From Here to Eternity by Caitlin Doughty

I found it a bit educational and it's one that can lead to many in-depth discussions.

I have not read the authors first book but it is one I plan to pick up soon. The book includes illustrations that show many of the rituals and images of Mexico's Dias de los Muertos. I find it odd to say I 'enjoyed' reading this book, but I learned a lot about how many in the rest of the world view death and how they bury their dead. Your basic American funeral can start at around $20K and go up substantially from there. It is a huge area that makes tons of money. She is also quite rough on the American funeral industry and doesn't hold back. The author is a mortician and is fascinated by how people fear dead bodies. Here, bodies are placed on the grounds of a research facility and 'composted' providing a green burial. The Forensic Osteology Research Station in North Carolina. Finally, to the one I found most fascinating.the FOREST. I found it fascinating to learn of so many different methods from an open air funeral pyre, to cultures who keep a body in the house for 5, 10+ years mummifying the body, to Indonesia where they prop up their bodies, to Japan where they have very ultra-modern places to sit with the deceased and where relatives use chopsticks to pluck their loved- ones’ bones from cremation ashes, to homes that store skulls, and many more. This book was an eye opening experience to see different countries and cultures and their methods of burying the dead. I didn't know there was anything different. I had many long discussions with my husband about it as I was so confused. I thought it the oddest thing, completely unheard of. Many, many years later a family member passed and was cremated. It was always the funeral home three day viewings followed by a church service and grave site service. As a very young girl, I used to go church on weekends with my grandparents, and they would always go to the funeral home after church. OK, this might sound really weird.but I've been to a lot of funerals.

From Here to Eternity by Caitlin Doughty