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chuskeyreads's review against another edition
3.0
I actually expected this to be a little more gruesome, but there’s a lot of dry facts about funerals, funeral directors, and insurance companies.
geoffwood's review against another edition
4.0
More like Jessica WITford amirite? Dryer-than-dry examination of, if you can believe it, an oligopoly that uses shady sales practices and heavy lobbying to maintain artificially inflated prices and generally play the bereaved like a concertina. Wait, under capitalism?
jackienelli's review against another edition
informative
medium-paced
4.0
Book that got me thinking and researching.
subvino's review against another edition
4.0
Very interesting! I loved it, though it was kind of depressing to see how the industry is run.
danitrieskey's review against another edition
4.0
Interesting Look
An eye opening look at funeral practices in America. It shouldn't be surprising but still was shocked by how much of a racket things were and continued to be.
An eye opening look at funeral practices in America. It shouldn't be surprising but still was shocked by how much of a racket things were and continued to be.
stevenyenzer's review against another edition
5.0
I had high expectations for this book, and they were exceeded. Mitford is a hilarious and incisive writer. The topic is well-worth exploring in detail, as it's something we all will inevitably deal with. And it appears that not much has changed since the book was first published 50 years ago.
maryehavens's review against another edition
4.0
The book that started it all!!! There would be no Caitlin Doughty without Jessica Mitford. And Thank God for Jessica Mitford!! This expose mines the depths of the funeral industry and the inflated costs of every item. Think car salesmanship with a dash of airline pricing for each additional item.
Some reviewers have called this revised edition uneven but I don’t think that’s quite the word. It got a little monotonous so I took a graphic novel break. Feel free to give yourself breaks too and continue to plug along!
I don’t know how most people feel about funerals and their expenses. I’m a roll with the punches kind of person (sort of...) so I just assumed I would put some money aside for my funeral when it occurred so no one would have to deal with it. But I was also somewhat open minded. This book completely confirmed my beliefs to opt for a “donating body to science” scenario and my family can do whatever they want to with the remembrances. I hope they honor those wishes and don’t dole out $6,000 to preserve a body and surrounding accoutrements that are just going to rot anyway. Better to have my body donated to help others than to rot plus thousands of dollars in expenses :)
Some reviewers have called this revised edition uneven but I don’t think that’s quite the word. It got a little monotonous so I took a graphic novel break. Feel free to give yourself breaks too and continue to plug along!
I don’t know how most people feel about funerals and their expenses. I’m a roll with the punches kind of person (sort of...) so I just assumed I would put some money aside for my funeral when it occurred so no one would have to deal with it. But I was also somewhat open minded. This book completely confirmed my beliefs to opt for a “donating body to science” scenario and my family can do whatever they want to with the remembrances. I hope they honor those wishes and don’t dole out $6,000 to preserve a body and surrounding accoutrements that are just going to rot anyway. Better to have my body donated to help others than to rot plus thousands of dollars in expenses :)
leemac027's review against another edition
3.0
This book was originally written in 1963, then revised in 1978 and 1998 with the revisions showing not much change at all in the profit seeking behaviour of the funeral industry.
What interested me in this book was Jessica Mitford's writing style - she manages to make a very serious and often taboo subject, interesting and quite funny at times. Although it focuses on funeral industry practices in the USA, there are parallels to be drawn with Australia.
If you were ever interested in what goes on 'behind the scenes' then this book may be an eye opener.
What interested me in this book was Jessica Mitford's writing style - she manages to make a very serious and often taboo subject, interesting and quite funny at times. Although it focuses on funeral industry practices in the USA, there are parallels to be drawn with Australia.
If you were ever interested in what goes on 'behind the scenes' then this book may be an eye opener.