Customer Reviews

The American Way of Death

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4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
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1 star:		(1)

 

 

Jessica Mitford leaves no headstone unturned in this exploration of the American funeral industry. Not only is it interesting as a study of funeral practices, but it also offers insights into business psychology, marketing, and sociology. Mitford's style is piercing and humorous (the chapter about emblaming often made me laugh out loud) while remaining very respectful of the deceased and their loved ones. Classics are never out of date -- and The American Way of Death is a classic.

Mitford is an able observer who chronciles the psychological vampirism and crass profiteering of the funeral industries in America. The observationed recorded in this book in 1963 are still true today in 2005. Recently my own state was forced to pass a law barring cemetaries from "graveside solicitations"--the disgusting practice of trying to drum up business from vulnerable people in mourning while they are visiting the grave of a loved one. That such depolrable practices even require state intervention speaks volumes about the depth of pitiless greed that motivates this industry. Also implied in this premise is the fact that the funeral industry goes largely unscrutinized due to the American public's reticience in openly addressing matters of death and dying. This flaw in our culture has given the funeral industry enormous power to charge fees that are grossly disproportionate to the services they render. In addition, this industry has suceeded in fooling the public to believe that embalming is environmentally safe, and necessary for hiegenic reasons or able to preserve corpses indefinately.

I know first hand the revelations in this book are not out of date. As part of a death studies class I went to a local funeral home on a tour. The undertakers openly bragged about manipulating their clients and their price list clearly showed that their least expensive funeral service (without cremation)would cost nearly the same as two year's worth of college courses!

Probably the most fascinating insight to result from this book is how little our culture has changed since then, how Americans still seem to be ignorant of funeral industry sales tactics and how the industry of the dead still results in exploitation of the living.

Even before reading this book, I had personal objections to the American funeral rituals. Even in circumstances that involve religion, the theme seems to move toward empty pagan rituals. Jessica Mitford put into the words the absurdity and exorbant cost of dying. Though the book is approximately forty years old, the basic premise still applies even with old data.

By the admission of one funeral director quoted in the book, the funeral industry is an unchecked racket. The grieving are sold unnecessarily expensive coffins and unnecessary services with a sales pitch that is downright exploitative. While circumstances have changed since the original publication of this book, people still are asking "Can I afford to die?". Some of the more disturbing passages include the choreographed casket selection room, the renaming of certain facets of the business, trying to minimize the impact of clergy, the cosmetics for an open casket, and the campaign to prohibit the "omit flowers" line in obituaries.

Mitford acknowledges that not all funeral directors are swindlers. In fact, this book was part of a movement that spurred changes. Her storytelling is enlightening, humorous, and graphically honest. It is also a reminder that business requires scrutiny from the American people.

What an interesting book. Mitford takes the time to explain the funeral industry and some of the general problems with it. While it probably is highly controversial (especially if you're in the business) it does make some very good points. While there probably are honest people in the trade there are probably dishonest too (like any other profession) and sadly this can effect a lot of people. My own experiences with funerals have been largely reflective of the bad so I am a tad biased as well.

In this book the most attention Mitford gives is to the cost of the funeral. Mind now that Mitford wrote this book in the 60's so obviously figures have changed, but the premise is still sound. Only now you just need to add about 10,000 to the total figure for a funeral. She explores the sky high prices on services, coffins, flowers, and other items associated with a funeral.

Next she moves on to the odd way Americans have of making a funeral be open casket with the body to view by anyone as it is embalmed and dressed up for the occasion. I have always thought this was strange and somewhat disgusting and was surprised to learn that the United States is largely the only practitioner of this concept (this might have changed since the 60's). This concept she writes about also includes the fancy accessories a corpse can have like special mattresses in a coffin, special shoes, and other such items. My thought is, what on earth for? A corpse will not get a bad back or arches! That may seem disrespectful but to me it just seems silly.

She also visits the new concept of cemeteries and how not only their name has become something fancy (Restful Meadows, etc.) but you can now have a garden plot for your loved one or a special crypt overlooking the sea. This also seems a bit silly to me as I'd hope whatever happens after death, the person is not stuck in their coffin.

Throughout the book she includes excerpts from funeral director's magazines and other such articles in which they are trying to sell the best and have a strong suspicion against clergy and other type folks who may convince people they only need a simple funeral. The seriousness of some of the statements by these people almost makes it seem like someones trying to start a revolution rather than just pick a wooden coffin over a metal one. While I understand its their livelihood its not the end of the world; money is still being spent.

Surprisingly in the last chapter Mitford seems to reverse a bit on what she's saying and state that there's hope yet and things are changing. While it is a positive chapter it just doesn't fit with what she's been reiterating in the rest of the book and doesn't follow the tone she set for all the chapters previous. My other complaint on the book would be that she does tend to repeat herself quite a bit. She'll go over the same concept in several different parts of the book. They may vary a little in detail, but not much.

