I'm torn on this. It's interesting and well-written. But it feels really shallow; Doughty doesn't dig into why funeral customs develop in cultures and I'd like to see her really examine her own practice as a funeral director.

This is completely incredible and endlessly fascinating. And the illustrations are extremely vital, as most of this context simply would not work if left to the imagination. Brava!

Perfect length and fascinating stories!

Obviously you have to be comfortable reading about death to enjoy this book. Which I am and wow, what a fantastic book. Interesting, funny, moving. I cried at the end. As hard as death and grief are, they're even more difficult in our sterilized, prescriptive, greed-driven funerary traditions. I'm ready to show up because we need cultural change.

“We avoid the death that surrounds us at our own peril” Very interesting and easy to read despite the topic. It made me think about how I want the end of my life to go.

This book was so interesting! It really got me thinking tbh. Recommend Caitlin's books to everyone they're so good!!

gives another meaning to “dark tourist” we venture around the world, in search of the good death — informative and unique!

From Here to Eternity is a funny and enlightening travelogue as well as a deeply moving book about the nature of death, and the world of funerary practices the world over. It is also a passionate plea for western funerary practices to become more loving, more sustainable. Doughty believes (and observes in various cultures) that ritual which allows for grief is natural and that we shouldn't shy away from the dead. This will make you reconsider how our culture treats the dead. I observed, while reading this, that as an Eastern Orthodox Christian, I'm perhaps more comfortable with death than others. In our faith, we venerate bones of saints (and even whole bodies), our funerals emphasize connecting and praying for our departed and we even kiss our love ones in their caskets, and our faith encourages natural burial. Still it was neat to learn about other funerary practices around the world.

*3.5

Very interesting read

What an amazing book. Caitlin Doughty's quest to explore death culture around the world will make you think about what will happen when you die - and not in a sad, or creepy, or cynical way at all. It's so elegant but also funny and lighthearted at times. If you've ever been afraid of dying or of dead bodies, you should absolutely read this book. Likewise, if you're not familiar with Doughty, read this and then check out "Smoke Gets in Your Eyes" and check out her YouTube channel!

So far my favourite out of the three books that Caitlin Doughty has written about the topic of death. It offers fascinating insight into the industrialisation of death in the Western world as well as a broad spectrum of mourning experiences and practices across different cultures. More than simply describing the different rites surrounding death, it dives deeply into the relationship that the living have with the dead without judgement/pearl-clutching and with respect and reverence, spiced up with a little humour. I had a great time listening to the audiobook but I'll probably give it another go as a physical book in order to benefit from the illustrations! And I wouldn't have minded if the book had been longer, so I hope that Doughty goes back on the road to share with us more compelling accounts on how people around the world care for their dead and prepare themselves for the afterlife.

Just utterly exceptional

A lot more entertaining than Catilin's first book, this volume is a collection of death stories from around the world. It's amazing to read about different habits and legends regarding death, gathered through first-hand experiences that Caitlin had while traveling to document this book. I've enjoyed especially the tale about the Indonesian mummies - it's humbling to see how other cultures, the ones that don't fear death, are treating their deceased relatives and their graves.

This book is a great audiobook option.

Finally after following Caitlin on YouTube I dug into her books via audio and they're simply fantastic 👌 highly recommend this to anybody.

All that surrounds us comes from death, every part of every city, and every part of every person. I am fascinated by death and the whole stigma around it, so I rather enjoyed reading about the various burial practices around the world, including the ways other cultures relate to death, the ways they treat death and the ways they transcend the unspoken barrier between the living and the dead. I only wish there were many more pages to this book, but that's where Google comes in (and the hours spent researching whether I can apply for a sky burial in the future). A recommended read for lovers of the macabre.