About this item
In the tradition of Mary Roach's bestselling Stiff and Jessica Mitford's classic expos 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 spaceFrom 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.
About the Author
Harold Schechter is an American true crime writer who specializes in serial killers. He attended the State University of New York in Buffalo where his PhD director was Leslie Fiedler. He is professor of American literature and popular culture at Queens College of the City University of New York.Schechter is married to poet Kimiko Hahn. He has two daughters from a previous marriage: the writer Lauren Oliver and professor of philosophy Elizabeth Schechter. His newest book, The Mad Sculptor, (about a sensational triple murder at Beekman Place in New York City in 1937) will be published in February 2014.Praise for THE MAD SCULPTOR:"Ambitious, bold, and evocative, Schechter's storytelling grabs the reader in a similar manner to Capote's searing In Cold Blood." --Publishers Weeklyhttp://www.publishersweekly.com/978-0-544-11431-9"Perfect for readers who enjoy the stories of the sensationalistic press of the 1930s and its crass exploitation of the details of horrific murders." - Kirkus https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/harold-schechter/the-mad-sculptor/
