Often, when I’m doing trainings or giving talks about death, dying and grief, I get asked “OK, but where do I start? What do I actually have to do?”
So I ordered a bunch of “death prep” books from Amazon to see what they had to say. Mostly very little. A blank exercise book with page headings like “Pets”, “Finances”. Not so much a guide book as a chore.
I’ve written my latest book, Dying for Beginners, to address what feels like a gap in the market. It has been described as:
“Dying for Beginners is a workbook for people who accept that their life will end, and who want to meet that reality with honesty, care, and agency.
This is not an abstract book about preparing to die. It is a practical, human guide for tending to what matters now. Making sense of what has been lived, naming what still feels unresolved, and putting into words the information and intentions that others will need after your death. “
One reader flung it down onto my kitchen table declaring “I wish I’d had this last year when my mum was dying.”
Dying yourself, or supporting someone else in the process is a big journey. It takes a lot. The last thing you need is to be trying to guess what to do, or be confronted by reams of legal or medical jargon. I’ve tried to make this book approachable, written with experience and compassion. I’d love it if it helped you feel less alone on your journey.
You can buy it from amazon, or, if you’d prefer not to, then from other booksellers using this link. Available in print, e-book and audiobook, though I’d recommend the print version so you can fill it in as you go.
Free Spirit 