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Jessica Mitford

The American Way of Death Revisited Paperback – January 4, 2000

by Jessica Mitford (Author)

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Only the scathing wit and searching intelligence of Jessica Mitford could turn an exposé of the American funeral industry into a book that is at once deadly serious and side-splittingly funny. When first published in 1963, this landmark of investigative journalism became a runaway bestseller and resulted in legislation to protect grieving families from the unscrupulous sales practices of those in "the dismal trade."

Just before her death in 1996, Mitford thoroughly revised and updated her classic study. The American Way of Death Revisited confronts new trends, including the success of the profession's lobbyists in Washington, inflated cremation costs, the telemarketing of pay-in-advance graves, and the effects of monopolies in a death-care industry now dominated by multinational corporations. With its hard-nosed consumer activism and a satiric vision out of Evelyn Waugh's novel The Loved One, The American Way of Death Revisited will not fail to inform, delight, and disturb.

"Brilliant--hilarious. . . . A must-read for anyone planning to throw a funeral in their lifetime."--New York Post

"Witty and penetrating--it speaks the truth."--The Washington Post

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Print length

320 pages
Language

English
Publisher

Vintage
Publication date

January 4, 2000
Dimensions

5.2 x 0.69 x 7.99 inches
ISBN-10

0679771867
ISBN-13

978-0679771869
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Editorial Reviews

From the Inside Flap

"Mitford's funny and unforgiving book is the best memento mori we are likely to get. It should be updated and reissued each decade for our spiritual health."--The New York Review of Books

Only the scathing wit and searching intelligence of Jessica Mitford could turn an exposé of the American funeral industry into a book that is at once deadly serious and side-splittingly funny. When first published in 1963 this landmark of investigative journalism became a runaway bestseller and resulted in legislation to protect grieving families from the unscrupulous sales practices of those in "the dismal trade."

Just before her death in 1996, Mitford thoroughly revised and updated her classic study. The American Way of Death Revisited confronts new trends, including the success of the profession's lobbyists in Washington, inflated cremation costs, the telemarketing of pay-in-advance graves, and the effects of monopolies in a death-care industry now dominated by multinational corporations. With its hard-nosed consumer activism and a satiric vision out of Evelyn Waugh's novel The Loved One, The American Way of Death Revisited will not fail to inform, delight, and disturb.

"Brilliant--hilarious--A must-read for anyone planning to throw a funeral in their lifetime."--New York Post

"Witty and penetrating--it speaks the truth."--The Washington Post

From the Back Cover

"Mitford's funny and unforgiving book is the best memento mori we are likely to get. It should be updated and reissued each decade for our spiritual health."--"The New York Review of Books
Only the scathing wit and searching intelligence of Jessica Mitford could turn an expose of the American funeral industry into a book that is at once deadly serious and side-splittingly funny. When first published in 1963 this landmark of investigative journalism became a runaway bestseller and resulted in legislation to protect grieving families from the unscrupulous sales practices of those in "the dismal trade."
Just before her death in 1996, Mitford thoroughly revised and updated her classic study. The American Way of Death Revisited confronts new trends, including the success of the profession's lobbyists in Washington, inflated cremation costs, the telemarketing of pay-in-advance graves, and the effects of monopolies in a death-care industry now dominated by multinational corporations. With its hard-nosed consumer activism and a satiric vision out of Evelyn Waugh's novel The Loved One, The American Way of Death Revisited will not fail to inform, delight, and disturb.
"Brilliant--hilarious--A must-read for anyone planning to throw a funeral in their lifetime."--"New York Post
"Witty and penetrating--it speaks the truth."--"The Washington Post

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Vintage; Reprint edition (January 4, 2000)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 320 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0679771867
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0679771869
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 9.6 ounces
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.2 x 0.69 x 7.99 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #54,831 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #23 in Customs & Traditions Social Sciences
- #48 in Sociology of Death (Books)
- #163 in Grief & Bereavement

Customer Reviews:
570

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Jessica Mitford

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4.5 out of 5

570 global ratings

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Top reviews from the United States

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An interesting and well done piece of work

Reviewed in the United States on April 9, 2024

Verified Purchase

In the approximate past year I have lost both my parents and succumbed to the sneaky if not disgusting and illegal ways of two funeral companies. For it IS without a doubt a disgusting business in SOME cases that prey on those who are exhausted, grieving and naive never having been exposed to the industry before.
I am reading this slowly , processing it, and sadly not surprised by it. Needless to say it and my own experiences have made me reconsider my own final arrangement and I anticipate working with a local memorial society which has a reasonable membership fee and works with a number of local funeral homes to provide basic services at a reduced charge.
Until my experience in the process I had no idea there is something called "The Funeral Rule" which protects us from the unscrupulous out there...who are just waiting for us to walk thru their doors. Nor did I know that funeral directors are licensed...or should be, and that our state of OH as do many others no doubt have a board of Embalmers and Funeral Directors, and in our case a link to verify the license of the funeral home and/or director. One would never imagine they had to actually check that when a funeral home is open for business. But I came to discover that ours was not licensed. I learned the process to file a complaint. I learned that the arrogance is so great that in spite of the board suspending the license of this place, they continued to hold funeral after funeral apparently with no regard for any repercussions, just wanting the money grab. And grab they do...The most basic of services it seems is no less than $10K of our hard earned dollars and they want to have it PRIOR to the service or at least a good part of it. The only way this book would be better is if someone updated it again, and included info by state on what to do if you'd been damaged/hurt/cheated and what the process is and potential outcomes are. A big tip off in our case was that 2 months after my dad's passing the official death certificates arrived and it noted the funeral home. Which was NOT the one we used! Shock and upset is an understatement, vague excuses by the home listed raised a huge red flag. Official complaint filed. Any communication is always initiated by me with the state board, there is no follow up as yet. The minutes of their meetings are pubic record. Records that are on line after the fact and fail to identify the funeral home or provider being discussed, god forbid the public would actually know who they might want to avoid. But if I have interpreted it all correctly, the funeral home was fined some $2500, and another board member wanted to make it $5K which was voted on and approved. Who gets any of those $$$ is a guess. This isn't dinner topic material, but people cannot possibly educate themselves on everything at the time of someone's passing. That it seems Ms Mittford was not a beloved person in the industry, is reason enough to know this book is an honest and truthful account of the business where too many seem to be in it for the $$$ and not for the honorable service they should be providing their community members.

