Product Description

One of the most famous psychological studies of the late twentieth century, On Death and Dying grew out of an interdisciplinary seminar on death, originated and conducted by Dr. Elisabeth Kübler-Ross. In On Death and Dying, Dr. Kübler-Ross first introduced and explored the now-famous idea of the five stages of dealing with death: denial and isolation, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. With sample interviews and conversations, she gives the reader a better understanding of how imminent death affects the patient, the professionals who serve the patient, and the patient's family, bringing hope, solace, and peace of mind to all involved. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (56)

Dated, dull, and unhelpful
I write this as someone who recently faced the terminal illness and death of a loved one.I found this book to be very dull, for the most part a collection of VERY meandering and unfocussed interviews of the dying (transcribed verbatim).In particular, the topic turned frequently to religion, and as we both were/are atheists this discussion was completely irrelevant and irritating to me.

I found another book called "I don't know what to say" to be vastly superior for me as a practical compedium of suggestions on how I could handle (and help my loved one handle) the situation.

book on Death & Dying
Great book, comes highly recomended by phychiatrist to help deal with the loss of a loved one.I highly recommend it.

very good condition
The book came and was in very good condition. I am pleased with the fast delivery!

Most valuable read in a long time.
This book gives the most valuable insight into the lives of the terminally ill. It reads well and reads better than most fiction novels. So, although it is on a very heavy subject, it makes for light reading, making the information easy to analyse and digest. A must read for all caregivers, whether of the terminally ill or not.

Helpful during a stagic death
This book I read while going to college years ago. At the time I had a hard time getting through the first edition, being I had not had any dealings with death at the time. But when a death by a loved one came to my life, the phased of death and dying in this book brought me much help.It also helped me with knowledge for my new book, written after this tragic death. Thank you for this book.Sincerely Shirley Kalpin-Olson author of "The Truth Shall Set You Free", "Train Wreck in the Sierras" and new story coming soon to Amazon, "Life After Death" under Shirley Olson. ... Read more

Product Description
Practical and inspiring, this best-selling book helps you learn to cope with encounters with death, dying, and bereavement. The authors integrate classical and contemporary material, present task-based approaches for individual and family coping, and include four substantial chapters devoted to death-related issues faced by children, adolescents, adults, and the elderly. The text discusses a variety of cultural and religious perspectives that affect people?s understandings and practices associated with such encounters. The book also offers practical guidelines for constructive communication designed to encourage productive living in the face of death. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

top notch
This was in top notch condition and mailed in a very timely fashion. Excellent service.

STILL WAITING ON ORDER TO ARRIVE
In times past I had good things to say about Amazon.but I have been waiting on my textbook since Feburary 17, 2010.

What happen to my order?When can I get a refund?

STILL WAITING

The Perfect Publication for Student and Layman Alike
While I am an undergraduate student in psychology, I have been blessed with a highly supportive professor that permitted me entrance into his Introduction to Thanatology graduate course. This book allowed me an immediate understanding that was both in depth and easy to digest.

Many texts on the subject of death and dying skirt the subject with veiled euphemisms. They often attempt to soften the reality of death in both its physical nature and historical context, however, this publication does neither. It is direct, informative, and, even for a required reading, difficult to put down. It says quite a bit about the authors of this book that they not only come so highly recommended by my professor (who is also a published author in this field), but also by the group of students being tested on its content. Very well done!

Excellent 'Keeper'
The authors have done an excellent job presenting a difficult and complex topic. Their discussions of the historical, multicultural, and life cycle attitudes toward death and dying are important contributions to the literature. The two negative reviews here by students are perplexing. Indeed, this book may be one of the best available for the classroom. Too, if you're looking for an excellent bibliography on the subject, this is the book to use.

good job
I recieved the book in a timely manner and it was close to new. i so appreciate it!!!!and it was a good price too... ... Read more

Product Description

On Death and Dying is one of the most important books ever written on the subject and is still considered the bench-mark in the care of the dying. It became an immediate bestseller, and Life magazine called it "a profound lesson for the living." This companion volume consists of the questions that are most frequently asked of Dr. Kübler-Ross and her compassionate answers. She discusses accepting the end of life, suicide, terminal illness, euthanasia, how to tell a patient he or she is critically ill, and how to deal with all the special difficulties surrounding death. Questions and Answers on Death and Dying is a vital resource for doctors, nurses, members of the clergy, social workers, and lay people dealing with death and dying. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (10)

Not the book I ordered
I ordered a book entitled "On Death and Dying"; I received "Questions and Answers on Death and Dying"...a supplementary book to "On Death an Dying".

thank you
got tis after my mom passed away. this women(that is also now passed away) was a God sent

questions and answers on Death and Dying
Excellent book.This is the second one I picked. It is an excellent resource by the best teacher of death and dying.

Great companion book to "Living with death and dying"
If you read Dr. Kubler-Ross' book "Living with Death and Dying" this is a great companion book.It explains frequent follow up questions Dr. Kubler-Ross had after her lectures to medical staff and family members dealing with death and dying.Book answers important questions on how to treat terminally ill patients (both adults and children), how to handle sudden or unexpected death due to accident.One learns that many times patients disclose what is on their minds thru a small talk, drawings or occupational therapy.Even bed ridden and seemingly unconscious patients do communicate non-verbally and appreciate small kindness such as talking to them, reading to them, providing them with comfort such as warm cloth bath, warmth, combing their hair.This is a very sensitive book.Although some of the questions are repetitive, I find them to gently re-enforce basic teaching that Dr. Kubler-Ross was trying to convey to both medical staff and general public.Written in simple language with enough situational examples, this book is a great guide for anyone dealing with death or going thru the grieving process.

