my guide to death books i guess?
I don’t know how to segue smoothly into my slight literary obsession with the death industry so I’m not going to.
The Beginner Death Book
All the Living and the Dead by Hayley Campbell
In this gripping memoir, Campbell takes a deep dive into the varying professions within the death industry. She talks to leading experts in each field, gaining valuable insight into the world’s most elusive workforce. Newcomers to conversations around death can be swept along with Campbell as she explores the inner workings of potentially contentious spaces like morgues and execution chambers, while also challenging her own preconceptions around death and dying.
For Death Enthusiasts
Caitlin Doughty
I know you’re out there and you’ve probably already heard of Caitlin Doughty, the author of the sensational Smoke Gets in Your Eyes as well as From Here to Eternity and Will My Cat Eat My Eyeballs?. If you haven’t, here’s the spiel:
Caitlin Doughty is a leading voice in the death industry, making tremendous strides in de-stigmatising our outlooks on death and dying. An expert in her field, Doughty started out as a crematory worker and is now the owner of a funeral home in California, leading the charge to legalise more environmentally conscious funerial practices across the US. Her approach to starting a conversation about death and dying is one of transparency and compassion; she’ll get you all fired up about the corruptions and inequalities of the death industry, while making you beam with her quick wit and massive heart.
Death For My Brits
In the Midst of Life by Jennifer Worth
From the author of Call the Midwife, this memoir chronicles Worth’s involvement with end-of-life care as a ward nurse in the 60s. Worth is a hell of a storyteller, weaving patients’ narratives with her own to create a concise yet nuanced look at her vast experience with the dying. It’s fascinating to reconcile the bolshie, passionate ward nurse with the author of this reflective book, seeing in each chapter just how formative Worth’s experiences were. My historical babes will lap this up.
Sorry for Your Loss by Kate Marshall
For a glimpse into death work today, this captivating memoir is a great place to start. Marshall shares her experiences working in a morgue in the North of England and what she continues to learn from her clients both living and dead. She recounts having to continually defend the importance of her job, particularly to other healthcare providers who insist their living patients have to be their priority. Marshall recognises the importance of her work to the people close to the dead as well as the dead themselves, always showing patience, compassion and flexibility to the people left behind.