Very interesting!

Reviewed in the United States on November 23, 2023

Verified Purchase

History and politics of the funeral industry. Interesting and entertaining.

Nice, crisp corners!

Reviewed in the United States on September 13, 2023

Verified Purchase

For a 30 year old book, this is in amazing condition! Delivered by Amazon within 24 hours. I would definitely recommend this seller to others!

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Still Resonates

Reviewed in the United States on February 21, 2018

Verified Purchase

Have known about this book for years and finally got around to reading it. Mitford really exposes the funeral industry for what it is: crooked & opportunistic. But, this book is tedious to read because she goes on and on and on about every single detail. Still, worth reading and very funny, at times.

5 people found this helpful

Greg and Tammy Morgan

Reviewed in the United States on March 2, 2023

Verified Purchase

What you thought about the funeral business is about to be changed forever. A good read with lots amazing information about an industry you thought was all about caring and sympathe.

4 people found this helpful

Amazon Customer

Good information clouded by lack of objectivity.

Reviewed in the United States on January 14, 2018

Verified Purchase

Mitford's book is an update of her 1963 book, an investigation of unethical practices in the funeral business. Judging from some of the issues raised in this update, such as the rise of conglomerates that absorb small funeral businesses and lose track of benefits to the community and the effort to make cremations as expensive as other funerals, investigation is still needed. However, Mitford judges the entire industry to be unethical and greedy. This is not true. Many funeral businesses offer kind, efficient and ethical services to their community. Years ago. as a young mother with a child and suddenly forced to plan a funeral for my husband, I remember that the funeral director was very kind and helpful. He even found a less expensive alternative to the simple, dignified but pricey coffin I originally selected.
Mitford was a very good writer and could be scathingly funny. However, her book seems intended on showing this off as much as presenting information. Also, I think part of Mitford's bias toward the American funeral is that customs here are different from what they are in her native England. There, embalming is very seldom done and funeral attendance is limited to immediate family. Thus, Mitford sees American funerals, which are often attended by friends of the deceased, as a 'general spectacle for the neighbors, coworkers and mere acquaintances.' Mitford does not recognize that in most cases people who attend funerals are there to comfort and support survivors. Neither English or American customs are better; they are just different.
Read this book for the important points it presents, and for the excellent directory of non-profit funeral and memorial societies that closes the book, but bear in mind that it is not fair to honest funeral providers.

12 people found this helpful

Top reviews from other countries

Artisan

Interesting overview of the funeral biz in north america

Reviewed in Canada on May 20, 2020

Verified Purchase

For anyone who has ever had dealings with a funeral,or planning one this is an interesting backgreound on the history and priactises of the funeral business, ive always found that the business was predatory and this book confirms it in detail dating back to the 50s and 60s and im sure it continues today.This is a good book to read for anyone who has aging parents or a partner to educate themselves to the pitfalls of the funerary biz.Even though this book was written originally in the 60s it was updated i believe in the 90s prior to the authors passing.What with the covid crisis upon us this book may be a timely read for some folks

Jaggy

It'll make you laugh, it'll make you angry!

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 4, 2014

Verified Purchase

This is a fascinating account, and put forward in such a witty way. Despite the humour, though, it is infuriating to see how a cold business model is so harshly applied to families at a time when they are vulnerable and their normal purchasing defences are down. I am sad to see similar practices being introduced in the UK, including the sale of embalming as a "hygienic treatment" - since most British funerals do not have an open coffin (and long may it continue!) there is absolutely no need for any sort of embalming and it is not necessary for hygiene. Spiralling coffin costs are down to hard sell, and in the UK the small, family owned company you think you know may well be part of a multi-national group.

The topic may be rather gruesome, but the book is certainly worth a read - if only to protect yourself and your family from unscrupulous salesmen. But it's also a very entertaining read, and exceptionally well written!

4 people found this helpful

Gordie Rowe

American Way of Death.

Reviewed in Canada on April 18, 2015

Verified Purchase

I enjoyed the first edition of this book and have found the updated version is just as good. Good for her to reveal the gouging practices of this group of businessmen.

Hannah E.

Surprising, funny, shocking - an unlikely must-read

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 18, 2014

Verified Purchase

This is a brilliantly written, unexpectedly funny exposé of the American funeral system. It's about the tricks and traps that funeral salesmen in the States will use to part the grieving from as much of their hard-earned money as possible which, when you think about it, is a pretty vile thing to do. In this revised version, Mitford includes snippets of feedback her book got from the industry at the time. Needless to say, she wasn't their favourite person... Gorgeously written (as all Mitford books are) and wry, it's an unlikely book, but one you'll love.

2 people found this helpful

A. Reader

Is nothing sacred?

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 21, 2022

Verified Purchase

Apparently not!

One person found this helpful

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