Due to a family passing at the time, I was unable to download this in time before it was archived, and having only returned after several years away due to it severely affecting me, I am now working my way through those reviews I was unable to get to to detail the issue. Thank you for the opportunity, and I look forward to working with you in the future.

Thanks to Netgalley and Sourcebooks for the ARC of this! I also listened to the audiobook from my library.

Death is a non-fiction topic that I feel very squeamish about, and definitely feel like I need to learn more and see more perspectives. Growing up Catholic, the idea that someone would have any choice in when they die was not acceptable - but as an atheist adult, who recently lost two grandparents (one to the slow slide of dementia that took her away from us long before she died and one suddenly) I felt like this could give added perspective into loss and dying. It definitely did, while giving me all the feels. I found myself having to stop to crying multiple times throughout the book. Perfect for fans of Caitlin Doughty (whom the author quotes in this book)

With my background in gerontology the idea of decline and death have been an important part of my life. I took care of individuals on Hospice, and listened whenever someone questioned why they were still alive. Occasionally, these conversations would turn to the idea of assisted death. There were alot of mixed feelings when it came to this topic, and honestly today there are even more so. Cultural anthropologist Anita Hannig delves into these questions and so much more in her new book The Day I Die: The Untold Story of Assisted Dying in America.

Reading The Day I Die was a very personal choice for me. First because of my background and second because of my personal beliefs on the subject. Death is never an easy subject to talk about, especially in a predominantly western culture like the USA. With so many preconceived ideas about death, it is a hand topic to broach. Anita Hannig does a beautiful job looking at the topic and introducing the reader to a variety of people with various experiences with assisted death.

The people who are introduced are patients, family members, doctors, and volunteers all of whom are either seeking, assisting, or support an legal assisted death scenario. Assisted death is also known as dying with dignity; and is legal in ten jurisdictions; Oregon, Washington DC, Hawaii, Washington, Maine, Colorado, New Jersey, California, Vermont, and the district of Columbia. Patients who are seeing to die with dignity have been diagnosed with some form of terminal illness. They want to die on their own terms before they are in constant pain and suffering. The way that these stories are presented gives a face and a voice to those who feel they are voiceless. It creates a safe space for the more difficult discussions on death and dignity.

There is a really good look a how the current laws sometimes fail the very people they are trying to help. Time restraints, difficulty obtaining the medication, and often the ability to self inject the medications, and often the inability affect the outcome. There are some doctors and religious groups that are very much against assisted death. Yet there are also some patients who have the opportunity to take the medication after receiving it but never do. It really comes down to personal choice.

That is my believe when it comes to assisted death. The day person who can ultimately make that decision is the individual who is suffering from a terminal illness. There are several safety nets in place to make sure the person knows exactly what they are asking for. As a society you never really know how much pain someone is in due to people around them, and they should have a way to do things in a manner they would lie before the suffering gets too great. It is not a flawless system of course as demonstrating by The Day I Die but, it is something we should be investing in.

I knew as soon as I saw this book on NG that I was going to read it [whether by an ARC from the publisher or a purchase of it when it was published]. Much like the book "Being Mortal" by Atul Gawande [which I read right as my dad was dying], I knew this book was going to be deeply personal for me and I was not wrong. Even knowing that [much like Being Mortal], I was unprepared for everything that I am feeling after finishing this outstanding book.

Based on five years of up close and personal research, the author sets out to explain assisted death in America and the pros and cons of this decision [there are parts that are really rough to read, though most of the deaths she experienced with the families she writes about went just as they had planned] and what goes into the decision to die on your own, with dignity and grace, on your own terms. She doesn't shy away from the harsh parts, nor does she explicitly endorse that sort of decision. She is able, miraculously, to stay neutral and write from both points of view in a clear and concise way that helps the reader figure out where they stand on their own. Along the way she learns so many profound things [some she passes on to us the readers and some she just eludes to] and when she herself finds in a situation where grief is all around her, she is able to lean into it and use what she has learned from these families and their caregivers to experience and deal with her grief in a very positive way.

As I said, this book was deeply personal to me. In 2016 my beloved Dad died. It was a horrible time and went against everything he would have wanted. Because he didn't have a written end-of-life narrative, my older siblings were able to bully their way in and disregard my Mom [his wife of 30+ years] and try to "extend" his life and it was a horrible experience, one that left us dripping in grief, something my Mom has not recovered from, 6 years later [she is now herself suffering from grief-induced Alzheimer's]. I often pray for forgiveness for how all that was handled. It was completely horrific and nothing anyone should ever have to go through. EVERYONE should have an end-of-life directive, no matter your age. If you are a legal adult, you need one. Make sure it is in certified writing just what you want to happen at the end of your life, whether it be from an illness or from an accident. I CANNOT stress this enough.

