Customer Reviews

The Dying Game: A Curious History of Death

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Did you know that the job of executioner was a pretty sweet gig in the seventeenth century England? People would pay good money to get their hands on body parts and fluids that were rumored to have medicinal properties.
This is the type of thing you will learn when you read Melanie King's excellent study of death throughout history. From the science of decomposition, to ancient superstition, to modern issues of body-snatching, King approaches every issue objectively and with a refreshing dash of humor. It didn't take me long to get through this book because I could hardly stand to put it down.
We spend our whole lives in our bodies - naturally, one is curious about the fate of one's person after death has occurred. While this book is too short to go into a vast amount of detail on every subject, it is a great introduction to the different ways that human beings have dealt with death from ancient times to the modern era, and it may inspire an interest in further research.
As for me, I have decided that I either want to be mummified, or have my ashes put into fireworks and go out with a "bang," so to speak. Thanks, Melanie King!