Questions and Answers on Death and Dying
Elisabeth Kubler-Ross gives an in depth look into questions related to death and dying. This author helps answer those questions whether you are a family member of the dying or a healthcare provider, this book will help you! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Older book, but very informative.
This book was older but I knew that and it DID offer the information I was wanting! ... Read more

Product Description

In this compassionate and moving guide to communicating with the terminally ill, Dr. Elisabeth Küebler-Ross, the world's foremost expert on death and dying, shares her tools for understanding how the dying convey their innermost knowledge and needs. Expanding on the workshops that have made her famous and loved around the world, she shows us the importance of meaningful dialogue in helping patients to die with peace and dignity. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Generous introduction on how to anticipate and accept death
Having to anticipate death is a difficult task.Author of this book handles questions on death due to terminal illness in both adults and children.One learns about five phases of death: denial, anger, barganing, depression and acceptance.It is wonderful book because it explains how to be around dying people and allow them to have closure, let go and die in dignity regardless of the amount of suffering they go thru, regardless of the quality of the relationship they have with their family and regardless of which phase of dying the patient is.We learn that all people experience similar emotions and no matter if they have belief in God or not they are all able to reach peace and grace at their last minutes of life.Often times, they know when their time is coming.Real life stories described in this book can help reader come to terms on how to listen to dying and their needs in order to make this transition easier for everyone involved in the process: patients, family, doctors, hospital staff.Very helpful book and generous in its humanity of the last minutes of life in this world.

A very insightful and sympathetic written work that explores humanity and humanism by way of living with death and dying.
The data and writings of Dr. Elizabeth Kubler-Ross are really perceptive and affecting, because they show the living what can be possible versus what just is, as well as how life can and should be lived: to the fullest and most meaningful way possible. And with all Kubler-Ross's previous books, Living with Death and Dying is no exception. In this, her fifth book, she looks at the progression of palliative care by way of parent-pediatric involvement (see Section III, Parent Care: Total Involvement in the Care of a Dying Child). In it, a mother movingly recounts the dying of her daughter with leukemia and all the stresses that were attached to the situation. But what mitigated the sadness of the inevitable was the direct involvement of the parents in the care of their daughter to the bitter end. And where a loss of this magnitude can often cause separartion and ulitmately divorce, the unified confrontation by the husband and wife and the other healthy child (in this particular case), actually solidified the nucleus of the family; the bond became tighter and unbreakable, which was very nice to know. But though the loss was understandably painful, it was also a gift, for it brought about a heightened acuteness of love and living, not just through words but by actions and the uncommon stepping outside of the 'comfort' zone of their day-to-day reality. Also interesting was the in-depth exploration of drawing-analysis of the soma (the body) and the psyche (the soul) in regards to terminally-ill patients and those deeply psychologically wounded (read Section II, The Use of Drawings Made at Significant Times in One's Life). It is a great illustration of nonverbal communication and truly eye-opening when you explore the 'hidden' messages that are not as concealed as one might think. Because of the merciful candidness, courage and knowledge of patients, families, clergy and medical staff, like Elisabeth Kubler-Ross, among others, they have mentally brought readers to the brink of death by their own experiences and observations. Through death and dying, they have taught that openness and candor are imperative and that compassion and goodness does not have to begin when death and dying enters the scene.

contains everything you need to know about death & dying
This is another one of Dr. Kubler-Ross' sensitive books on death and dying.Her informed and emphathic approach to the topic should be read by everyone since death and dying are universal.You learn about thefunctioning of the human mind, the unique aspects of our existence, andwill emerge from the experience enriched and with fewer anxieties aboutyour own life.

Very helpful and inciteful book.
I read this book back in 1973, that is . the first publication of her clinical study.It was wonderful for me to be given a clear and inciteful understanding of the people around the loved one dying, let aloneunderstanding the probable emotions of the person dying. As a caregiver,a term not used back then, I had no knowledge of the stages people gothrough in the event of a terminal disease.These "stages" wereextremly helpful to me in understanding my own emotionsand in caring forthe sick one. This book was a God send for me. ... Read more

Product Description

In gentle, compassionate language, The Needs of the Dying helps us through the last chapter of our lives. Author David Kessler has identified key areas of concern: the need to be treated as a living human being, the need for hope, the need to express emotions, the need to participate in care, the need for honesty, the need for spirituality, and the need to be free of physical pain. Examining the physical and emotional experiences of life-challenging illnesses, Kessler provides a vocabulary for family members and for the dying that allows them to communicate with doctors, with hospital staff, and with one another, and—at a time when the right words are exceedingly difficult to find—he helps readers find a way to say good-bye. Using comforting and touching stories, he provides information to help us meet the needs of a loved one at this important time in our lives.

Customer Reviews (21)

The needs of the dying:A guide to bringing hope, comfort and love to life's final chapter
Important stuff for anyone to read.Best to be prepared for such needs.Then one can live each day well until one dies.

Extremely Helpful
This book was extremely helpful to our family. I purchased this book prior to being with my mother during her final weeks of life. It is so well written and deals with the experience of death in a hopeful and realistic manner. Several familily members read this book during the entire experience and it gave us a point of reference for what was happending. It also helped us in our conversations with one another as well as with my mother.Truly an amazing book!!

Find it somewhere else!
I have not received my copy yet through the company listed.If it's an important book to you I would suggest looking somewhere else for it.

