"The American Way of Death Revisited: A Comprehensive Guide to Funeral Planning and End-of-Life Care" Paperback

L S Lamb: History and politics of the funeral industry. Interesting and entertaining.

United States on Nov 23, 2023

Marian H.Marian H.: For a 30 year old book, this is in amazing condition! Delivered by Amazon within 24 hours. I would definitely recommend this seller to others!

United States on Sep 13, 2023

Vicki L. George: We all die so we should all read this book. Having been involved with burying relatives, I am fully aware of many of these funeral practices. My husband and I are now members of a funeral society and are pre-planning, but not pre-paying, for our funerals. We do not want our children to be ripped off. I highly recommend this book.

United States on Mar 14, 2023

A. Reader: Apparently not!

United Kingdom on Feb 21, 2022

Artisan: For anyone who has ever had dealings with a funeral,or planning one this is an interesting backgreound on the history and priactises of the funeral business, ive always found that the business was predatory and this book confirms it in detail dating back to the 50s and 60s and im sure it continues today.This is a good book to read for anyone who has aging parents or a partner to educate themselves to the pitfalls of the funerary biz.Even though this book was written originally in the 60s it was updated i believe in the 90s prior to the authors passing.What with the covid crisis upon us this book may be a timely read for some folks

Canada on May 20, 2020

Gordie Rowe: I enjoyed the first edition of this book and have found the updated version is just as good. Good for her to reveal the gouging practices of this group of businessmen.

Canada on Apr 18, 2015

Jaggy: This is a fascinating account, and put forward in such a witty way. Despite the humour, though, it is infuriating to see how a cold business model is so harshly applied to families at a time when they are vulnerable and their normal purchasing defences are down. I am sad to see similar practices being introduced in the UK, including the sale of embalming as a "hygienic treatment" - since most British funerals do not have an open coffin (and long may it continue!) there is absolutely no need for any sort of embalming and it is not necessary for hygiene. Spiralling coffin costs are down to hard sell, and in the UK the small, family owned company you think you know may well be part of a multi-national group.

The topic may be rather gruesome, but the book is certainly worth a read - if only to protect yourself and your family from unscrupulous salesmen. But it's also a very entertaining read, and exceptionally well written!

United Kingdom on Aug 04, 2014

Hannah E.: This is a brilliantly written, unexpectedly funny exposé of the American funeral system. It's about the tricks and traps that funeral salesmen in the States will use to part the grieving from as much of their hard-earned money as possible which, when you think about it, is a pretty vile thing to do. In this revised version, Mitford includes snippets of feedback her book got from the industry at the time. Needless to say, she wasn't their favourite person... Gorgeously written (as all Mitford books are) and wry, it's an unlikely book, but one you'll love.

United Kingdom on May 18, 2014

NHBunion: I grew up across the street from a funeral parlor whose undertaker was a family friend, so the whole funeral experience always interested me. This book "opens the lid" so to speak on that business.

Jessica's keen observations are laugh-out-loud funny at times. When this book was first released it really upset the boys in the undertaking biz.

The book contrasts the American way of death with the British way, a great read in itself.

Personally I preferred the first half of the book before the later chapters where the narrative kinda bogged down with statistics. This book has become a classic that should not be missed.

United States on Jan 30, 2013

C. Cleaver: I found this book to be fascinating.

Critics of the book, especially in those in the death care industry, seem to focus on Mitford's unmasking of various unethical practices. They protest that in more current times there's less (or no) unethical practices.

That may or may not be true. We'll have to wait for another Jessica to take another close look.

Regardless - one of the main points of this book is to examine the traditions associated with the American funeral.

Embalming and displaying a body? Why? It's probably true that good hearted and ethical people practice the 'restorative arts' but for what purpose?

Why the focus on the 'body'? It seems more than a little macabre, creepy, and frankly disrespectful.

One of the critics of this book within Amazon made the erroneous statement that Jessica Mitford's own funeral was "enormus" (sic). This is false.

According to the January 1997 issue of The Economist: "JESSICA MITFORD'S funeral cost just $533.31. The body of the world's best-known campaigner against over-charging and malpractice in the funeral profession was cremated, without a ceremony; the ashes were scattered at sea. The...

United States on Feb 18, 2008