I now know that she's written a sequel to this book titled "American Way of Death Revisited." This was written not that long ago and I definitely want to read it as it will be interesting to see if she thinks anythings improved since she wrote this book. While I think she's provided a key perspective that there's something wrong in the industry, I do have to agree with the industry that ultimately people are spending the money. They may be being taken advantage of after the decision to spend is made, but they are not educating themselves to prevent it. As for me, even before reading this book I had already decided to donate my body to a body farm. I do highly recommend reading this book though, as everyone should be educated on something that is eventually going to happen to them.

The American Way of Death
Copyright 1963
287 pages plus chapter notes, an appendix, list of places you can donate your body, sample forms, and an index

OK, Jessica Mitford had a few axes to grind. She wanted to reform American society and expose as many of its injustices and ills as she could. But when she turned to the multimillion dollar funeral industry, she hit a gold mine. You didn't have to exaggerate much to blow the public's mind and that's what she did back in 1963 when she published this book. She did such a thorough job that even Congress involved itself and wound up passing some regulatory legislation. It seems that the morticians, flower-wallas, crematory czars, and cemetery owners have not much reformed their ways since then, because she wrote a follow-up exposé many years later, just before she herself went to that Great Memory Garden in the sky.

THE AMERICAN WAY OF DEATH is based on her readings of many trade magazines and newsletters, on interviews with a number of figures in the funerary trade, and interviews with public health officials, county or state officers, lawyers, and doctors. She wasn't above posing as a potential customer to get choice bits of information. The book covers the high (and unreasonable) cost of funerals, coffins, flowers, and embalming and contains a classic description of the embalming process that will require a strong stomach from any reader (see pp.54-65). You learn about the nexus between cemetery plots, coffins or vaults, services, and flowers--all often controlled by the same company. She pillories the euphemism-laden vocabulary commonly used, the veiled threats to `consumers', and the use of snobbism, class image, and guilt feelings to manipulate said consumers into paying much more than they should for what is, after all, a basic human need.

One of the reasons this book became a bestseller at the time is that Mitford had a great sense of humor. Writing on such an essentially grim subject, she can still elicit laughs all these years later. Perhaps muckraking is an art in which "more is always better", I don't know, but the book palls around two-thirds of the way through because even though you GET IT ! she keeps on hammering you to the end. I have given THE AWD only three stars because of that and because it is hardly contemporary anymore. However, for a look at the inanities and insanities of the American funeral industry at mid-20th century, you must read this book.

Jessica Mitford leaves no headstone unturned in this exploration of the American funeral industry. Not only is it interesting as a study of funeral practices, but it also offers insights into business psychology, marketing, and sociology. Mitford's style is piercing and humorous (The chapter about emblaming often made me laugh out loud!) while remaining very respectful of the deceased and their loved ones. Classics are never out of date -- and The American Way of Death is a classic.

Ms. Mitford does a wonderful job of presenting details about the funeral industry. Published in 1963, this book is even more relevant today than ever. It causes one to look at the American view of death. Our society is one of fear and consumption, and there is nothing we fear more than death. This is a great read for anyone considering a job in the helping professions. We highly recommend it.

Though originally published in 1963, this is still current information. Just before her death Ms.Mitford said that the problem has gotten worse since then. Read it for perspective and insight into the current state of the funeral industry.

