Since the beginning of mankind, death has always been a major topic of discussion. We have spent centuries trying to find answers to the questions “Why do we die?” and “Is there life after death?”. And yet, we still have no sure answers. Because a lot has been written about this topic, and you may be interested in it, we prepared a list of 10 books that talk about death. Some optimistically, some scientifically, some somewhat macabrely.

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1. Lament: Studies in the Ancient Mediterranean and Beyond

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Lament: Studies in the Ancient Mediterranean and Beyond is a historical book written by Ann Suter, Associate Professor of Classical Studies at the University of Rhode Island. It is a high quality academic publication - not the best option if you are looking for some light reading. The collection of essays begins with the Sumerian and Hittite traditions. It then moves on to examine Bronze Age iconographic representations of lamentation, Homeric lament,

depictions of lament in Greek tragedy and parodic comedy, and finally lament in ancient Rome. This book is the first and probably the only comparative approach to mourning traditions from our past. It’s a great book to read if you are interested in discovering the roots of today's grieving.

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2. Western Attitudes toward Death: From the Middle Ages to the Present

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In case you liked the first book, this could be seen as a sort of continuation. However, Western Attitudes toward Death: From the Middle Ages to the Present focuses more on the attitude towards mortality than on the actual mourning. Written by Philippe Ariès, French medievalist and historian, it tracks, through a collection of lectures, the dying experience from personal event to a gathering of intimates to finally, a sterile, lonely act in a modern hospital. It’s a good book to make you reflect about death and accept its presence in your daily life.

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3. From Here to Eternity: Traveling the World to Find the Good Death

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Caitlin Doughty, creator of the web series “Ask a Mortician”, strikes again. In case you don’t know her, Caitlin is an American mortician, author, blogger, and YouTube personality advocating for death acceptance. From Here to Eternity: Traveling the World to Find the Good Death is her second publication. It gives the reader a nice glimpse on different societies’ attitude towards death, describing and showing practices as The Ma’Nene festival in Tana Toraja, Indonesia or the Días de los Muertos in Mexico. From Spain to Japan, from Bolivia to the USA, the perception of death is not always the same. And knowing this can help us understand that there is not one right way to deal with death.

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4. Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers

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Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers is an odd and often hilarious exploration of the strange lives of our bodies post mortem. Written in 2003 by science author Mary Roach, it quickly became a bestseller, obtaining very positive reviews and paving the way for a more open conversation about death and everything related to it. Themes range from the practice of cosmetic surgery on cadavers, decomposition, crucifixion, cannibalism and even corpses used as crash test dummies.

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5. Death's Acre: Inside the Legendary Forensic Lab the Body Farm Where the Dead Do Tell Tales

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Death's Acre: Inside the Legendary Forensic Lab the Body Farm Where the Dead Do Tell Tales is definitely a book for people with a strong stomach. William M. Bass, U.S. forensic anthropologist, brings the readers on a journey to his “Body Farm”. An outdoor laboratory where human corpses decompose in the open air, aided by insects, bacteria, and birds. Bass research on decomposition is outstanding and this book can be definitely fascinating for forensic-oriented novel fans.

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6. Modern Mummies: The Preservation of the Human Body in the Twentieth Century

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When we hear the word “mummy”, we probably think of a sarcophagus from Ancient Egypt containing a human body covered in yellowish bandages. But this practice, that now is called “embalming” is still a widely-used practice at funeral homes. Modern Mummies: The Preservation of the Human Body in the Twentieth Century by Christine Quigley is the book to read if you want to know more about the process of mummification and famous contemporary mummies, such as Evita Perón and Lenin.

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7. The Tibetan Book of the Dead

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The Bardo Thodol, also known as The Tibetan Book of the Dead, is the perfect book to read when you are about to face death, or the death of someone you love. It’s a Terma text (the Tibetan word, terma, literally means “treasure”), containing teachings from the Tibetan Buddhist tradition. It presents one of the most detailed and compelling descriptions of the after-death state in world literature, practices that can transform our experience of daily life and guidance on helping those who are dying. You don’t need to be a Buddhist or believe in reincarnation to appreciate this book and find a new perspective on how to cope with grief.

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8. Death with Interruptions

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Death with Interruptions, a book from José Saramago (one of the most important international writers of the last hundred years) is a novel that talks about death, as both a phenomenon and as an anthropomorphized character. It revolves around the question: “ What if the Grim Reaper (here presented as a woman) decides to go on strike and stops doing her job?” “What if, from one day to another, people would finally achieve eternal life?”. The consequences are unexpected, often hilarious and at times miserable. A great book about death to reflect about life.

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9. The Prospect of Immortality

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The Prospect of Immortality, written by Robert C.W. Ettinger in the 1960s is an absolute revolutionary book and the foundation of the science and philosophy behind cryonics. With this publication, Ettinger exposes the logic and technology supporting the possibility of cryopreservation in a simple and understandable way. His arguments are based on undeniable facts:

1) A body kept in a deep-frozen state stands a better chance of being revived than one rotting in the ground.

2) Many people who died in the past of  'incurable' diseases could be cured today.

Our current perception of death as an inevitable and unalterable moment in everybody’s lives may be wrong. We know now that death is a process that we can pause. If cryopreservation works, will our idea of death change forever?

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10. Human Cryopreservation Procedures Book

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If you feel that Ettinger’s book has opened your eyes to a new and fascinating subject, you can dive deeper into the topic with Human Cryopreservation Procedures Book. It’s a 711 page manual written by scientists from Alcor, one of the first Life Extension Foundations. This work describes in a technical and scientific way procedures such as standby, stabilization, transportation and vitrification procedures in the field of human cryopreservation. Since it was published only in 2020, the techniques described in this book are the most state-of-the-art and advanced techniques we know for a successful cryopreservation. It’s quite technical but definitely a good tool to understand how each aspect of the process works.

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Conclusion

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As we learn from the books mentioned above, in the past death and the pain connected to it were something shared. Funerals and mourning were a big part of a society's life. But in many Western countries nowadays, death is a taboo. Something uncomfortable people don’t want to talk about, if not through forensic/crime books or tv series. People pretend it doesn’t exist and are unprepared when it happens.

We think that it is important to be open about death. To calm fears and help us appreciate our lives even more. People should be able to think about the moment they will die and discuss it with the people they love. It should be normal for everybody to decide how, when and where they want to die.

At Tomorrow Biostasis we talk about death. Or better, we talk about the possibility to live a “second life'', whenever that will be possible. If you want to have this conversation with us, give us a call.
And if you already know that cryopreservation is for you, join us!