Called "cathartic" by "The Wall Street Journal," this wise and affirming book helps you accept and prepare for death through important conversations about what matters most.
As a spiritual teacher and scholar praised by "New York Times "columnist David Brooks for combining "extreme empathy with extreme tough-mindedness," Erica Brown has a sense of humor and a gift for storytelling that addresses one of life's most essential topics. In "Happier Endings," she leads us on an emotional journey through essential end-of-life conversations and decisions. The first step toward accepting death, she says, is to be comfortable discussing death--and not just in the abstract. Brown helps us confront our fears about death--for ourselves and our loved ones--and demonstrates how the last days of life can be among the most inspiring if we learn to leave a legacy of words and values, to forgive and apologize, and to make important decisions.
Brown draws on the wisdom of many different spiritual traditions to provide an enriching perspective on the end of life. In her easygoing style, she meets people of all faiths who deal with death in enlightening ways, including a mother who arranged for her children to sprinkle her ashes on a favorite ski slope, an ex-nun who prepares people to die, a group of women who ritually wash their dead, and a family whose grandfather's ethical will is read by his survivors each year. No matter what religion you practice or what your beliefs are, the practical wisdom found here will comfort and guide you through this important time, from financial wills to the last words you share with loved ones.
Brown encourages you to be honest, comfortable, and open as you reflect on how to pack each day with love and meaning. After reading "Happier Endings," " "you will have a greater understanding of what a good death can be and what a life well lived looks like.
