In the tradition of Mary Roach&#8217;s bestselling <i>Stiff</i> and Jessica Mitford&#8217;s classic expos&#233; <i>The American Way of Death</i> comes this meticulously researched, refreshingly irreverent, and lavishly illustrated look at death from acclaimed author Harold Schechter. With his trademark fearlessness and bracing sense of humor, Schechter digs deep into a wealth of sources to unearth a treasure trove of surprising facts, amusing anecdotes, practical information, and timeless wisdom about that undiscovered country to which we will all one day travel. Topics include<br><br>&#8226; Death anxiety&#8211;is your fear of death normal or off the scale? <br>&#8226; You can&#8217;t take it with you . . . or can you? Wacky wills and bizarre bequests<br>&#8226; The hospice experience&#8211;going out in comfort and style<br>&#8226; Deathbed and funeral etiquette&#8211;how to help the dying and mourn the dead with dignity<br>&#8226; Death on demand&#8211;why the right-to-die movement may be the next big thing<br>&#8226; &#8220;Good-bye everybody&#8221;&#8211;famous last words<br>&#8226; The embalmer&#8217;s art&#8211;all dressed up and nowhere to go<br>&#8226; Behind the scenes at your local funeral home<br>&#8226; Alternative burial choices&#8211;from coral reefs to outer space<br><br>From the cold, hard facts of death to lessons in the art of dying well, from what happens in the body&#8217;s last living moments to what transpires in the ground or in the furnace, from near-death experiences to speculation on the afterlife, <b>The Whole Death Catalog </b>leaves no gravestone unturned.