This is a wonderfully written and organized text that students will hold on to and not sell after reading it!
I will be using The Last Dance for the third year in a course I teach on Death and Dying in Western Culture.This text does a marvelous job of addressing the socio-cultural aspects of death in America and the world. The chapter on suicide is both helpful and haunting.There are so manyexcellent illustrations and photographs in this book that it really comesalive for the students. It is clear that the authors are very familiar withtheir subject matter, and that they care very much about those who readthis book.I cannot imagine a better general text on the subject of deathand dying. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Death    2. Death & Dying    3. Death, Grief, Bereavement    4. Psychological aspects    5. Psychology    6. Social Science    7. Social aspects    8. Sociology    9. Sociology - General    10. Textbooks    11. Social Science / Death & Dying   

Reviews (60)

Fascinating and life saving
Couldn't put this book down!Instructive and illuminating!Tales and advice can apply to any hiking and biking trips that our family takes in the future.

Mostly good
I was afraid that this book would be a boring, thorough, and complete list of Grand Canyon deaths.It isn't -- except for Chapter 4.With that exception, this book is a complete page-turner, well-written and informative.
Over the Edge: Death in Grand Canyon
It is a most interesting and informative book.It should be read by anyone who has or wants to hike the Grand Canyon.It relates individual stories of people that have died in the Canyon and what they did wrong that caused or contributed to their death.It weaves many of these stories together to create an excellent book that was hard to put down.
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Subjects:  1. Accidents    2. Anecdotes    3. Arizona    4. Grand Canyon    5. Grand Canyon (Ariz.)    6. History    7. Social Science / Death & Dying    8. Travel    9. Travel / Parks & Campgrounds    10. Violent deaths    11. Death    12. Death & Dying    13. Parks & Campgrounds    14. Social Science    15. United States - State & Local   

Editorial Review

After experiencing a paralyzing stroke in 1995 and facing her own mortality, Elisabeth Kübler-Ross (author of the renowned Read more

Reviews (37)

All in one package
After reading this book we bought 4 copies,one for each of our adult children.Our oldest had picked it up one day and said "I've never seen it (life lessons) presented like this,all in one package before. Can I borrow this?" Our family has had its trials,sometimes figuring out what and why you're feeling is difficult.Ifound this very helpful.I reccomend it to anyone needing some understanding of life and death.

Great Book!!
This book is so helpful!While I was reading this book, I would find myself saying outloud "This is so true!"This book will help you to have a clear understanding about what matters in life, in being the TRUE you, and in focusing on what really matters in life.This book will help you on your spiritual walk, and in how you see daily life.Buy this book....it will be one of the best you've ever bought.This book will direct you in the right direction.

Life Lessons
Elisabeth Kubler-Ross and David Kessler write an amazing journey through death! What lessons this can bring to each of us! Each providing insight through their experiences, assists the reader in working through their own beliefs. This book will impact you emotionally. It is very well written! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Body, Mind & Spirit    2. Death & Dying    3. General    4. New Age    5. Psychology    6. Mind, Body, Spirit    7. Self-Help & Practical Interests    8. Social Science / Death & Dying   

Reviews (269)

Hysterical
Mary Roach has taken what could be a morbid and rather depressing subject and elevated it to sheer reading pleasure.I thoroughly enjoyed this book, both for the factual information about cadaver donation and for her wry sense of humor in the face of her subjet matter.Various topics are covered, including lab dissection, crash testing, plastination, cremation, water reduction and a host of other options for human remains that I can honestly say I never knew existed.The French did some experiments with guillotine execution that are in a class all by themselves.Highly recommended reading.