"Tender Loving"
It provides exactly what it says.A guide for bringing hope, comfort, and love with excellent information.For example, a dying person may think of himself as age 27 in his mind even though the body may be 85 in years.
I am going to think of myself forever 47.

essential reading
If you wonder what to say to someone who is dying . . .
If you wonder what to do for someone who is dying . . .
If a friend is close to someone who is dying, and you wonder how to help . . .
If you are dying, and wonder how to handle it . . .
If you think you might one day be in one of these situations . . .
This book is essential reading.
I came looking for Jane Brady's new book "Guide to the Great Beyond", and Amazon pointed out that I might be interested in this one, too. I bought and read them both -- and so should you. As advertised on their covers, Brody's is the "practical primer", Kessler brings a "guide for bringing hope." Brody has the how-to, what-to, Kessler has wisdom and heart. If you an only get one, this is it - without wisdom and heart, what else matters? ... Read more

Product Description
This volume is directed towards professionals who work in the fields concerning death and dying. These professionals must perceive the needs of people with cultural patterns which are different from the "standard and dominant" patterns in the United States and Canada. Accordingly, the book includes illustrative episodes and in-depth presentations of selected "ethnic patterns".; Each of the "ethnic chapters" is written by an author who shares the cultural traditions the chapter describes. Other chapters examine multicultural issues and provide the means for personal reflection on death and dying. There are also two bibliographic sections, one general and one geared towards children. The text is divided into three sections - Cross-Cultural and Personal perspectives, Dying, Death, and Grief Among Selected Ethnic Communities, and Reflections and Conclusions.; The book is aimed at those in the fields of clinical psychology, grief therapy, sociology, nursing, social and health care work. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Ethnic Variations in Dying, Death, and Grief Diversity in Universality
Excellent book for someone who is interested in the different religious cultures regarding death and dying.I am a nurse who is pursuing palliative care/hospice.As a nurse, social worker, or someone who works with dealing with various cultures, you encounter individuals with different religious beliefs.This is a great overview to help you understand different rituals and beliefs that you might encounter in your practice and how to accommodate the grieving families during this difficult time.

Death Education
Very easy to understand and useful in my learning and understanding more about the subject of Grief and Loss from a cultural perspective ... Read more

Product Description
Using a social-psychological approach, this edition remains solidly grounded in theory and research, but places greater emphasis on the individual and coping with death and dying. These two well-known authors and researchers integrate stimulating personal accounts throughout the text, and apply concepts to specific examples that deal with cross cultural perspectives and the practical matters of death and dying. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

just what i ordered
book came in a reasonable time and in the condition specified; couldn't ask for more.

Book for School
I ordered this book for a course. It arrived on time and in great condition. I can't really comment on the content because I haven't actually read all of the chapters I was told to for class, but from what I hear from my classmates, it gives solid examples and is an easy read.

una manera de afrontar la muerte
este libro, que fue leido por mi hace ya muchos anos, es otro que me impresiono y me gusto. muestra diferentes vistas y perspectivas de la muerte de un ser querido. desde la negacion de los hechos hasta laaceptacion y la resignacion, pasando por diferentes estadios que sonnecesarios tanto social como psicologicamenete para superar la perdida. esde especial interes para estudiantes de medicina o de psicologia o paracualquier persona que quiera aprender a lidiar con una gran perdida. LUISMENDEZ ... Read more

Product Description

If ever there was an area requiring that the research-practice gap be bridged, surely it occurs where thanatologists engage with people dealing with human mortality and loss.  The field of thanatology - the study of death and dying - is a complex, multidisciplinary area that encompases the range of human experiences, emotions, expectations, and realities. 

In the Handbook of Thanatology, The Association for Death Education and Counseling (ADEC) has compiled the most authoritative volume in the field, which provides for the first time a single source of up-to-date scholarship, research, and practice implications.  The Handbook is organized into seven parts, the first six of which correspond to the key areas of knowledge and training in this field: Dying; End-of-Life Decision Making; Loss, Grief and Mourning; Assessment and Intervention; Traumatic Death; Death Education. Within each of these six parts, a series of chapters explore central themes and issues: Culture/Socialization; Religion/Spirituality; Historical/Contemporary Perspectives; Life Span; Family/Systems; Ethical/Legal Issues.  The remaining two chapters of the final section - Part 7 - examine Professional Issues and Resources in Thanatology.

Customer Reviews (2)

GREAT
I received this book in great shape and in quick time.Amazing! It is a thorough resource for anyone engaged in ministry to those who are hurting from death of a loved one or to one who themselves is dying.

A General and Vague Overview
I was excited about ADEC's text Handbook of Thanatology as a guide for certification in Thanatology.Once I read through the first few chapters, I realized that if a student is reading nothing but this text to study death, dying, and bereavement, then he/she won't be learning enough.
The Handbook of Thanatology works well as a supplemental overview to much more detailed and in-depth topics that are provided in DeSpelder's Last Dance book. Read this book first and then look to the Handbook to verify some generalized topics. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (19)

A SCIENTIFIC EXPLANATION OF THE NEAR DEATH EXPERIENCE
Susan Blackmore
Dying to Live:
Near-Death Experiences

(London, UK: Grafton/HarperCollins, 1993)
(Buffalo, NY: Prometheus Books, 1993) 291 pages

Of the hundreds of books on near-death experiences,
this is the one every serious student of the subject must read.
The author has read all the previous books on near-death experiences.
She concludes that all the phenomena
---separation from the body; seeing a bright light or moving down a tunnel;
meeting religious figures or relatives; a timeless sense of peace;
a sudden review of one's life; a transformed life after recovery---
can all be explained as products of the dying brain.
The near-death experience takes place entirely within one's skull.

Blackmore examines (and rejects) such other 'explanations' as:
alternative realities; paranormal connections;
out-of-the-body visits to another dimension;
mystical vision; and tapping the Cosmic Memory Bank.
The research will continue, but this book will remain
the definitive scientific book on near-death experiences well into the 21st century.

If you would like to read other books about life after death,
search the Internet for the following exact expression:
"IS THERE LIFE AFTER DEATH? THE BEST BOOKS".

James Leonard Park, skeptic.

