From Here to Eternity

Traveling the World to Find the Good Death

by Caitlin Doughty, Landis Blair

272 pages

English language

Published Aug. 15, 2018 by Norton & Company, Incorporated, W. W..

ISBN:: 978-0-393-35628-1

(23 reviews)

Fascinated by our pervasive fear of dead bodies, mortician Caitlin Doughty embarks on a global expedition to discover how other cultures care for the dead. From Zoroastrian sky burials to wish-granting Bolivian skulls, she investigates the world’s funerary customs and expands our sense of what it means to treat the dead with dignity. Her account questions the rituals of the American funeral industry—especially chemical embalming—and suggests that the most effective traditions are those that allow mourners to personally attend to the body of the deceased. Exquisitely illustrated by artist Landis Blair, From Here to Eternity is an adventure into the morbid unknown, a fascinating tour through the unique ways people everywhere confront mortality. ([source][1])

[1]: caitlindoughty.com/books/from-here-to-eternity

9 editions

Martijn Reintjes reviewed From Here to Eternity by Caitlin Doughty

Review of 'From Here to Eternity' on 'Goodreads'

5 stars

I heard her speak on a podcast and got intrigued.
Here book is awesome.
It speaks of the death in all their glory.
Rituals and caring for our dead are part of what makes us human, so it's beautiful to learn about the rituals of other cultures.

If you want to understand our relationship with death,
or want to be less afraid to be around death,
go and have a listen to this audio book.

the_lirazel reviewed From Here to Eternity by Caitlin Doughty

Review of 'From Here to Eternity' on 'Goodreads'

3 stars

3.5 stars

What's here is really good, but the book is awfully short, resulting in it feeling slighter than it needs to. I really think it would have benefited from more fleshing out and a greater variety of cultures highlighted. I like Doughty's chatty style and the cultural peculiarities she explores, though my favorite aspect of the book is her insights into the stupidity of the American way of death (I couldn't help wondering what Jessica Mitford would have to say about all this).

Avarla reviewed From Here to Eternity by Caitlin Doughty

Review of 'From Here to Eternity' on 'Goodreads'

5 stars

I have been fascinated with death for a while now, in a non-morbid way. This books shows different ways to grief and take care of your dead loved ones, which is highly interesting from a western point of view.

Marsha Woerner reviewed From Here to Eternity by Caitlin Doughty

Review of 'From Here to Eternity' on 'Goodreads'

4 stars

A book about death. And death practices around the world. Far from being morbid, as one might expect, it paints a beautiful picture of life, death, and mourning. It compares the Western methods of death and burial or disposal with those of many other civilizations (and frankly, it finds those current ones of the West very lacking).
I have long said that when I die I either want to go to a body farm, where others can learn from my dad body, or I want someone to dig a hole and just drop me in, so that I can feed worms. I know this is not the desire of most people, and similarly, the author realizes that different people have different needs and desires around death. And each individuals desires are constantly changing. The examination of different rituals around the world is enlightening and encouraging. And she sounds like a …