Great Audio Book--Just Not During Lunch!
You can imagine what a surreal experience it was to listen to this book on CD while on a house cleaning job...scraping goo off the stove while listing to the description of body putrification after death.
Hilarious, yet you still learn something
I thought this book was great.I, for one, could not put it down and finished it in a matter of 2 days (and I'm not a person who reads just for fun very often).Anyone in the medical field will appreciate it, and also those who are not.My mother even thought it was funny.I totally recommend it! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Dead    2. Forensic Medicine    3. History    4. Human dissection    5. Human experimentation in medicine    6. Medical    7. Medical Research    8. Medicine (Specific Aspects)    9. Research    10. Science    11. Death & dying    12. History of specific subjects   

Editorial Review

Once upon a time, journalism profs duly instructed their greenhorn grads to seek out community papers and the obit pages as logical entrance points into the world of newspaper reporting. Working for cash-strapped local papers allowed novices to practice writing everything from hard news to lifestyle features. Obituaries, meanwhile, were a rung on the ladder of major publications, albeit the lowest. The musty, dusty obit pages also traditionally hosted aging reporters put out to pasture. Not any more, argues Marilyn Johnson in her unabashedly knock-kneed love letter to the obit pages, Read more

Reviews (23)

Moribund Portraits as Art Form
I will admit it.I am fascinated by obituary columns.
Good writing and a great subject
Marilyn Johnson is a connoisseur of obituaries. At once an avid reader and occasionalwriter of obits--her words have ushered out such luminaries as Bob Hope and Princess Diana--Johnson has now become, with The Dead Beat, a chronicler of the history of obituaries and of the subcultures of obituarists and obituary enthusiasts. In her perfectly titled book, in perfectly readable prose, Johnson discusses a number of topics: the difference between American and British obituaries, how various newspapers memorialized the victims of 9/11, the online haunts of fanatical obituary watchers, the "revolution" in obituary writing that took place in the mid-1980's, when obituarists--in particular Jim Nicholson of the Philadelphia Daily News--began to write up the lives of the ordinary departed. Johnson profiles a number of obituarists in her book--I found them hard to distinguish from one another after a time--but her portrait of Nicholson, now retired and caring for his ailing wife, is particularly affecting.
A Morbidly Fascinating Romp That's Equal Parts Entertainment and Instruction (with a dash of creepy thrown in for good measure)
"Selma Koch, a Manhattan store owner who earned a national reputation by helping women find the right bra size, mostly through a discerning glance and never with a tape measure, died Thursday at Mount Sinai Medical Center. She was 95 and a 34B."
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Subjects:  1. Customs & Traditions    2. Death & Dying    3. History and criticism    4. Journalism    5. Journalism (Specific Aspects)    6. Language    7. Language Arts & Disciplines    8. Obituaries    9. Sociology    10. Thanatology    11. Social Science / Customs & Traditions   

Reviews (2)

Necessary, but useless
I was really looking forward to the class this book was necessary for. And while I learned a lot of interesting material, almost none of it was from the text. Nothing that i'm going to carry away from this class was learned from the book. While it gave the trival bits of information that were located in the test material, most of those you could gather from simple common sense. If you want to get anything out of a class using this as a text, hope your prof. likes to lecture. Otherwise... you're really going to hate it.

Completely worthless
How do I even start on this book? A text for a class in college I bought this book looking forward to it, despite the drear subject. As the class progressed I found this book to contain contradicting information in many areas. In addition to this, the graphs are completely unintelligible, even our prof. gave up trying to make sense of them. The book also doesn't discuss the psychology of dying, but rather the practical aspects and biology of dying. As this class was a soc/psy class, this wasn't very helpful. If you're a prof. considering this text- please think again! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Bereavement    2. Care of the sick    3. Death    4. Death & Dying    5. General    6. Grief    7. Psychological aspects    8. Social Science    9. Sociology    10. Counselling    11. Psychology & Psychiatry / General   

Reviews (40)

Required Reading
I read this book when it was first published in 1972 and have read it once a year ever since.It does nothing less than inform the reader what motivates human beings to do the things they do!It should be required reading for every man and woman on the planet so that humanity can build a genuine hero system that will lead the species to its true potential.

