Death: An Exploration
by Loren Mayshark
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Pub Date Jun 06 2016 | Archive Date Jul 08 2018
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Description
This book will help anyone who is interested in learning more about death, coping with a loss, approaching death, or explaining death to a child. It is an exploratory journey that includes multiple viewpoints, including Steve Jobs’s embrace of his death, Ray Kurzweil’s striving for immortality, and Joseph Campbell’s view of death as the “ornament of life.” The book looks at death from the perspectives of atheists, Christians, and Tibetan Buddhists, among many others. Interestingly, it considers the often unexplored aspects such as the curious relationship between death and ayahuasca. It is a guidebook, offering insights and comfort on a topic that many find frightening or macabre.
The author grew up with a skeleton in his living room, and surrounded by other symbols of death. His unusual upbringing makes him uniquely qualified to serve as guide. As you join him in discovering more about death, you will find yourself enjoying a fuller life.
Advance Praise
Available Editions
ISBN | 9780692651643 |
PRICE | $2.99 (USD) |
Featured Reviews
A remarkable little book (just over 100 pages) that offers multiple and profound looks at the subject of death. The author reaches no conclusions about what comes after death just presents various aspects of the experience of death. I highly recommend this book to anyone who will die at some point in their life.
This was indeed a short exploration into the ultimate outcome of life, death. While short, it gave an enticing introduction into how other cultures view death compared to the United States' uptight almost formulaic and overly structured approach. (In my opinion.)
No matter how you deal with it culturally or personally, it's a fact of life and I appreciated the few views and quotes that were scattered throughout that may spark a new way of looking at it for readers that are new to exploring the subject whether out of interest or if they are actually coming to grips with a loss and grief.
My only qualm with it was that it was rather short and I do hope that it is in fact book 1 in a series. However, I tend to be death positive, meaning that I'm open to talking about it and exploring it from all angles and cultures. It is most likely just the right size for someone new to the issues.
What a well written balanced book.
The author takes the reader on a journey to explore the way societies and religious communities embrace death and the process of dying.
The research undertaken allows them to make a number of excellent points without ever championing existing views. That this book will allow the reader to contemplate death in new and refreshing ways is the success such a book can hope to achieve.
That the book may very well also enhance one’s view of life and the act of living is an unexpected bonus for me.
I love the idea captured in this thought that humankind want to embrace immorality but often do not know how to spend a rainy Sunday afternoon.
I also value the thought that the certainty of death can give impetus, energy and ambition in life.
A short book that opens one’s mind to this somewhat gloomy subject we eagerly keep at arm’s length. This intelligent piece of writing with references to other subjects and individuals to follow up will hopefully be universally accepted and well received.
This was a very interesting book that discussed death and fears that many of us have about it or of the preconceptions we may have. This book was honest without being preachy.
This was a well-written and researched book about death. My only issue with it is that it is not long enough to cover the subject with any real complexity. That being said, I enjoyed reading it very much. What it covers is done with balance and insight. I hope there will be more to come from this author as she writes very well on a subject so many of us find difficult to contemplate.
My thanks to NetGalley for providing me with an arc in exchange for my honest review.
Wow. This was just incredible. Not many books intimidate me, and this did it for sure. Don't be fooled by the length, for Mayshark is a terrific writer and his style impressed me to say the least. I'm definitely reviewing this on my YT channel.
Guau. Esto fue simplemente increíble. No hay muchos libros que me intimiden, y este lo hizo con certeza. No se dejen engañar por lo largo, ya que Mayshark es un excelente escritor y su estilo me impresionó por decir lo menos. Definitivamente voy a reseñar este libro en mi canal de YT.
Video: https://youtu.be/TdaJ6ZcYzls (In Spanish)
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