Logically Erroneous Conclusion
IN SCIENCE and inductive and deductive logic, when speculating on the cause of a phenomena you MUST use a Bayesian Inference and deduce what is most likely given prior observations - that is, that NDEs are a cause by the brain. This is the application of Ockham's Razor. However, THIS IS ONLY SUITABLE until new data comes along that debunks this initial position, in which case you have to move to an alternate theory that better suits this data. Blackmore has fulfilled the former position perfectly, yet ignored the latter requirement of adjusting a position based on new facts. Her conclusion is subsequently illogical.

What Blackmore has done is argued the original position whilst debasing all data that suggests that this position is incorrect. She is correct in saying that given a specific phenomenon when viewed in isolation can be caused by the brain and thus we should expect this to be the case. Yet, in doing so she has ignored all veridical cases - that is, verified by independant observers (in the OBE segment of NDEs). Thus, her position is incorrect - this is an ineffible epistemic fact - her position no longer applies when there are a sufficient number of veridical cases from trustworthy sources.

Consider for instance Dr. Sartori's case wherein the patient measured a 3 on the Glasgow Coma Scale - the worst possible score - indicating either coma or clinical death, except this same person could recite a blonde head nurse peering nervously from behind curtains, a pink swab being placed in his mouth, could identify which doctor shined a torch into his eyes, and could accurately recite the resuscitation procedure contrasted to the inability of non-NDErs to do so. The patient recited all these perceptions the moment he was revived to a room full of physicians including Dr. Sartori. (Sartori's book, and personal communications). Of course, Dr. Sartori could be lying, or perhaps the patient won the hallucination-lottery and heard the nurse peering through the curtains and guessed she was blonde, felt the swab despite being a 3 on the Glasgow Scale and guessing it was pink, and guessing all the characteristics of the doctor he identified. All this while the patient was unresponsive to "deep pain stimuli".

Or consider Moody's case where an elderly woman claimed to observe a nurse unsafely open a glass vial in a separate room (normal protocal required her to open it in a specific way, except she did not do so and in doing so posed a significant risk of self-harm in order to get the medicine to the patient swiftly.). This, of course, could be a hallucination on her part after-the-fact (where she heard doctors talking of the incident then she created a false memory). Or, all parties or a required number of parties could be lying.

Consider the report by Morris (2003) in the IJNDS, she claims a nurse located a hidden coin on top of an unobservable shelf after being alerted by an NDE OBEr. Of course, the nurse in question could've been lying.

Consider the nurses' claim in a large Dutch study (in IJNDS) where the patient claimed to observe the doctor removing the dentures, placing it in a drawer on a cart with lots of ampules before being put on a machine to revive him. The patient was unresponsive. Of course, they could be lying, or we could be receiving a distortion of the facts.

Consider the case reported by Dr. Greyson where a patient was under anasthaesia yet reported the surgeon holding his hands by his chest and his elbows sticking out. Of course, he could've opened his eyes and perceived the doctor doing this and had no memory of doing so mid-operation, or this patient could've heard the doctors talking about it then formed false memories after the fact, or both the surgeon and the patient could be lying to Dr. Greyson.

Consider Pam Reynold's case in which she claimed to observe everything with ridiculous accuracy. Of course, she could've heard the bone-drill during anasthesian awareness then contsructed it in her hallucinations(which were co-incidentally "more vivid" and lucid than real life), she could've hallucinated the attachments kit that the bone-drill came with because of visits to the dentist that had a similar apparatus, she could've lied about seeing her head being half-shaven instead of full shaven or could've incorporated that into false memories after-the-fact.

Consider Maria's Shoe case, where a patient claimed to see a show on a ledge on a window on the 3rd story that matched her stated observations - worn out, hole in toe, lace tucked under. This detail could've only been garnered by nearby inspection of the shoe. Of course, she could've heard a doctor talking about it and constructed a false memory after the fact, or the nurse and patient reporting the case could be lying, or a mixture of both.

Consider the 5-year UK pilot study, where, out of 42 patients, those who clinically died and were resuscitated yet did not have an NDE could nowhere near describe their resuscitation procedures(Paraphrasing, Sartori). Those that clinically died and were resuscitated yet did also have an NDE OBE could describe the procedure with near 100% accuracy. (Sartori, year unknown, IJNDS).

There are over 30 more similar cases I haven't outlined that exist in the literature, and it's probable there's much more that haven't been reported.

Consider all the cases of where a person died, saw a relative, yet they did not know that person was dead at the time of the NDE. (Barrett, 1926, pp. 10-26; Callanan & Kelley, 1992, pp. 86-87, 93-94; Crookall, 1960/1966, pp. 21-22; Gurney &
Myers, 1889, pp. 459-460; Hyslop, 1908, pp. 88-89; Myers, 1903, ii, pp. 339-
342; Osis & Haraldsson, 1977/1986, p. 166; Ring, 1980, p. 208; Sidgwick,
1885, pp. 92-93).

So, do you now see why Blackmore's application of Ockham's razor is delinquent. This book deserves 5 stars for intellectual rigorousity, yet deserves 1 star for accurately represeting the DATA on NDEs. That is, her position is correct if veridicality wasn't there, but it is, and thus her position is incorrect. When confronted with data that doesn't support the dying brain hypothesis, you must again use a Bayesian inference and come to a new hypothesis, which isn't what Blackmore did.

Her conclusion is the inverse of what is probably true.

Near death experiences are just experiences.
Susan Blackmore once believed in Tarot, ESP, and all things wild and wonderful. Alas, for those who yearn to believe in the Wonders of the Invisible World, she is a meticulous thinker who carefully gathers and investigates the evidence. This is by far the best book on NDEs. But if what you want is some reassurance of life after death, this book will disappoint. Beautifully thought out and wonderfully written.

