Six Feet Under: Better Living Through Death [Paperback]

Alan Ball (Editor), Alan Poul (Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 4, 2003

Six Feet under: Better Living Through Death is a history of the Fishers and their extended family. From Nate and David's childhood to the disappearance of Lisa Kimmel, major events and daily routines are revealed through the characters' personal photographs, correspondence, and memorabilia. The book includes Nathaniel's letters to Ruth from Vietnam, Claire and Billy's instant messages, excerpts from Charlotte Light and Dark and Nathaniel and Isabel, and more, offering readers an intimate view into the world of Six Feet Under, a one-of-a-kind companion, Six Feet Under: Better Living Through Death is sure to enthrall fans of TV's most riveting drama.

Product Details

• Paperback: 208 pages
• Publisher: Pocket (November 4, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0743480651
• ISBN-13: 978-0743480659
• Product Dimensions: 9.6 x 6.6 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.7 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (26 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #907,305 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

101 of 101 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant, beautiful book for a brilliant, beautiful show!, November 13, 2003

By 

Robert W. Berg "Rob" (New York, NY United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Six Feet Under: Better Living Through Death (Paperback)

I just spent the past hour and a half reading the brand-new official book from HBO, "Six Feet Under: Better Living Through Death," and it is absolutely fantastic. Not only was it great fun to read, but it was the perfect SFU fix for us poor souls who still have six months to wait until the next season. The book is beautifully put together, and comes in a red and clear plastic case. The book itself is bound in a homemade style that gives it the feel of a family scrapbook, which is what it is meant to be. Unlike most TV tie-in books, this book does not have an episode guide, or any production material. Instead, it is a history of the Fisher family and friends, and, besides a foreward from Alan Ball at the beginning and a copyrights paper on the back, there is no indication in the book that is even about a TV show, which helps you even more feel like you've entered the world of Six Feet Under. This book has no behind-the-scenes information. Instead, you get some truly deep insight into all the characters of SFU and have a collection of things that no true hardcore fan of the show can miss, although I doubt someone less obsessed with the show would be as excited.

Having watched every episode from the first night it aired, I was ecstatic to find all the amazing things in this book, such as Nathaniel and Ruth's marriage certificate, a chapter from "Nathaniel and Isabel," a chapter from "Charlotte: Light and Dark," the short story Claire submitted to the literary magazine about a girl who could make peoples' heads explode, a portion of the novel Brenda was working on, Nate and David's report cards, full-length IMs between Claire and Billy, letters written between Ruth and Bettina after Bettina left for Montana, letters David wrote to his pen pal when he was in elementary school, Claire's submission essay to LAC-Arts, a letter Lisa's psychiatrist had her write to herself in order to get over him, and much, much more. Reading it from cover to cover is kind of like a longer, more in-depth "Wake," very dream-like and metaphysical. You also gain much much more insight into the characters than we even had before. Best of all, the book was written by writers from the show and was edited and put together by Alan Ball, so not only is it official, but it was created by the same people who create the show, so this isn't just an empty promo tie-in, but a truly great piece of work from people who love the show and make the show. The artwork and pictures alone are beautiful, but the content is much better than any other television book I've seen. The first full half of the book is dedicated to the Fishers before we met them; the second half is Nathaniel, Sr.'s death and afterwards.

I could not recommend this book enough. It would make a great Christmas present.

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Digging up the backstories on the Fisher clan, May 9, 2005

By 

Lawrance M. Bernabo (The Zenith City, Duluth, Minnesota) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (COMMUNITY FORUM 04)    (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Six Feet Under: Better Living Through Death (Paperback)

Since "Six Feet Under" is an unusual television series, set primarily in the Fisher & Songs Funeral Home, 2302 West Twenty-fifth Street, Los Angeles, Calif. 90018, it would make sense that what would be labeled the official companion guide to the show is decidedly offbeat as well. "Six Feet Under: Better Living Through Death" does not recount the episodes from the first season, provide biographies of the cast members, or interview the show's creator reviewing mental health issues. As Alan Ball explains in his brief forward, in which he touches on his first encounters with death, this book is a collection of the relics of lives that no longer exist (yes, Ruth says that in an episode). Ball argues that such relics are essential because they are the only means by which we really remember someone, by touching something they once wore, made or wrote. True, these are all fictional relics left behind by fictional characters, but para-social interaction with television characters is hardly a 21st century phenomenon.

Through the book there are quotations on death from the likes of Carlos Castaneda the Tibetan Book of the Dead, as well as quotes from the show. But the prime attractions here are the relics themselves. Correspondence Nathaniel and Ruth when he was serving in Vietnam, a letter from guidance counselor about Nate, David's fan letter to Matt Dillon, and Clare and Russell's IMs. There is Claire and Nathaniel's car contract, an ad for Fisher & Sons, Federico's alumni profile, Lisa's column in Co-op newsletter, Brenda's novel in progress, and Billy's psychiatric release form. You will also find an invitation to the O'Connor-Fisher wedding, a note Ruth wrote to a babysitter, an article about the Chenowith fire, Claire's college application, Nate's Life-Skills Inventory questionnaire and letter from teacher expressing concern, and, as most of you were hoping, the story of "Nathaniel and Isabel" and excerpts from "Charlotte Light and Dark."

If you were expecting lots of input form the show's creator, Alan Ball, then know going in that his sole contribution is Claire's short story (but if he had to pick one thing that is a good choice). Ball and Alan Poul edited the collection so there is a cohesive vision for this madness. There are also lots of photographs of the sets and cast (including the photos Billy asked Claire to take of him), along with other illustrations. The cast has gotten into the spirit of the effort by contributing contributed shots from their personal collections of when they were younger, so you get baby pictures of most of them. Consequently, for fans of the show who are inclined to let Ball get away with this conceit, this is a fascinating look at the backstories of the Fishers and the other characters caught up in their lives. It might be providing depth without true insights, but then such things are left to the mind of the reader, but it is a different way of looking at a different series.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Hype that's worth it., February 9, 2004

By 

Timothy P. Scanlon (Hyattsville, MDUSA) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Six Feet Under: Better Living Through Death (Paperback)

Yeah, I'll admit it. This is simply a document to lend credence to the spectacular series (DVD of first season available) of "Six Feet Under." In that sense, it's hype. But, since the series is so good, why not?

I got this as a surprise for my wife as we're both big fans of the series. From correspondence, documents from the college from which Rico graduated, it's cleverly done, something to make the series all the more "real."

Again, of course it's hype. But it beats, say, dolls of characters in TV cartoon series and countless other nonsense hypes. And since the series is worthwhile to say the least, this makes it all the more real.

For the first time ever, I'll thank the producers for the idea!