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4.13 AVERAGE
4.13 AVERAGE
This book made me so happy! I love Caitlin Doughty! She's probably my favorite science writer right now and also my go-to reference when conversing about death, something I've spent a lot of time opening up to this year. I've been working to destigmatize and demystify death within myself, challenging why death upsets me so much/why I hate talking about it in any capacity, and I've mostly been turning to books and documentaries to help scoot me along.
This is a really educational and sensitive book that's actually aimed towards kids, which is SO cool! Acknowledging that people of all ages are capable of coming to terms with death, this book addresses questions asked by 'tiny mortals' (AKA, kids). That being said, a lot of these are questions you may have had before, so it doesn't make the book any less palatable to adults and is totally worth the read. Some of the questions include the obvious title, but also:
What happens if you swallow a bag of popcorn before you die and are cremated?
What happens to a dead body in space?
Will I poop when I die?
What happens if you die on a plane?
Doughty references funeral practices, history, personal experience, and vivid(ly gross) descriptions to answer these questions. Her answers are always logical, scientifically-backed, and sprinkled with a good bit of humor so that reality doesn't totally depress you. They're often really gross, too, so maybe don't plan to eat around the time you read this. There's also some super cute, well-done illustrations to accompany each of the questions.
When I started my personal quest for Death Positivity, I inevitably fell upon Doughty's Ask a Mortician YouTube channel and her two other books, Smoke Gets in Your Eyes and From Here to Eternity. She's incredibly smart and skilled at normalizing what is maybe the scariest topic for anyone to talk about. I highly recommend you check out her stuff if you're even a little bit interested in death and its various components and stages - and don't lie, all of us are at least a little morbidly curious
This is a really educational and sensitive book that's actually aimed towards kids, which is SO cool! Acknowledging that people of all ages are capable of coming to terms with death, this book addresses questions asked by 'tiny mortals' (AKA, kids). That being said, a lot of these are questions you may have had before, so it doesn't make the book any less palatable to adults and is totally worth the read. Some of the questions include the obvious title, but also:
What happens if you swallow a bag of popcorn before you die and are cremated?
What happens to a dead body in space?
Will I poop when I die?
What happens if you die on a plane?
Doughty references funeral practices, history, personal experience, and vivid(ly gross) descriptions to answer these questions. Her answers are always logical, scientifically-backed, and sprinkled with a good bit of humor so that reality doesn't totally depress you. They're often really gross, too, so maybe don't plan to eat around the time you read this. There's also some super cute, well-done illustrations to accompany each of the questions.
When I started my personal quest for Death Positivity, I inevitably fell upon Doughty's Ask a Mortician YouTube channel and her two other books, Smoke Gets in Your Eyes and From Here to Eternity. She's incredibly smart and skilled at normalizing what is maybe the scariest topic for anyone to talk about. I highly recommend you check out her stuff if you're even a little bit interested in death and its various components and stages - and don't lie, all of us are at least a little morbidly curious
I’m not sure if this book was written for kids or just answered kids questions but either way i learned a lot and fairly enjoyed it
funny
informative
fast-paced
Very informative, witty and interesting! Answers questions you didn't even realise you wanted to know! It's the type of book you can dip in and out of. I look forward to starting her other books.
4 stars
Quick and fun read answering questions about death that kids ask which range from common curiosities to extreme hypotheticals. Morticians are so upbeat and fun and this was no exception. The questions were very fun and a little hyperbolic but were answered seriously with cool medical and scientific explanations. Was definitely a fun read but not a really intense read on what happens when we die but a more lighthearted conversation about our curiosities surrounding death.
Quick and fun read answering questions about death that kids ask which range from common curiosities to extreme hypotheticals. Morticians are so upbeat and fun and this was no exception. The questions were very fun and a little hyperbolic but were answered seriously with cool medical and scientific explanations. Was definitely a fun read but not a really intense read on what happens when we die but a more lighthearted conversation about our curiosities surrounding death.
funny
informative
fast-paced
informative
fast-paced
funny
informative
informative
reflective
slow-paced
I learned a lot of the concept of death and what our bodies go through. It felt a bit morbid but not too bad.
funny
informative
medium-paced
lots of good information as long as you can get past the millennial humor