Debunks The WHOLE Afterlife Mystery Logically!!!!!!!!!!!
People want to think that there is something better. But thinking and wanting of something better doesn not mean it be true. Take the afterlife for example. I've talked at least a dozen times with two renown neuroscientists at NYU. I was planning on writing a script that featured this phenomena - the afterlife. After reading some basic neuroscience and philosophy books I concluded, as the neuroscientists had previously, that there in all actuality probably is no afterlife. Current advances in neurology in death hint at this and will probably once and for all prove its non-existance. It's slowly becoming fact whether you want to believe it or not. Here's what the neuroscientists pointed out. During the first 5-15 mins of death the brain is being asphyxiated (choked) due to lack of oxygen. It is during this time that the mind hallucinates (tripping - like on drugs) and sifts through images of the past (memories; life flashing before your eyes) accompanied by past figures and white. The mind is desparately trying to grasp onto the "self" that's slowly drowning in its own memories. This is where people who experienced NDE's (near death experiences) erronously claim proof of an afterlife. However, they did not really endure the entire trip TO death. Once you reach complete death there is just nothing. Your existence is complete. Nothing- not even that. I can't even lingustically put it into words. But this is nothing at all to fear because the plane of fear is non-existent at this stage. Most NDE's are experienced at hospitals. Because of this simple fact many are saved before they reach the 15-20 min mark that marks complete mental and physical death. There have been stories of people who experienced NDE's for hours. Mind you these stories surfaced from the 60's- 80's when our medical technology was inferior to todays and the true line of death was not completely defined. So many NDE claims have to be taken with a grain of salt. Today you'll never ever hear of an NDE lasting for mor that 15-20 mins - and even with those times there is usually some sort of brain damage. Mind you - the brain is a very complex part. Your consciousness will do anything to keep you alive - anything. But because people have had these experiences and come out of them does not in any way, shape or form suggest that an afterlife is even plausable. These Near Death Experiences are purely psychological and should be treated as such - not spiritual endeavours.

This book completely logically defends what those neuroscientists pointed out to me earlier -that an afterlife is just wishful thinking.

Refreshingly honest
This is an excellent, well written, thought-provoking book.Susan Blackmore started her research career hunting for evidence of the supernatural. When most people would have given up, she persisted, tracking down other people's experiences and doing her own experiments.One track of that journey took her into "Near Death Experiences", which is partly what this book is about.While we can never really know what happens during death, no one has tried harder or with greater honesty to find out.Her account of that journey and where it took her makes fascinating reading, and while her conclusions may take some digestion, at least they are reassuringly rational. ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (8)

The best Buddhist book I've read in years
"Dying with Confidence" is truly a one of a kind book. After reading this book, I finally felt like I understood the path of Tibetan Buddhism. As Anyen Rinpoche says, all of the practice we do in our lifetime is preparation for death. I have been practicing for about six years and have read many Dharma books. They are always inspiring, but I am usually left with some confusion as to how to proceed on the path after reading them. Many books lead to more questions than answers. This book is an exception. It has given me confidence in the process of death- that it is a great opportunity for liberation. I have always seen death as such an unknown, scary thing and now I have peace of mind. I once read a Dalai Lama book where he said he looked forward to dying so he could use the methods that he has been practicing his whole life. That has always stuck with me as such an amazing thing and I was always so surprised at his outlook. But, after reading "Dying with Confidence" I can see how and why Tibetan masters would think this way. This book is a treasure for all of humanity! I look forward to rereading this book over and over again to help maintain the inspiration it has given me for daily practice. How lucky we are to have beings like this to help guide us through life and death!

A Review
Dying With Confidence is a refreshing look at death and dying in a culture that shies away from any reminder that death is inevitable. We're bombarded by images of youthful beauty, any signs of aging air brushed and photo shopped out. Anyen Rinpoche embraces the dying process as an important part of our spiritual journey which presents precious opportunities for practice. This book offers practical advice about preparing for our deaths while simultaneously inviting us to look at how we are choosing to live our lives in the present moment. I think Dying With Confidence is an essential read for Tibetan Buddhists as well as anyone interested in the subjects of death and dying or religious studies.

Key advice fordeath and dying
Having just finished this book, I am amazed by the depth, kindness and practicality of it. When we face the imminent death of a loved one or of our own, so much can hamper the dying process: the chaos of disease and hospitals; being faced with difficult decisions; as well as painful, submerged emotions which can tangle with distraught family members. Anyen Rinpoche cuts through these potential disasters and maps out the process of dying from the Tibetan Buddhist perspective. His suggestions are detailed and helpful, both in the spiritual and practical sense. If you in any way work with death or dying, I highly, highly recommend this book - it is a must have for all Buddhist practitioners!

Amazing Book
From Nadine Millet in Canada:
I have never come across another book like this one.What a gift.The translation of this amazing Tribetan practice is clear and concise and it, combined with the commentary and stories by Anyen Rinpoche, makes the book a pleasure to read while giving one confidence about the dying process. No matter what your spiritual beliefs, the practice outlined in the book shows how to bring your beliefs to the process of dying in a way that helps yourself and others. The huge amount of useful and practical information packed into this book is astounding . I highly recommend this book and will be buying it for people I love and care about this Christmas.This is a book I will keep by my bedside for a long time and re-read over and over.It's a must have book.

A kindness for yourself and those who will care for you...
When traveling to someplace unfamiliar, it's very useful to have a guidebook and a map, don't you think? Taking time to prepare for a trip makes for a smoother journey. Death is a journey common to all living beings, we will all die.

