Death: An Oral History

by Casey Jarman

Overview

In this illuminating collection of oral-history style interviews, Casey Jarman talks to a funeral industry watchdog about the (often shady) history of the death trade; he hears how songwriter David Bazan lost his faith while trying to hold on to his family; he learns about cartoonist Art Spiegelman using his college LSD trips to explain death to his children; and he gets to know his own grandparents, posthumously.

These are stories of loss, rebuilding, wonder, and wild speculation featuring everyone from philosophers to former death row wardens and hospice volunteers. In these moving, enlightening, and often funny conversations, the end is only the beginning.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781942186120
Publisher:	Lerner Publishing Group
Publication date:	08/01/2016
Pages:	352
Product dimensions:	5.60(w) x 7.60(h) x 1.30(d)

About the Author

Casey Jarman has served as an editor at both the Pulitzer Prize-winning Willamette Week in Portland, Oregon, and The Believer in San Francisco. He co-founded Party Damage Records in 2013. He has written for Nylon, Next American City, and Reed Magazine and provided illustrations for Portland Monthly and Lucky Peach.

Editorial Reviews

08/29/2016
Jarman, a contributing editor at the Believer, confronts his own mortal dread with this profound collection of essays, based on oral history–style interviews with experts on death such as Maus cartoonist Art Spiegelman, a funeral-focused consumer advocate, and a hospice worker. A childhood friend of Jarman’s recounts his grief after his twin brother shot himself when the boys were in seventh grade, and his feelings of being left behind. A philosophy professor at Oregon State University outlines the curriculum for his “Death and Dying” course. A certified professional in life celebrations discusses the human need for ritual. Proving that even death has a mundane side, a reporter for the trade magazine Mortuary Management breaks down her process of writing copy for funeral home websites. In the most devastating chapter, Jarman interviews a close friend dealing with the recent and sudden death of her mother. Her shock and pain are visceral on the page, and she provides practical advice on how to support a grieving friend. Through Jarman’s discerning curation, interesting thought patterns emerge. Even those dealing with death professionally discuss it with remarkable candor and intimacy. These people, many of whom walk with death gracefully every day, make the concept a little less frightening—and deeply human. (Oct.)

Publishers Weekly

[A] profound collection of essays . . . These people, many of whom walk with death gracefully every day, make the concept a little less frightening—and deeply human.” –Publishers Weekly
 
“[O]ne of the most fun, surprising, and inventive essay books readers might find on any subject. . . Part memoir, with the flow and appeal similar to that of an episode of NPR’s This American Life, this revelation of a book is chock-full of vignettes that dig deep into the psyche of the Grim Reaper and how we deal with him. “—Booklist 

“Casey Jarman, one of my favorite Northwest journalists, is becoming the Studs Terkel of his generation.”—Willy Vlautin, author of Lean on Pete


“[A] profound collection of essays . . . These people, many of whom walk with death gracefully every day, make the concept a little less frightening—and deeply human.” –Publishers Weekly
 
“[O]ne of the most fun, surprising, and inventive essay books readers might find on any subject. . . Part memoir, with the flow and appeal similar to that of an episode of NPR’s This American Life, this revelation of a book is chock-full of vignettes that dig deep into the psyche of the Grim Reaper and how we deal with him. “—Booklist 

“Jarman’s literary debut is a testament to the value of doggedly pursuing a goal that has never and can never be realized. We can’t beat death, but maybe we can beat fear of it. . . .[A]mbitious in scope and often devastating in content” –The Guardian
 
 “[T]here are some powerful stories here and some informative takes on our approaches and attitudes toward death.”—The Oregonian

“Casey Jarman, one of my favorite Northwest journalists, is becoming the Studs Terkel of his generation.”—Willy Vlautin, author of Lean on Pete

From the Publisher