Did you know that one of the traditions in Japan is to gather around the cremated remains of their dearly departed, and using chopsticks to pick up bone fragments and placing these in the urn, leaving the hyoid bone to last?
This is just one of many interesting facts on this audiobook. If you are interested in learning more about death and different culture’s traditions with funerals and burials then this is the book for you.
Caitlin Doughty, an American mortician, blogger, author and youtuber travels the world in search of the “good death” and what she discovers will shock, amaze and at times leave you gobsmacked.
I chose to listen to this rather than read as I always love a good audio book which is narrated by the author and I was not disappointed. This was an engaging and at times awe inspiring story about the world’s outlook on death and just how different it is in each country from bodies buried above ground covered with a weaved basket to corpses being paraded through the street to celebrate their life, there is never a dull moment.
I have always been fascinated in different countries’ approach to death, especially since visiting the catacombs and the Brno Ossuary in Czech Republic over 10 years ago which was filled with thousands of human remains discovered only in 2001 during a pre-archaeologist dig. It was a fascinating sight and kickstarted my interest into the different traditions.
Caitlin covers a large proportion of the world and all different types of funerals and burials from open pyres to the traditional cremation well known in the west. Her knowledge combined with the commentary of her travels makes for an informative, at times comedic but mostly eye opening adventure into the often taboo subject of death and the after life.
Warning- this book is not for the faint hearted or squeamish as it is all about death. But if you like the macabre and finding out about how different religions and cultures approach the transition to death and their beliefs in whether there is an after life then I would highly recommend this.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ – an intriguing, fascinating listen which kept me hooked and wanting to know more.
Much love 💘
Lizzieslittlebooknook 