Ebook Download The American Way of Death Revisited, by Jessica Mitford

Ebook Download The American Way of Death Revisited, by Jessica Mitford

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The American Way of Death Revisited, by Jessica Mitford

Ebook Download The American Way of Death Revisited, by Jessica Mitford

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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 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

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About the Author

Jessica Mitford--of the notorious Mitford clan--was one of the most celebrated muckraking journalists of our time. Among her books are Daughters and Rebels, The Trial of Dr. Spock, and Poison Penmanship: The Gentle Art of Muckraking. Until her death in 1996, she lived in Oakland, California, with her husband, the labor lawyer Robert Treuhaft.

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Product details

Paperback: 320 pages

Publisher: Vintage; Reprint edition (January 4, 2000)

Language: English

ISBN-10: 0679771867

ISBN-13: 978-0679771869

Product Dimensions:

5.2 x 0.7 x 8 inches

Shipping Weight: 8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)

Average Customer Review:

4.4 out of 5 stars

126 customer reviews

Amazon Best Sellers Rank:

#103,371 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

In "The American Way of Death Revisited," journalist and muckracker Jessica Mitford presents a searing exposé of the "death-care" industries, particularly funeral homes/directors and cemeteries. She potently argues that many death-care workers, rather than looking out for their customers' best interests, are more concerned about their bottom lines; that the FTC has failed to curb manipulative and downright illegal sales techniques engaged in by these businesses; that many of our assumptions about funerary practices are wrong; and that consumers should actively take part in honoring their dearly departed, rather than turning the task (and thousands of dollars) over to McMortuaries.With the help of undercover investigations, disgruntled death-care workers, and grieving families who fell prey to unscrupulous death-care workers, Ms. Mitford details the manipulative, deceitful, and sometimes illegal tactics that death-care workers use to trump their competitors in an increasingly oversaturated market. We're even treated to shocking statements right from the horses' mouths: the authors offers a multitude of quotes pulled straight from the trade journals, such as "The Director," "Mortuary Management," "Casket & Sunnyside," and (my personal favorite) "American Professional Embalmer."In "The American Way of Death Revisited," we learn the following:* Although funeral directors would like you to believe otherwise, embalming is neither required by state law nor essential to public health.* Again contrary to the fibs of the "funeral men" (as Ms. Mitford ominously refers to them), citizens are free to scatter "cremains" wherever they so choose (the state of California is the lone exception) - it is not necessary to bury them, store them in a pricey urn, or pay someone to scatter them. Nor is it required that your loved one be cremated in a casket - a cardboard or pine box or shroud does just as well.* The purchase of "pre-need" plans usually serve as in invitation for the old "bait-and-switch" trick; by the time you pass away, the casket you initially paid for is no longer available. Thus, your grieving relatives are forced to choose between a free yet inferior substitute - or an "upgrade" for a fee.* Open casket funerals are a rather new invention, and are unique to the United States. Although funeral directors assert that a public viewing (of an embalmed corpse, of course) is necessary for healing in the survivors, they cannot produce one documented, scientific study to support this claim. Nor are they licensed psychologists; strangely, this does not prevent them from charging customers for "grief counseling."* As in many other industries, the ownership of funeral homes and cemeteries is becoming concentrated in the hands of a few massive McMonopolies. In some areas of the country, as many as 70% of the funeral homes may be owned by one company (talk about price fixing!). Even more infuriating are the companies' attempts to conceal ownership from consumers; they would much rather have you believe that you're purchasing a plan from kindly old "Uncle" Jack, who handled your grandmother's funeral arrangements so many years ago.Of course, these are but a few of the insidious practices engaged in by the "funeral men." The author manages to fill a full 274 pages with the others.Ms. Mitford also explains where the Federal Trade Commission was (and has been) while millions of Americans were (are) being ripped off during their time of utmost vulnerability. The answer certainly won't give you much faith in the current state of our government (unless you share Mark Twain's sentiments: "I think I can say, and say with pride, that we have legislatures that bring higher prices than any in the world.")."The American Way of Death Revisited" is actually a revised and updated version of 1963's "The American Way of Death." While Ms. Mitford does offer some new information and insight, including more on the FTC and the development of McMortuaries, much of the information is dated. For example, many of the price quotes are still in 1960s currency. For this reason alone, I'd give the book 4.5 stars rather than 5.Nonetheless, "The American Way of Death Revisited" is an impressive and shocking piece of work. It's interesting to note how the "American Way of Death" is a relative recent phenomenon, and not a longstanding tradition, as those in the industry would have you believe. England is proud to boast that they're 50 years behind us in their funerary practices; let's hope that, through collective action, we can regress even further back than 50 years, to the days of simple pine coffins and home viewings.

I bought this book out of curiosity. I had experience the funeral sales pitch back in 1990 when my father unexpectedly died of a massive heart attack overnight. The entire family was in shock. I recall when we had gone to the local mortician to arrange my dad's funeral. We were in a fog when we walked in and spoke to one of the funeral directors. Did they ask us if we wanted him embalmed? I don't recall, and even though it was a closed casket funeral, he was still embalmed (and we were charged for it.) I do recall vividly the 'show room' of coffins. I almost reeled back when the director opened the door to let us in so that we could pick one. The price tags on the coffins caused sticker shock. There were no simple pine box coffins. Only the luxury models with the cushioned interior. I picked the one with the lowest price tag that still ran in the thousands. Did we ask for prayer cards? I don't recall. But they were included in the package deal. The funeral was held in one of their rooms there at the mortuary. I believe the cost was around $7,000 and that did not include the cemetery plot or the headstone.Although the prices in this book are outdated, the facts of how the business is run has changed very little. My advice to anyone who has to visit a mortuary to prepare a loved one's funeral: KNOW what you want, and how much you can afford before you go in and stick to your plan and budget. Discuss the funeral with a good friend, and ask your friend to accompany you to help you through the arrangements and to insure that the director doesn't sell you anything unnecessary. (Trust me, all common sense leaves you in a time of grief.) Thank you Jessica Mitford for your dedicated research for this book. (If she was still alive, I would email her a personal note of thanks.)

It goes without saying that most, if not all, businesses practices in the US are essentially corrupt. Of particular note in this regard are those which deal with the public at their most vulnerable moments, such as the death of a loved one. The funeral industry has been able over the past several decades to transform a basic human ritual experience into a vast moneymaking enterprise, seeking opportunities for profit in all aspects of their "services". No one could have done a better job of researching the extent and breadth of this corrupt enterprise than Jessica Mitford. Not only are the facts beautifully and completely presented, but with the author's sardonic wit they are unforgettable.David Evan Glasser

After experiencing two recent funerals about 4 years apart and reading a little about the American way of funerals versus the rest of the world I felt compelled to know what happens to you and your body when you die. It is a horrifying description that will happen to your body unless you leave very specific instructions of what is to be done to your remains immediately upon your demise. Three hours later is too late. You will be embalmed (not an easy read for the squeamish) and your family subjected to extreme price gouging at a time when all they think they want to do is "the right thing". Annual profits are 41% at some of the larger Funeral Home holding corporations. There is no law to embalm, except when the body cross's state lines. You will learn a lot and I instructed my family what to do and how to do it with what I learned in this book.

People need to read this long BEFORE they are faced with funereal business. I'm fortunate in that I live in a small town with a locally-owned, secind generation funeral home. They respect their client's wishes and don't try to sell what isn't needed. The owner has read this book, as well, and loves it!

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.

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