The American Way of Death Revisited

Everything you never wanted to know about the "business" in "funeral business."

Originally written in the 1960s, the author revised and updated the book just before her death in the mid-1990s. Her original edition sent shockwaves through the funeral industry by exposing their inner workings, secret techniques, and the straightforward statement that THERE IS NO NEED FOR A BODY TO BE EMBALMED, EVER.
She is British and moved to the USA to meet her husband, so she draws some interesting comparisons between American funeral practices (embalming, viewing, big funeral, and big memorial park) and the rest of the world's (humble casket, small funeral service at the church, and buried in the churchyard).
In her description of nearly every aspect of the funeral industry -- which ranges from ever-inventive casket manufacturers to a whole chapter about Forest Lawn to how funeral homes arrange the caskets in their sales rooms -- you are likely to simultaneously laugh and be disturbed.
Her writing constantly reminds you that the funeral business is a BUSINESS and, like any other business, exists to make money. This is especially discomforting when she compares it to buying a car -- when you buy a car, you go onto the lot having done research, found the best deal, picked out special features, etc. However, when your family to the funeral home, they probably haven't researched caskets, flower arrangements, or cemeteries -- when planning a funeral without doing research beforehand, families have no choice but to trust, the funeral director. And who is he or she? A salesman.
She also delves into cremation and how funeral homes lose a LOT of money when people wish to be cremated -- there's no cemetery plot, no casket, no burial clothing, and probably a smaller funeral service -- so they find ways to nickel and dime people for ridiculous things in order to still make more profit.
A FASCINATING read, to say the least. You will never feel the same when passing another Forest Lawn billboard or attending someone else's funeral.

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Very Recommended

I found this book to be the fly on the wall, To see and hear everything
that you don't see and hear. I would like to think Jessica Matford for the time she put into this book and thanks for all the information.
Dana

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