It was deeply personal to me as well simply because I have thought about this as my future. It is something I believe in and if I lived in a state that allowed it, I would already be starting the process to make sure everything is in place before my health declined to a point that I could not. This book emphasized just how important that is as well. It also emphasized that just because you have the means to end your life on your own terms doesn't mean that you will. Several of the people in the book didn't - they chose to die from their illness naturally [some better than others unfortunately], but it was the idea that they had the option. What a glorious thing. If you are someone who has a debilitating illness or chronic pain or, or, or, you will get what I am saying 100%.

It was interesting to learn just how difficult all this actually is - from all the rules about actually carrying out the death with dignity, to medicine woes and costs and family members who object [and there WILL be family members who object], to Doctors who refuse to obey the law because of their own moral compass [perhaps medicine isn't really for them if that interferes with the well-being of their patients, as this is also shown in the book], there can be many obstacles to get to where the patients wishes are carried out and often it becomes too late for them [which was heartbreaking to read about]. I learned so much from this and am so glad I was able to read it. It was written with compassion, humor, grace and caring and it moved me beyond I will ever be able to articulate.

Thank you to NetGalley, Anita Hannig, and Sourcebooks [nonfiction] for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to Netgalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I absolutely loved this book. Dying is not a comfortable topic, but it is a necessary discussion. So often we only focus on living and how we wish to accomplish things during our life but neglect to discuss what we would like our end to look like. Anita Hannig does an excellent job easing the unease that most would feel when discussing a topic such as medical aid in dying. There were points in this book where I cried, where I had to sit and stare into the distance for a minute to process my own feelings, and where I felt utterly heartbroken. I will make it no secret, I support medical aid in dying- we spend our whole lives protecting autonomy until we get to the topic of dying and then we are no longer allowed to make our own decisions. This has never sat well with me. Who am I to make someone suffer longer than they wish to? I think Anita does an excellent job showing the entirety of the death with dignity movement and its opposition. I also love the plethora of sources she included in her work for those who are interested in further reading.

Death is never an easy subject to discuss, especially in the United States where it’s become somewhat taboo. With the advance of life extending medical procedures we’ve seen the decline of home deaths, and now many imagine death to be something that happens mostly in medical facilities. Hanning has taken her skills as an anthropologist and used them to give an intimate look into how people with terminal illnesses are taking control of the ends of their lives with medically assisted death.

In the most respectful way possible we are introduced to a variety of people with terminal illnesses and their families, as well as physicians and volunteers who give them aid, and get to see how they navigate the process to procure medically assisted death in states where it’s been legalized. The process is lengthy, with waiting periods and very specific requirements for those who are eligible, but there are still many opponents that don’t believe it should be legal regardless of what safeguards are put in place. As we follow each terminally-ill person’s story we get a glimpse at how having the option to cease prolonged suffering on their own terms can dramatically improve the quality of their end of life and how the grief of loved ones who were participants in the process was effected.

I think most people would benefit from reading this book. Due to the subject matter it may be difficult to read, but opening up the discussions around death is helpful for everyone regardless of their age and any prognoses.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

Anita Hannig tackles the subject of assisted dying with compassion and care, revealing an intimate glimpse inside the lives of the people faced with the hardest of choices. Her immersion into the world of assisted dying from the perspective of the ones who are fighting for the right, battling the state for access to a dignified and compassionate end to life, and dealing with the difficult and often contradictory laws across state lines is truly eye-opening. This book should be required reading for everyone currently serving in state or federal legislatures. The arguments against assisted dying seem hollow when compared the level of suffering sick people face, and Hannig shows that reality with unflinching candor and grace.

An excellent book about the very important topic of assisted dying. Hannig’s perspective as a cultural anthropologist gave this book its grounding. This isn’t an emotional hijacking type of book. Rather, it is a well-researched exploration into the complex topic of assisted dying. It makes us think of our own mortality and our right to make our own choices while navigating cultural and legal barriers. I appreciated meeting the people in this book, from patients to caregivers to medical professionals to activists. The stories are rich and the people are simply and marvelously human.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with the opportunity to read and review this book.

This book is an important addition to the growing genre of writings about assisted dying. The right to die a peaceful death is explored here in detail. Hannig has spent years interviewing terminally ill patients and their families and friends; physicians and volunteers who attend elective deaths, and exploring the stringent laws around procuring the medications used,. She cites real instances of what happens if plans for assisted death go awry. And there are words from those who opposed the assisted dying laws in the states that allow it.

Fascinating and educational reading the current state of assisted dying and the politics around it.

Thanks to NetGalley for the eARC.

Fascinating book about a subject most people would rather not think about. Unfortunately, most people will probably consider it's recommendations.