May allow you to turn a corner in your life
I derived many things from Ernest Becker's "Denial of Death".I went from agnostic in my outlook about the universe to Christian, realizing that "The Denial of Death" is fundamentally an anatomy of evil, a diagram of man's skewering in a universe he finds wholly incomprehensible.Taken on its own, this book can be cause for serious reflection of one's ambitions in life; Becker carefully reveals what man is really up to throughout history.The unfolding horror of the book's pages begin to describe a hopeless and paradoxical situation for human life.Anyone who allows Becker's thoughts to sink in...to really understand what he is saying will, in my opinion, continue to seek out answers about human nature and the condition of our world.The relevance of "Denial" is that it can be applied as a psychoanalytical tool for viewing mankind through the ages, from primitive being to Donald Trump.Some argue that this book is too pessimistic, too dark of a view of mankind.Again, very correct! Becker is, in my understanding of this profound book, simply describing the mechanism of evil, where man goes awry and why he continues to act in ways contrary to what he knows best.Anyone who has read The Bible, cover-to-cover, will find in these pages an intellectual's 285-page descripiton of evil, based in human nature, acted upon by man in his world. There are few solutions to the portrait of evil that Becker so carefully paints for us.The pan-drippings, so to speak, of "The Denial of Death" is Becker's next and last book, "Escape from Evil".This makes perfect sense, as "Denial" is a careful and horrifying analysis of ourselves against the universe.What Becker describes in "Denial" is so penetrating that little hope is found in "Escape".One year after reading "Denial" I was convinced that man, indeed, destroys his world because of his very nature, his false illusions about what is meaningful.Where "Denial of Death" gives you a diagram of what's wrong with man, The Bible offers hope only through the Christian God--man is born in a world that will corrupt him--Becker explains the details of this corruption.The Bible asks, in essence, for you to reject your nature and live "the narrow path".Becker shows you how wide the evil path is and why man conceives of it. I am a student of human nature.My only "escape from evil" was a complete paradigm change for man.Man, burdened with his ego and a zillion personal attributes, is condemmed to live in a world of paradoxes, a world of hypocricy and a world of perpetual angst and agression, both starting and ending at zero.Man exerts great energy going nowhere, like a hampster running fast on a wheel.The illusion he props us is that he is actually moving, but Becker takes us outside of the cage and shows us what is really happening.The integrity and truth of a book lies in its inability to be reconciled, just like the true artist who asks more questions than he answers.You owe it to yourself to read this and then try to reconcile it in your mind."Denial of Death" is a needed rung on your ladder of intellectual evolution.Some are beyond the material and already understand it.Some will be paralyzed by it, others will deny it...but if you integrate what he is saying, and attempt to construct your life knowing that you are living a paradox, you can step up to the next rung on your ladder and move your mind forward.The next rung on my ladder of evolution was a spiritual awakening towards God.What book can do that?

Shallow
"The Denial of Death" is evasive and lacking in depth, not to mention excessively wordy.
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Subjects:  1. Death    2. Death & Dying    3. Death / Grief / Consolation    4. General    5. Heroes    6. Psychological aspects    7. Psychology    8. Thanatology    9. Coping with death & bereavement    10. Popular psychology    11. Psychology & Psychiatry / General    12. Topics in philosophy   

Reviews (2)

morbid compulsion
I saw this book listed in Entertainment Weekly recently and decided it may be worth buying. For those of you out there fascinated by death this is the book for you. The forward claims that reading this book will extend your life by two years. After reading just a few of the pages so far, I can understand the claim. The presentation is somewhat lighthearted for such a morbid subject but very readable. Once you pick it up, it really is difficult to put down - the statistics, the details, the illustrations and photos all make this a wonderful - although sobering - read. Knowing now how an airbag can KILL YOU makes me glad I own a later model vehicle.

"Addicted to Death!"
This is a great book!It's easy to read and hard to put down!Largo has done a terrific job of entertaining and educating his readers on a subject to which we can all relate.
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Subjects:  1. Death & Dying    2. Death, Grief, Bereavement    3. Encyclopedias    4. Pop Arts / Pop Culture    5. Popular Culture - General    6. Social Science    7. Sociology    8. Thanatology    9. Popular culture    10. Social Science / Popular Culture   

Reviews (1)

