Join Books.org — it's free

Death & Dying - Sociocultural Aspects, Death, Grief & Bereavement, Emotions - Psychology
The Study of Dying by Allan Kellehear β€” book cover

The Study of Dying

by Allan Kellehear
Available on Bookshop Write a review

Books.org participates in affiliate programs including Bookshop.org and the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. We may earn a commission from qualifying purchases made through links on this page, at no additional cost to you.

Log in to track your reading progress.

Overview

"What is it really like to die? Though our understanding about the biology of dying is complex and incomplete, greater complexity and diversity can be found in the study of what human beings encounter socially, psychologically and spiritually during the experience. Contributors from disciplines as diverse as social and behavioural studies, medicine, demography, history, philosophy, art, literature, popular culture and religion examine the process of dying through the lens of both animal and human studies. Despite common fears to the contrary, dying is not simply an awful journey of illness and decline; cultural influences, social circumstances, personal choice and the search for meaning are all crucial in shaping personal experiences." This volume will be of interest to clinicians, professionals, academics and students of death, dying and end-of-life care, and anyone curious about the human confrontation with mortality.

Synopsis

What is it really like to die? Though our understanding about the biology of dying is complex and incomplete, greater complexity and diversity can be found in the study of what human beings encounter socially, psychologically and spiritually during the experience. Contributors from disciplines as diverse as social and behavioural studies, medicine, demography, history, philosophy, art, literature, popular culture and religion examine the process of dying through the lens of both animal and human studies. Despite common fears to the contrary, dying is not simply an awful journey of illness and decline; cultural influences, social circumstances, personal choice and the search for meaning are all crucial in shaping personal experiences. This intriguing volume will be of interest to clinicians, professionals, academics and students of death, dying and end of life care, and anyone curious about the human confrontation with mortality.

About the Author, Allan Kellehear

Allan Kellehear is Professor of Sociology at the University of Bath, UK.

Reviews

There are no reviews yet. Log in to write one.

Editorials

From the Publisher

"Poised somewhere between On Death and Dying by Elizabeth KΓΌbler-Ross and How We Die by Sherwin Nuland, The Study of Dying is a well-crafted book that looks at demise from all sorts of angles. The ending is self-evident: the importance of a good exit cannot be overstated." - Journal of the American Medical Association

"The editor and each contributor have marshaled the death and dying literature authoritatively, offering beginning and advanced students alike a very readable and worthy introduction to this field. Kellehear's long fascination with death has yielded a most informative volume, of great value to thanatological professionals and those wishing to better understand how we die.... Highly recommended." - Choice

Book Details

Published
December 1, 2009
Publisher
Cambridge University Press
Pages
298
Format
Paperback
ISBN
9780521739054

More by Allan Kellehear

Similar books