How to Die in the 21st Century by Hannah Gould
Dr Hannah Gould is a cultural anthropologist specialising in contemporary death, religion and material culture in Australia and Asia. Hannah is a Lecturer in Buddhist Studies and Fellow with the DeathTech Research Team at the University of Melbourne. Alongside academic research and publishing, she creates public programs to advocate for more equitable systems of deathcare for all. To date, this has included work as a presenter with ABC Catalyst and as Academic Advisor and on-screen talent for the SBS documentary series Ray Martin: The Last Goodbye. She regularly appears on radio and writes for outlets such as The Conversation and ABC News. How to Die in the 21st Century is her first book.
The most comforting book about death you'll ever read.
Talking about death won't kill you. Yet in today's world, death remains one of our greatest taboos. As religion declines and rituals fade, we are left without guidance for one of life's only certainties. This book is your handbook for death in the 21st century - a compassionate, practical and surprisingly hopeful guide to understanding mortality.
From cremation to green burials, from grieving a pet to navigating tricky memorial etiquette, anthropologist and death scholar Hannah Gould answers the questions most of us are too afraid to ask:
- Do I really get my loved one's ashes back from the crematorium?
- Can I turn into a tree when I die?
- How do I talk to my parents about end-of-life planning?
- Should I attend my ex's dad's funeral?
- Will I ever stop crying over my dog?
As we enter an era of 'peak death', this book challenges us to stop avoiding the inevitable and instead embrace it as part of a good life. Honest, witty and deeply reassuring, Gould invites readers to confront mortality not with fear, but with curiosity and courage.
If you have ever wondered about alternative funerals, modern grief, sustainable burial options or simply how to begin the conversation about death, this is the book you've been waiting for.
'For a vibrant, full-of-life woman Hannah Gould makes death and dying sound fascinating - if not fun. Her wit and wisdom are intoxicating ... and make you think.' - Ray Martin, journalist and host of The Last Goodbye
'Brilliantly insightful and deeply humane. This book is a much-needed call to open up conversations we've too long avoided about mortality and meaning.' - Sally Douglas and Imogen Carn, co-hosts of the Good Mourning podcast