A Superb Textbook!
Death, Society, and the Human Experience is a wonderful textbook!I have been using it in my class The Sociology of Death and Dying for the past four years.This book provides the information necessary to any real understanding and examination of societal assumptions and attitudes toward death and dying.It not only enhances the knowledge of the student but provides the groundwork for new readers in the field.The book is a beautiful presentation of stimulating facts that will help everyone confront death and dying in a more personal and lasting manner. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Death    2. Death & Dying    3. Death And Dying (Sociological Aspects)    4. Death, Grief, Bereavement    5. Psychological aspects    6. Social Science    7. Social aspects    8. Sociology    9. Sociology - General    10. Thanatology    11. Social Science / Sociology / General   

Reviews (1)

una manera de afrontar la muerte
este libro, que fue leido por mi hace ya muchos anos, es otro que me impresiono y me gusto. muestra diferentes vistas y perspectivas de la muerte de un ser querido. desde la negacion de los hechos hasta laaceptacion y la resignacion, pasando por diferentes estadios que sonnecesarios tanto social como psicologicamenete para superar la perdida. esde especial interes para estudiantes de medicina o de psicologia o paracualquier persona que quiera aprender a lidiar con una gran perdida. LUISMENDEZ ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Bereavement    2. Death    3. Psychological aspects    4. Social Science    5. Social aspects    6. Sociology    7. Sociology - General    8. United States    9. Death & dying    10. Social Science / Sociology / General   

Editorial Review

Forensic pathologist Michael Baden was a medicalexaminer in New YorkCity for more than 25 years.Now he works forthe New York State Police and teachesforensic medicine. This engrossing book covers: (1) several famous cases, including Baden's personal re-examination of the autopsy findings forMartin Luther King andJohn F. Kennedy; (2) unusual cases Badenhad as medical examiner for NYC, such as anautopsy on a dining room table at the Plaza Hotel; (3) how medical examiners decide onmeans of death, with a section on poisons; (4) the history of coroners and medicalexaminers since 12th century England;(5) disturbing politics involved in the office ofthe Chief MedicalExaminer of NYC; (6) identification of the dead; (7) time of death; (8)multiple-murder cases; (9) an almost perfect murder; (10) close calls, including neardeaths during sex; (11) cases of mistaken diagnosis; and (12) autopsy findings that shedlight on what happened in the Attica uprising. ... Read more

Reviews (35)

America should always listen to Baden.
This thoughtful and interesting book showed that this medical examiner stands above the others.More people should have listened to his evidence in the O. J. Simpson case. In case after case, his careful examinations brought justice where others had failed. Baden is a giant in hsi profession.

Forensics at its Best
As a loyal CIS fan, Confessions of a Medical Examiner takes the reader into the fascinating and real world of forensic science.What takes 40 minutes to solve on television in reality can take days, weeks, months and sometimes never.
Very good
This book is very good read. It has many Interesting forensic stories. I also recomend Disecting Death.It was recomended by this author and as good. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Biography & Autobiography    2. Biography/Autobiography    3. Death & Dying    4. Forensic Medicine    5. Medical - General    6. Medical / Nursing    7. Social Science / Death & Dying    8. True crime   

Reviews (31)

Highly recommended
This book is one of the first great books that Dr. Kubler-Ross has gifted us with.Her insight and compassion are unremarkable.I am sad she won't be writing any more books though.Her latest book, "On Grief and Grieving" is a wonderful book also.There are some case studies to go by and it truly touches your soul.

On Death and Dying
Elisabeth Kubler-Ross once again inspires us to learn how to care for those dying patients and their family members. This book assists our care and compassion through true life experiences of those dying. This book grabs at your heart and pulls you in!

Very helpful when you have to accept someone's death
Each time people around me lost their family, I gave this book.Most of them said that it was a great help to recover from grief.I, myself experienced a hard time to accept mentally a familly member's death and the book gave me a relief, though I do not believe everything written in it. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Classics    2. Death    3. Death, Grief, Bereavement    4. Psychological aspects    5. Psychology    6. Self-Help    7. Terminally ill    8. Thanatology    9. Death & dying    10. Psychology & Psychiatry / General   

Reviews (3)