Yet many times in our western culture, the topic of death is avoided until it cannot be dodged any longer. This can create significantly more anxiety, frustration and chaos both for ourselves and our loved ones during a time when we may already find ourselves full of fear and uncertainty. When the time of our death is upon us, it will likely be too late to consider, arrange and designate the things we would like to have happen. For some of us, we will have no chance to prepare unless we do it ahead of time, as death is often sudden and unexpected.

Anyen Rinpoche's Dying with Confidence provides the guidance and structure to consider and create a plan for your death, or to be able to help others to die well. Rinpoche considers pertinent topics including life support, organ donation, and pain medications. He describes the process of death, and provides a condensed version of the Tibetan Buddhist perspective of what occurs after death. In this book you will also find excellent examples of documents to prepare such as end of life medical directive, and also specific resources to refer to for legal wills, health care directives, and after-death care.

Reading this book and creating your plan for death is a kindness both for yourself and those who will care for you both during and after your death.
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Product Description
The best-selling textbook in the field, The Last Dance offers an interdisciplinary approach to the study of death and dying. Integrating the experiential, scholarly, social, individual, emotional, and intellectual dimensions of death and dying, the eighth edition of this acclaimed text has been revised to offer cutting-edge and comprehensive coverage of death studies.This new edition of The Last Dance provides solid grounding in theory and research, as well as practical application to students' lives. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

Great customer service
I made a mistake with the shipping address that I gave the company. I informed them of my mistake as well as the post office. The post office marked the package as delivered when in fact they had not delivered it (the address did not exist). In reality the seller had no responsibility to me as the package was marked delivered. however when they learned of the situation, they expedited shipped a new book out to me asap. It arrived within days in great condition! I was amazed and pleased with my experience with them.

Book condition
The book was in ok shape, however, the binding of the book was not intact. I wish the condition was accurately noted on the sales description.

Boring Text
This book is truely boring...Its a book you have to just concetrate and read. I feel its a punishiment but I guess thats EDUCATION...for you!

required reading - conservative approach
I have to read this for a sociology class. I am through Chapter 5. The editors do a good job of designing the chapters to cover a diversity of viewpoints. Conclusions in the Financing section are challenged in a new book by TR Reid in "The Healing of America." The book provides a solid overview of issues related to death and dying, very helpful.

really good, thanks
It came in good condition and I received it in a good amount of time. Thanks a lot. ... Read more

Product Description

This anthology of major classical and contemporary views onkey ethical aspects of death and dying is the only philosophicallysophisticated, interdisciplinary, and up-to-date introduction to the subjectavailable. Pairs pro and con arguments to give a balanced perspective. Covers a range of topics that reflect the latestdevelopments at the frontier of the field. Provides clearly and carefullywritten section introductions that define the issues to be discussed.Introduces each selection with a brief editorial essay. Features up-to-dateand solid analyses of all issues. Offers an excellent introduction toethical theory.

Customer Reviews (1)

Top notch scholarship
Two of the most reknowned scholars in bioethics have assembled a high quality collection of scholarly material which is a necessary resource for those seriously engaged in bioethical inquiry concerning death.Many facets of the issue of death and dying are treated: the definition of death, ethics of euthanasia, how we should care for the dying, etc.It is a most up-to-date text which continues the 25-year-old heated discussion into the mechanics and meaning of human death. ... Read more

Product Description
When a close friend or family member dies, it can be difficult for children to express their feelings. This book helps boys and girls understand that death is a natural complement to life, and that grief and a sense of loss are normal feelings for them to have following a loved one's death. Titles in this sensitively presented series explore the dynamics of various relationships experienced by children of preschool through early school age. Kids are encouraged to understand personal feelings and social problems as a first step in dealing with them. Written by psychotherapist and counselor Pat Thomas, these books promote positive interaction among children, parents, and teachers. The story lines are simple and direct--easily accessible to younger children. There are full-color illustrations on every page. (Ages 4-7) ... Read more

Customer Reviews (33)

Bereavement book for children
Not something everyone woud think to buy, but a good addition for a child phychology major's book collection, or even a teacher's as there will be a child in their professional lives who would benefit from this book. Simple, yet correctly written example of a child going through the loss of a loved one, and how they grieve, in a child's perspective.

not a Christian view
After the loss of my 7 year old son, I looked for something to help my 5 year old daughter.I found this book to be lacking when comparing the death of a loved one as a drop of water that falls into the ocean.This was not comforting.The hope of the Christian faith is in our loved one being in Heaven with Jesus our Savior.This book does not claim to be a Christian book and is not.My daughter hung on every word about Heaven in the book "Someday Heaven" by Larry Libby which I highly recommend for a child dealing with loss or Lisa Tawn Bergren's "God Gave Us Heaven" for an even younger child.

Frightening and inappropriate for my 3 and 4 year old
I am attempting to find an appropriate book to explain death to my children.I found that this book presented many issues that would create anxiety in my children and needlessly scare them
e.g.:"When soemone dies their body stops working - they stop breathing and their heart stops beating.They can't think or feel anymore.They don't eat or sleep."

This book is much too matter of fact. This is not the approach I had in mind for my children.
(The illustrations are amateurish bordering on cartoony.)
I am going to keep looking.

I Miss You:A First Look at Death
This is a very good little book. We will use it in our Grief Ministry at church.We are very impressed with it's presentation.Thank you

I found better books to help my Preschooler Understand Death
This book was highly rated on Amazon and I was disappointed by it. It was the book I liked the least out of the four that I looked at.

The positives about this book are that (1)the text was the most basic and easiest to read to a 4 year old. And (2)the pictures were the best of the books I looked at.

However, it was written to avoid all references to God and Heaven and be useful to all religions.So I think when you water something down that much, you end up not helping anyone. There were also a lot of reference to children feeling sad. Almost so many that if your child is very young like mine, they might wonder why they aren't feeling as sad as this book describes.

