049: What’s a Good Death to You?

In time for Día de los Muertos, Polli and Kate discuss a book about what it means to have a "good death" in many places around the world. Through Caitlin Doughty's From Here to Eternity, they encounter death houses, glowing Buddhas, Snow White-esque caskets, revered Angelitos, and more. Join us on an enlightening and surprisingly uplifting journey. 

Bookish News: Local bookstore owner, Danny Caine, wins Midwest Bookseller of the Year! If you missed our interview with him in an earlier episode, here ya go! Also, check out his brand new zine: How to Resist Amazon and Why

Two Book Minimum:

• The Library Book by Susan Orlean
• Death's Acre by Bill Bass

She Said/She Said: From Here to Eternity: Traveling the World to Find the Good Death by Caitlin Doughty

We all have different ideas of what makes a "good life" -- different measures of success and accomplishment and happiness. The same goes for what makes a "good death," as Caitlin Doughty points out in From Here to Eternity. Known also for her first book, Smoke Gets In Your Eyes: And Other Lessons From the Crematory, and more recent Will My Cat Eat My Eyeballs? Big Questions From Tiny Mortals About Death, Doughty is a mortician, funeral director, and death acceptance advocate. Polli and Kate talk about "good deaths" and what this means across the globe according to some of Caitlin Doughty's stories. They also talk about their own personal feelings on death and dying, and invite you to do the same in the comments! 

Additional resources discussed:

• Vice.com article: I Made My Friends Play a Board Game Preparing Them for Death
• Death Positive subreddit (of which Caitlin Doughty is a moderator)
• Kaitlin Stanley's list of recommended reading
• Information about Día de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead (which is NOT "a Mexican version of Halloween") 
• Episode 3 of the Book Squad Podcast about Atul Gawande's Being Mortal
• PBS: "To die well, we must talk about death before the end of life"

“Insist on going to the cremation, insist on going to the burial. Insist on being involved, even if it is just brushing your mother’s hair as she lies in her casket. Insist on applying her favorite shade of lipstick, the one she wouldn’t dream of going to the grave without. Insist on cutting a small lock of her hair to place in a locket or a ring. Do not be afraid. These are human acts, acts of bravery and love in the face of death and loss.” ― Caitlin Doughty

What's happening in Lawrence? Paper Plains Literary Festival is coming next spring! Check the link for the lineup and more details.

2019 Book Squad Goals Reading Challenge can be found here: http://tinyurl.com/LPLBSG2019

Twice(-ish) a month, the librarians are in, with their favorite recommendations in Two Book Minimum, a toe-to-toe discussion on a book or topic, as well as news from the book world, updates from Lawrence Public Library, and beyond.

This episode was produced by Jim Barnes in the Sound & Vision studio. Our theme song is by Heidi Lynne Gluck. You can find the Book Squad Podcast on iTunes, opens a new window, Stitcher, opens a new window, or SoundCloud, opens a new window. Please subscribe and leave us comments – we’d love to know what you think, and your comments make it easier for other people to find our podcast. Happy reading and listening! xo, Polli & Kate