Further reading

Here is a selection of books to be found in the Natural Death Handbook, with a few additions. This is not simply a ‘to do’ list but one to stimulate ideas, decisions and hope.

Preparing for Dying

The Natural Death Handbook, Speyer, Josefine & Wienrich, Stephanie (eds). An in-depth account of the practical, emotional, spiritual and philosophical aspects of death, dying and funerals

(my) Dying is Fun, Day, Christopher. A spiritually uplifting, sensitively and amusingly illustrated account by the author of what it is really like to be disabled by his terminal illness

Transformed by the Light, Morse, M & Perry, P. A collection of illustrations of the powerful effect of near-death experiences on people's lives

The Art of Dying, Fenwick, Peter and Elizabeth. An overview of the art of dying with accounts by the dying and those who have been with the dying which suggest that we are looked after at the end of life by deceased loved ones who come back to accompany us

Sacred Dying, Anderson, Megory. A collection of examples of Anderson's work creating rituals for embracing the end of life

The Good Death Guide - Everything you wanted to know but were afraid to ask, Dunn, Michael. A family reference dealing with practical issues using statistics and humour.

How to Have a Good Death, forward by Ester Rantzen. A comprehensive guide to preparing and planning for death, with informed choices and practical advice

Who Dies?, Levine, Stephen. An investigation of conscious living and conscious dying

What is Death? A scientist looks at the cycle of life, Volk, Tyler. A consideration of life and death by a leading developer of Gaia theory, weaving in his own life-threatening experience

A Good Death - Conversations with East Londoners, Young, Michael & Cullen, Lesley. A collection of true experiences

Coming Home - A guide to dying at home with dignity, Duda, Deborah. A reassuring guide for dying at home

Care for the dying

The Natural Death Handbook, Speyer, Josefine & Wienrich, Stephanie (eds). An in-depth account of the practical, emotional, spiritual and philosophical aspects of death, dying and funerals

End-of-Life Experiences and Nearing The End Of Life, Brayne, Sue and Fenwick, Peter. Two booklets (at present free of charge) for carers, available directly from Sue Brayne

Life to Death: Harmonising the transition, Boerstier, Richard & Komfeld, Hulen. A book which draws on the practice of Tibetan lamas, using special breathing techniques and shared meditation to maintain calm and peace in the dying person.

A Celtic Book of Dying, Anam-Aire, Phillida. A progressive account of ways to let go and to surrender as part of living and dying.

The Tibetan Book of the Dead, Fremantle, Francesca & Trungpa, Chogyam (eds). The editors’ translations of readings to be performed aloud to the dying.

On Death and Dying: What the dying have to teach doctors, nurses, clergy, and their own families, Kübler-Ross, Elisabeth. One of Kübler-Ross’ many ground-breaking books on death and dying

Sacred Dying, Anderson, Megory. Examples of Anderson's work creating rituals for embracing the end of life

Intimate Death, de Hennezel, Marie. Personal accounts of the last days of her patients by psychologist Marie de Hennezel

Funerals

The Natural Death Handbook, Speyer, Josefine & Wienrich, Stephanie (eds). An in-depth account of the practical, emotional, spiritual and philosophical aspects of death, dying and funerals 

Caring For Your Own Dead, Carison, Lisa. An American view of the ‘do-it-yourself’ funeral movement over the last few years 

The Dead Good Funerals Book, Gill, Sue & Fox, John. A comprehensive guide, with anecdotes, to aspects of death, dying and funerals 

A Practical Guide to Alternative Funerals (Rites & ceremo-nies, Gordon, Kate. A collection of ideas for traditional, religious and secular ceremonies 

Funerals — And how to improve them Walter, Tony, (Currently out of print). A view from academic Dr. Tony Walter 

Time to Go, Francis, Jean. A wide-ranging collection of anecdotal accounts of different funerals, some ‘green’, some not

Don’t Drop the Coffin, Albin-Dyer, Barry, A sensitive and amusing memoir by a London funeral director

Bereavement and hope

The Natural Death Handbook, Speyer, Josefine & Wienrich, Stephanie (eds). An in-depth account of the practical, emotional, spiritual and philosophical aspects of death, dying and funerals 

Choice: Finding Life in the Face of Death, Hatanaka, Jan. A therapist's case studies of encounters with death and of grief reconciliation, including her own 

Forever Ours, Amatuzio, Janis. A collection of real stories suggesting immortality, giving hope to the living from a forensic pathologist 

A Grief Observed, Lewis, C. S.. Observations by the writer on the death of his wife from cancer. 

Life after Loss: Finding hope through life after life, Moody, Raymond & Arcangel, Dianne. Personal stories from the authors and others, including visionary experiences at the moment of death. 