My recommendation would be to skip this one and instead get either "When your Grandparent Dies: A child's guide to Good Grief" (An Elf-Help Book) by Victoria Ryan (which I liked the best and also wrote a review about) or "What's Heaven?" by Maria Shriver (which I liked, but not as much as the Elf Help book).


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Product Description
The best-selling textbook in the field, The Last Dance offers an interdisciplinary approach to the study of death and dying. Integrating the experiential, scholarly, social, individual, emotional, and intellectual dimensions of death and dying, the seventh edition of this acclaimed text has been thoroughly revised to offer cutting-edge and comprehensive coverage of death studies.Together with its companion volumes, this edition of The Last Dance provides solid grounding in theory and research, as well as practical application to students' lives. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

Thank you
Thank you for your service.Thank you for allowing me to purchase my book from you.

Good Overview of the Subject
These authors have been doing this series for a while, and have a good overall grasp of the issues involved in the areas of grief, loss, death and dying. There is also an associated website with summaries and flashcards. A good way to learn the basic terrain of the subject matter quickly and thoroughly. This was a prescribed book for me, and I bought several other books I thought would be good. This was the best of what I found for a historical and contemporary overview of the different parts and how they relate. For specialization in any area, look into that area elsewhere.

The Last Dance
It was an affordable option to the most current issue. Very few changes from previous additon and simply a fraction of the cost...

".for those curious what books the professionals study about death, this is your ticket to the secret knowledge" ~JC Angelcraft
I have the third and seventh editions of this book and not surprisingly there is not much change.In their treatise on death, Authors Bruce and Dorothy DeSpelder offer an interesting glimpse into the multicultural world of death.

Developmentally speaking the authors take us through phases that humans experience and how they interpret death at each phase in the early life cycle.From infancy and toddlerhood, to early and middle childhood, we learn how the ever evolving concept of death changes within us until our schema matures.

The authors do a good job pointing out ever vital sociocultural factors that influence our understanding of death bringing to forefront how the agents of socialization such as the family unit, our peers and colleagues, the mass media and children's literature and Religion play in shaping the views that we hold on death.

What I found most interesting were the Cross cultural and Historical perspectives on death especially the postulations of the early primitive cultures that have in effect given us a good part of our mythology of death.Native American, African, Mexican, Asian, and Celtic death traditions are featured and expounded upon in small but satisfying detail.

The effect of death as reflected through Healthcare Systems involving critical issues such as how to be with some one who is dying, modern health the its institutions that care for the dying were informative.More critical are chapters that deal with issues involving such matters as how best to deal with children who are facing the reality of a life threatening illness with lessons and valuable advice on helping both children and adults in coping with terminal illness and loss.
The chapter on end of life issues and decisions covers such areas as informed consent, advanced directives, and matters of probate.It elucidates well on the dynamics that encompass the Caregiver-Patient Relationship such as responsibilities and ethical issues involved when disclosing a life threatening diagnosis and those involved when a person chooses to die.

I feel that most important part of this book is how it deals with understanding the experience of loss.It compares and contrasts the mental verses the emotional response of grief and mourning and carefully and responsibly explains the course of grief in simple and easy to understand terms.The chapter also provides models of grief each of which offer forth their own interpretations involving the tasks of mourning.For those who are pursuing a career in the helping services this book will most likely be required post graduate reading.However for those are curious what books we professionals study about death, this is your ticket to the secret knowledge and also the keys to the gates of understanding on how this subject is taught at the graduate level in Universities worldwide.

WONDERFUL AND ENLIGHTENING
I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THAT THE AUTHOR THIS BOOK DID A SUPERB JOB IN PLACING THE EMPHASIS AND KNOWLEDGE OF VARIOUS CULTURES HANDLING OF DEATH.I HAVE LEARNED SO MUCH FROM THIS BOOK.

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Product Description
This book tells the stories of patients whose stories are typically not told: the urban dying poor. By illustrating how the issues and needs of this especially vulnerable group are shaped by the experience of living in poverty, this work provides an important contribution to the growing literature on palliative care for special populations. ... Read more

Product Description
Counseling someone who is dying or consoling a family who has suffered a death is one of the hardest parts of ministry.In times like these it's important for pastors to know what to say and how best to offer their support.

Pastoral Care in Times of Death and Dying is a practical guide that offers step-by-step direction and solid advice for handling the difficult responsibility of ministering to others in situations surrounding death. From visiting and shepherding the terminally ill to overseeing funeral arrangements and comforting grieving families, Danny Goddard helps pastors, chaplains, and lay leaders understand their roles and bereavement responsibilities so they'll know the best way to offer compassion, love, and support to those who need it most. ... Read more

Product Description
Micky Knight just had to get into a butch pissing contest with the journalist partner of a famous doctor working with her lover, Cordelia James, to prove that the skills of a reporter are of no use to a P.I.Now she's stuck with a drop-dead gorgeous assistant and the case of a dying gay man looking for a child he might have fathered. These chains of events--and an act of nature--will tear Micky's life apart in ways that may never be put back together.

Fifth in the Lambda Award-winning Micky Knight mystery series. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (13)

Very well written but not quite crime fiction
I really like the previous Micky Knight books and I also enjoyed this one. However, the murder took a back seat to the other two story lines and the investigation was mostly conducted 'off page'. While the major story lines are well written, I was expecting crime fiction and that's not quite what I got.

Devastation Everywhere
After a long wait, J.M. Redmann releases the fifth entry in the Micky Knight mystery series -- and nothing will ever be the same.New Orleans was always a central character in the series and the devastation that town has eperienced over the past few years is pervasive in the story.Hired by a man dying of Hep-C/HIV to find a daughter he never knew or wanted before now provides a core mystery that sets the opening tone.But Micky's relationship seems to be trouble as well and an instant, come-from-nowhere tension with a visiting lesbian couple isolates our heroine from her other friends and family.And just when you think things can't get much wores, Hurrican Katrina hits.