In Jessica Mitford's, The American Way of Death the author outlines the purpose of writing the book in the first chapter. Mitford wishes to dispel the myths surrounding funerals. First, that today's funerals are founded on American tradition. Secondly, the public is being giving what it wants. Finally, there is the psychiatric theories behind the funeral industry for providing the lasting "memory picture," or last view of the deceased as well as that of the mortician as a grief therapist. Mitford asks the question, "Is this [the present day funeral] what most people want for themselves and their families?" Once the question is asked she sets out to answer it and pose a few more in the process. She raises questions within the mind of the reader. Causing said reader to look a little more skeptically at a subject the American public generally does not pay too much attention to until it is needed. The book first looks at the funeral transaction and the "business" behind the funeral. The first several chapters in the book are concerned with the business practices of the funeral directors and the costs for the services of the same. Mitford points out how the funeral director leads the family members of the deceased to spend more and more money. For example when choosing a casket they are first shown a very expensive model should they ask for something less expensive they are then shown a cheap model. In this act the funeral man is hoping to "rebound" the customer back to a more expensive model. Just as with any merchant of goods the price, profit, and selling technique is important to good business. The sales technique is only one example of how the public can be taken in by seemingly normal business practices. Another is the questions into the deceased's income, job type, and insurance by the funeral director. All seemingly harmless questions designed to ascertain how much money can conceivably be billed to the family. The prices are then set according to the amount each can afford to spend. This practice is one of the reasons price lists are not handed out or freely advertised. There are even less subtle ways in which the public can be deceived. The mortician will even go so far as misstatingthe laws to push the purchase of services not necessary to the disposition of the body. Funerals are perhaps one of the most expensive items ever purchased in one's life yet it is one that is made on the spot. In most cases impulse buying is not encouraged however the funeral industry relies on it knowing few people would even think of shopping around for better prices. Mitford goes on tocondemn the practice of embalming. The funeral industry says it is needed for health reason as well as cosmetic reason. For the most part, as pointed out in the book, embalming is done without the consent of the family. After the casket, it is the next biggest expense and it may not even be necessary. It is being done and charged to families who are having the body cremated. Cremation is one of the few times that the funeral industry says embalming is not needed. However if they had their way it would be done all the time. The funeral industry sticks by their statement that it is needed for health reason even though, according to Mitford, no physician will back that statement. Instead they say that a body which is not embalmed proves no threat to the public health. Besides what the funeral director does himself there are many allied industries that are involved with the burial process. First, there is the flower industry. Seemingly a small part of the whole, but as Mitford points out when confronted by obituaries that make statements by the family not to send flowers, the flower industry fights back. They go so far as to pull advertisements and to force papers not to carry any such obituaries. Then there are the cemeteries most of which require a burial vault and a specified headstone. Many cemeteries or memorial gardens now incorporate the sales of the headstones and some even the flowers. Not only do they dictate what you can put on the grave as far as headstones they will go so far as calling to push sales if one is not placed in a few months after the burial. Most cemeteries used to be owed by local governments and therefore prices were kept low. Now they are owned privately but are still considered non-profit. Even as a non-profit company they are somehow making money. Mitford uses the Forest Lawn cemetery in California as an example how one company can filter money from one area to another to show it is still operating as a non-profit organization, but still making a profit. The cemetery further cashes in on this by operating a gift shop and selling little trinkets and momentos. Also most crematoriums are owned and operated by cemeteries. Cremation is perhaps the least expensive way in which to dispose of remains but the funeral system is set up to keep the costs high. This is not only with goods and services but also with the placement of the cremains. People are being forced to purchase space in a cemetery and are not allowing for disposal by family members. The men who perform the tasks of disposing of human remains assume that they are giving the public just what it wants and that what it wants is based on a long standing American tradition. Mitford wonders just how this "public demand is expressed and made known to" the funeral director. Perhaps it is conveyed through the publics general apathy toward funerals. We have always allowed the funeral director to do whatever he feels appropriate therefore building on the premise that he is doing what we want. As for today's funerals being based on American tradition this does not really hold water even to a casual observer. When one looks back at funerals just a hundred years before they really are not at all like today's funerals. Undertakers, as the were known back then before all the terminology changed, were not full-time morticians and usually had another job. Furniture makers made the coffins and families took care of the bodies. Someone usually watched the body not for the "memory picture" but to make sure there were no signs of life. The modern funeral home was perhaps invented by some entrepreneur who realized he could make money from supplying all those goods and services in one place. Once he had enough money he was then able to get the legislation to back up his rights as a business man. Even further away from American tradition is the art of embalming. It had its early starts in the pagan rituals of ancient Egypt. What is so American about that except perhaps the possibilities to capitalize on an old idea? Finally the mortician thinks of himself as providing an invaluable service known to him as grief therapy. Funerals are for the living and he will reflect their wish even if they conflict with the last wishes of the deceased. This again enforces the morticians' reasons for embalming and restorative cosmetics in creating those lasting "memory pictures" of their loved ones. Giving the grieving person one last memory of the deceased in an appearance of resting peacefully. The book forces one to face the reality of the salesman behind the services and to be more skeptical when doing business with them. The book is a bit dated having been published in 1963. Laws as well as business practices have changed since then. Also the laws vary from state to state therefore making the majority of the text a regional work since the author lived in and did her research in California. At the very end of the book the appendices give some interesting alternatives to a costly funeral. It gives a list of several funeral societies and how to start a memorial society of ones own as well as forms to donate one's body to science and information as to where to do such a thing. One cannot dismiss the book as a whole for it causes one to question his own thoughts and beliefs about the funeral industry which is a task in itself. Since few things have changed it is still worth a look.

while mitford claimed that funeral directors prey on and profit from the grief of survivors, she, like most so-called muckrakers, preyed on and profited from the fears of ignorant consumers who would believe anything in print. she was an anti-business communist and proud of it. i have no issue with that. i have issue, however, with the fact that she employed her own political and economic beliefs in the service of scandalizing and vilifying an entire industry, which by and large is populated with good, hard-working individuals who provide a service that very few would be willing to provide. her anti-business rhetoric works only because death itself is a sensitive subject. so, naturally, to make a living providing a funeral service is considered taking advantage of greiving people. interesting. do your local grocers -- or your local supermarkets that are owned by large multinational corporations -- take advantage of you when they make livings off of your need to eat? aren't they exploiting the needs of those who would otherwise starve? see this for what it is: communist, anti-business rhetoric built into a muckraking style of jourmalism that can only be seen as the predecessor of our ridiculous nightly news and their scare tactics: "next on your local news . . . ten things in your kitchen that can kill you!" read it with the same skepticism with which it was supposedly written.