The American Way of Death Revisited

Leave it to Jessica Mitford, who died in 1996, to make the subject of death and the American funeral industry so hilarious. First published to huge acclaim in 1963, The American Way of Death was revised and updated by Mitford, who nearly finished it by the time she died. Her lawyer husband, Robert Treuhaft, completed it with the help of some research assistants. Even a quick and cursory read of this book will make you take out a membership in the Neptune Society as a preemptive strike against high-pressure tactics of funeral home directors to get people (caught as their weakest as they are grieving over someone's death) to spend, spend, spend "to honor the memory of your dearly departed."Mitford was known as the Original Muckraker for her habit of always speaking the truth, calling a spade a spade, and for probing into the cozy relationship between politicians, morticians, monopolistic ownership policies, the FTC, and federal lobbyists.Interesting, updated, still drop dead (pun intended) funny, endlessly informative, witty and well-written with refreshing bluntness, The American Way of Death once again deserves to be read by everyone. And there's a terrific and informative appendix at the end.

My parents always said that American funerals were barbaric. After reading this book I fully understand and entirely agree with that sentiment. However, this book is not only an apt social commentary, it is an important study of a morally corrupt industry whose exploitation of the emotionally devastated, the ignorant, and even those otherwise very savy is enabled by effective use of political lobbying.The descriptions of embalming, and cosmetic "restoration" of the dead are macabre and nauseating and leave you with a sense of shame over this primitive, barbaric, and entirely unnecessary process which is largely confined to the United States. The descriptions of the cynical manipulation and obscene economic exploitation of grieving relatives are enraging. The funeral industry's effective lobbying of governmental officials in order to deliberately confuse families by obscuring their rights with arcane legal codes leaves you feeling both impotent and cynical about the political process.An important but extremely depressing book. The facts are alleviated by the author's sardonic wit and "dead pan" presentation of the many vulgar, tacky, and sadly absurd aspects of the funeral industry. A sort of "consumer reports" for those who will deal with the "final effects" of lost ones, it is essential reading in order to protect yourself. . . from being a taken advantage of. . .

Having lived half my life in the US and half in the UK, I was aware of fundamental differences in practices surrounding death and funeral rituals. Mitford's book provides a useful historical context with a biting criticism of the funeral industry's emotional and financial exploitation of the American public. It's baffling that such a consumer-wise nation could have such a huge blind spot when it comes to the one service which we will ALL use at some time. Depressingly, the mega funeral corporations are making their moves into the British and other world wide funeral markets -- with seemingly little opposition. In any case, I just hope I don't expire during my next visit to the US!"The American Way of Death Revisited" provides a wealth of information, presented in a tactful and witty manner, to prepare anyone for "battle" with the funeral industry in the event of a loved one's death. It is clear and thorough without being ghoulish or flippant.Read it now before you need it!

On one level Jessica Mitford has rendered a humorous expose of the dismal trade. On a deeper level she has crafted a non-fiction horror tale for our times, full of corpses, coffins, and cemeteries. Only in this horror tale it's not the dead who are the threat, but the living, breathing, cashiering undertakers. The true fear comes from Mitford's unflinching and honest look at the increasingly rutheless funeral industry. One comes away with a healthy dread of caksets, fermaldahide, and burial vaults.