"A fascinating and oft-surprising exploration of the history and meaning of funeral rituals"-- Provided by publisher. "Ceremonies for honoring the departed are crucial parts of our lives, but few people know where our traditional practices come from -- and what they reveal about our history, culture, and beliefs about death. In Last Rites, author Todd Harra takes you on a fascinating exploration of American customs around death, burial, and remembrance"...

"Everything you ever wanted to know about funeral etiquette but were afraid to ask. When is attending a funeral or memorial service 'a must,' and when is it optional? Can a eulogy be funny? Can I scatter my brother's ashes in the backyard? Should I place a death notice or an obituary? What's the difference? These are all questions that Florence Isaacs has been asked as a blogger for Legacy.com, a role that earned her the nickname of the 'Dear Abby...

"What do you think happens to you when you die? And what do you want done with your body? For three years Shannon Lee Dawdy travelled the U.S., from Vermont to California, Illinois to Alabama, posing such questions to a wide range of people from all walks of life. Many of her interlocutors recently lost loved ones. She also spoke to people who have made death their business: funeral directors, death care entrepreneurs, designers, cemetery owners,...

About Me is a comprehensive guide and workbook to help you organize everything a loved one will need in the eventuality of your passing. While About Me may not answer the question, "Why was my loved one taken from me?" it definitively answers the question, "What do I do now?" The passing of a loved one can be difficult emotionally, mentally, and physically. About Me is designed to organize and simplify the wishes of the decedent for their family and...

What happens after someone dies depends on our personal stories and on where those stories fall in a larger tale--that of death in America. It's a powerful tale that we usually keep hidden from our everyday lives until we have to face it. American Afterlife by Kate Sweeney reveals this world through a collective portrait of Americans past and present who find themselves personally involved with death: a klatch of obit writers in the desert, a funeral...

"Mourning the Presidents is the first volume to examine comprehensively the mourning rituals surrounding the passing of U.S. presidents, from George Washington to George Bush Sr. This book offers a detailed and coherent look at the ways in which Americans across four centuries have grappled with grief and complex legacies and examines in depth the power of the presidency to divide or unite U.S. citizens. Through this lens, the contributors analyze...