The mystery is interesting and the inner-dialogue of Micky as her life gradually get chipped away to emptiness is well written. Certainly the cries of a little girl who wonders if daddy will ever wake up again are anticipated from the beginning.And any novel set in and around New Orleans during the time of Katrina is expected to have a downbeat backdrop.But the dissoving relationship and the lack of Micky's support system seemed a little pat and gratuitous even for a "hard-boiled" protagonist like Knight.Sure it's possible to have an instant dislike to other people and couple do have problems after being together for many years.Yet, the personal dynamic and animosity that begins the spiral seemed unrealistically forced rather than growing inherently.It is said that Redmann had written much of the book before Katrina hit then went back to rewrite which does make me wonder about the tone and approach of that previous book.

Though not in the same league as previous effort The Intersection of Law and Desire, the book is very, very good.

What's with the Book Cover?
I am a Fan of J.M. Redmann, proud owner of all the Mickey Knight titles. I am absolutely sure I will love this new title DEATH of a Dying Man, But... I think BSB did a very poor job with the book cover. It is Ugly!!Very unattractive. Please, BSB re- issue this book with the nice jacket. Do justice to this fine author. I would definitely pay for a hard cover...I care about J.M.'s work THAT MUCH!!!

Micky Knight returns
Fans of the Micky Knight series had to wait a long time for this installment.The fact that Redmann lives in New Orleans played a big a part in that and the fact that Hurricane Katrina becomes a character in this book.

Damon LaChance is a well-known figure in the New Orleans gay community, famous for his decadence and the bars he owns in the French Quarter.Seven years before he slept with a woman for the first and last time, so, when she told him she was pregnant, he rejected her.It couldn't be his child, could it?Now Damon is dying and he's having doubts.He wants Micky to find the child and determine if she is his daughter.He wants someone to leave his property to, but more importantly, he wants to feel a connection to the future he won't have.When someone murders Damon, Micky becomes more determined to find the child that someone is trying to disinherit.Her task and her life are complicated by Dr. Lauren Calder and her lover Shannon Wild.Dr. Calder is working on a project with Micky's lover Dr. Cordelia James and taking up way too much of Cordelia's time.Shannon is a journalist who decides that working with Micky to solve the LaChance case would be a great way to get experience and to hit on Micky.Micky's professional work is distracted by Shannon's presence and her personal life begins to deteriorate as she suspects something may be going on between Lauren and Cordelia.As Hurricane Kartina roars into the Gulf Coast Micky's emotions are torn in multiple directions and she is forced to face the possibility that not only will she lose the city she loves, but the relationship her whole life is based upon.

Redmann is a Lambda Literary Award winner and shows her experience in this book.The various subplots weave together like threads to form the pattern of the whole cloth.Just enough about the plot is revealed to keep the reader going, but not enough to keep surprises from popping up.Micky's emotions are tightly wrapped and on the verge of flying apart as she vacillates between confidence and doubt.The dramatic tension created by the search for the child, and by extension the murderer, is counter balanced by the tension between Micky and Cordelia.

Looming over everything is the growing presence of the storm as it approaches.Redmann captures the inattention of the residents as Katrina is just a story on the news and then the growing awareness of the danger they face as landfall becomes imminent.The terror of the flight from the city, the sense of powerlessness to help those left behind and the devastation caused to New Orleans pours from the pages.Characters who haven't acted nobly earlier in the book emerge as heroes and others show their true natures.

The spell that Jean Redmann weaves draws the reader into and through the book.There is a totally unexpected twist in the relationship between Micky and Cordelia that begs for the rapid appearance of the next book in the series.Death of a Dying Man has a lot of selling points - mystery, romance, emotions and current events.Readers should be able to enjoy it on many levels.

Political buff applauds this unblinking-via-fiction lens on human condition - Katrina, HIV/AIDS, fidelity
In Death of a Dying Man, J. M. Redmann takes on a full plate for a fictional genre. Applaud her for the effort. Unblinking, Redmann tackles failed leadership and levees, government lies and human suffering - Katrina's immediate and everlasting fallout flinging a city and its families and friends to the four winds. She takes on sex and sexuality, its frailties and fallout; alcoholism and selfishness; and lesbian couples (PI personal# struggling with the long term, questioning hanging on; and the long, haunting shadow of fidelity and infidelity.

This fifth saga in the private investigator Micky Knight mystery series is, from my perspective as a political buff and society-conscious news writer, art or an attempt at art reflecting life: crimes of heart and mind and hand #institutional and individual wrongs); the human condition that often seems more in regress than progress.

Readers will decide whether J.M. Redmann has taken on too much, too soon, in too few tightly written pages of fiction reflecting reality and mystery/romance and social and political commentary. I am of mixed mind and lean favorably toward Redmann's work for evening thought and reading.

I will reread Death of a Dying Man and look with pleasure toward number 6 in the Micky Knight series. ... Read more

Product Description

Applying a multi-disciplinary approach to the study of death and dying, this book is a collection of originally written introductions, primary readings, study questions, small group exercises, relevant website links and suggestions for further research. It gathers together current and classical statements on death and dying from religious, philosophical, psychological, ethical, and practical perspectives. Specific chapter discussions cover heaven, hell, near-death experiences, communicating with the dead, euthanasia, capital punishment, suicide, the five responses to dying, coping with grief, preparing for death spiritually, and much more. For individuals wishing toeducate themselves on death and dying, by small group study leaders (in churches, e.g.) to facilitate discussion on topics related to death, and by hospital administrators responsible for educating staff on palliative and end-of-life care.