Grace and Grit, Wilber, Ken. An account of spiritual healing in the life and death of the author’s wife, Treya Killam Wilber 

Always With You, Hunniford, Gloria. An account by the author of her 41-year-old daughter’s death and copies of many of the letters sent to Hunniford by the public showing she was not alone in her grief 

The Death of a Child — Care for the child, support the family, Brown, Erica (ed). A collection of basic information and identification of holistic needs of families. 

A Special Scar: The experience of people bereaved through suicide.

Wertheimer, Alison. A guide to help to deal with this special death 

Facing Grief — Bereavement and the young adult, Walibank, Susan. A CRUSE publication 

Death of a Parent: Transition to a new adult identity, Umberson, Debra. A guide to help to move forward

Anthologies

Poem For the Day, Book 1, Albury, Nicholas, Ed. An anthology which although not specifically written for this purpose, contains poems which are pertinent to death and dying

Similarly, Book 2

All in the End is Harvest, Whitaker, Agnes. An anthology for those who grieve

Living with the Dead, Steiner, Rudolf. Meditations for maintaining a connection to those who have died

Remembrances and Celebrations, Harris, Jill Werman (ed). A book of eulogies, elegies, letters, and epitaphs from over 100 writers including Auden, Dickens, Wordsworth and Woolf.

Do Not Go Gentle, Astley, Neil (ed). Poems for funerals

Funerals: A Guide - Prayers, hymns and readings, Bentley, James, Best, Andrew & Hunt, Jackie. A collection drawn from a wide range of faiths and traditions.

Seasons of Life: Prose and poetry for secular ceremonies and private reflection, Collins, Nigel. A secular collection

For children

Goodbye Mog, Kerr, Judith. A beautifully illustrated book for young children

Badger’s Parting Gifts, Varley, Susan. Another beautifully illustrated book for slightly older children

Michael Rosen’s Sad book, Rosen, Michael. An account by the author of how he feels about the death of his son and how he copes with his sadness. Lavishly illustrated by Quentin Blake

Get Dead, Oliver, Jamie. This highly readable book for older children and adults contains candid interviews with people who work behind the scenes including a nurse, a pathologist, an embalmer and freelance grave diggers

Talking About Death, Groliman, B.. A dialogue between parent and child with an illus-trated, read-along story.

A Teacher’s Handbook of Death, Jackson, Maggie & Colwell, Jim. This book is a useful addition to any school or home

Life after death

Kubler-Ross, Elisabeth, On Life After Death, Celestial Arts (2008 revised edition).

Schwartz, Gary and Simon, William, with Deepak Chopra, The Afterlife Experiments: Breakthrough Scientific Evidence of Life After Death, Simon & Schuster (2003).< /p>

Williamson, L. Children and the Spirit World, Piatkus Books, (1997) London

Sheridan, Kim, Animals and the Afterlife, Hay House Inc. 2006.

Lawson, Lee, Love letters from the Infinite, Thorsons 2000, London.

LaGrand, Louis, Messages & Miracles — Extraordinary experiences of the bereaved, Llewellyn, (1999)Accounts of people’s experiences of after-death communications.

Life between lives: from hypnosis

Cannon, D., Conversations with a Spirit: Between Death and Life, Ozark Mountain Publishers, (2003) U.S.

Newton, Michael, Journey of Souls: Case Studies of Life Between Lives. Llewellyn Publications, (1994) U.S.

Reincarnation

Hardo, Trutz, Children Who Have Lived Before: Reincarnation Today, Rider & Co (new ed. 2005).

Shroder, Tom, Old Souls: Scientific Search for Proof of Past Lives, Simon & Schuster (2001).

Stevenson, Ian, Where Reincarnation and Biology Intersect, Praeger Paperback (1997).

Cultural Perspectives

Dancing on the Grave - Encounters with death, Barley, Nigel. An account of the variety of ways in which cultures around the world deal with death and give it meaning.

Culture, Religion and Patient Care in a Multi-Ethnic Society - A handbook for professionals, Henley, Alix and Schott, Judith. An Age Concern publication

The Jewish Way in Death and Mourning, Lamm, Maurice. A Jewish perspective

The English Way of Death, Litten, Julian. A specialist account of the common funeral since 1450

The Hour of Our Death, Ariès, Philippe, A comprehensive account of the history of death and dying

The Pagan Book of Living and Dying, Starhawk. A book of practical rituals, prayers, blessings, and meditations for crossing over

Get Dead, Oliver, Jamie. A collection of candid interviews with people who work behind the scenes including a nurse, a pathologist, an embalmer and freelance grave diggers

Death of a Pet

Grieving the Death of a Pet, Carmack, Betty J.. The author offers a virtual pet-loss support group