A MUST read
I don't know why there aren't hundreds of reviews on this book, because it's absolutely magic. If you're looking for comfort and evidence, buy it! I am grateful Elizabeth shared her insights with us, readers. As I am in the learning process of becoming an animal communicator myself, I am doing research in reading as much as I can. But first of all I am a grieving person who's animal friend recently died and I am besides myself with grief over this loss. Elizabeth shares her knowledge that all is as it's supposed to be. She enlights, she has such insight, and yet, as a scientifically educated woman, she does not take things for granted. The care-humans (as she calls them) of the pets, deceased or alive, acknowledge her words over and over again. Facts. I read this book of 143 page's in one day, up to late at night. Just couldn't stop. It was one of the most beautiful gifts I received. So just buy it :-)
would you like to see how an animal views death?read this book
Judging from the response to this book, not many people buy this book, but a lot of people see the site.That said, I found this book to be quite intriguing.Like "1smileycat", I had to recently put down my favorite pet (in my case, my beloved dog of 10 years).I actually found out about this book from looking at 1smileycat's profile (so thanks :) )and bought it.Severino's book is a nice read and offers an interesting view of dying, death, and euthanasia- all, as the title suggests, told from an animal's point of view.A good read and definite recommendation for anyone grieving the loss of a loved pet.

Be open minded while reading this book.
I truely enjoyed "The Animals' Viewpoint on Dying, Death, and Euthanasia" by Elizabeth Severino, D.D., D.R.S, animal communicator.
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Subjects:  1. Animal Rights    2. Animals    3. Death & Dying    4. General    5. Nature    6. Nature/Ecology    7. Domestic animals & pets    8. Pets / General   

Reviews (7)

Can't wait to get to the other side
i bought this book for myself and couldn't put it down. Found myself crying with the absolute joy of what we can expect. then i proceeded to buy 3 more copies for family members. no one will be sorry about buying this book. I lost a beloved niece by suicide in 1986 and often wondered what would happen to her after death. This book makes me believe that she's waiting for me, along with my beloved dog Charlie.

Reasoned approach
This book is one of the few on the subject that actually takes a reasoned and scientifically valid approach. There is none of the gee whiz factor here---just many years of study.

Visits from the other side
Paranormal phenomena, such as survival of bodily death, can be difficult to swallow without personal experience. The very mention of such personal experiences in polite conversation is often met with suspicion.
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Subjects:  1. Body, Mind & Spirit    2. Death    3. Death & Dying    4. Death And Dying (Sociological Aspects)    5. Future life    6. Miscellanea    7. New Age    8. New Age / Body, Mind & Spirit    9. Parapsychology    10. Parapsychology - ESP (Clairvoyance, Precognition, Telepathy)    11. Spiritualism    12. Spiritualism - General    13. Supernatural    14. Mind, body, spirit: reincarnation & past lives   

Editorial Review

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Reviews (25)

Wickedly witty, wonderful, and wise
I never read the original (1963) edition of this ground-breaking expose of the "death care industry" (to use that industry's own euphemism), so I can't compare the "Revisited" (1998) edition to it. But it seems, since Mitford primarily addresses methods and practices, that much of the earlier work has been preserved. As other Amazon reviewers have noted, it can be confusing when trying to distinguish the "then" from the "now." Sometimes you simply have to guess based on the prices being discussed. But sadly, the reader can't help but realize that in most matters regarding the disposal of our dead, what was true then (the lying to customers about the "necessity" and "benefits" of enbalming; price gouging on caskets; secretive pricing and resistance to providing itemized price quotes and invoices; etc.) remains true today.
Jessica Was An Original
The late Jessica Mitford enticed me with the original "American Way of Death" in the 1960's. Her graphic description of the embalming process would later inspire me to follow in her work, as a muckracker and consumer advocate. One thing Jessica did was give me an out, if I didn't want to read about the embalming process she directed me to another page. I thought that was a great move on her part because some people just couldn't handle it.
Over-written but Thought-provoking!
A verbose, over-written book. Some say the original book was great; perhaps they're right.I don't know.I've only read this one, and through each chapter I kept wishing that the writer would get to the point and lay the facts on the table.I often found myself out of patience and skimming large sections.As for the funeral industry, I came away from the book thinking that the truth is probably somewhere in the middle.Yes, they'll take you, (and some funeral homes are probably very shady) but the funeral industry is a business too, and a necessary on