Photo taken in Fethard-on-Sea, Ireland
"If the word death were absent from our vocabulary, our great works of literature would have reamained unwritten, pyramids and cathedrals would not exist, nor works of religious art--and all art of religious or magic origin. The pathology and creativity of the human mind are two sides of the same medal, coined by the same minister."
-Arthur Koestler
"Writers and artists often outshine physicians and philosophers in helping us think about death."
-Mark Wakely
We all cope, think, meditate and process in differing ways. The arts in particular are often the most human and creative avenues by which to think about life, purposefulness, loss, grief, fears, hopes and death. This page was created to present resources should you look for avenues outside philosophy or science to contemplate or cope with mortality. Note again, there is no need to avail of all of these resources, but they can be sooo helpful.
Book List |
Films |
Poetry |
Safe Passage by Mark Lazenby, PhD, Ruth McCorkle, RN, PhD, and Daniel P. Sulmasy, MD, PhD Life and Death in the ICU by Joan Cassell Me before You by Jojo Moyes Evangelium Vitae, The Gospel of Life by St. Pope John Paul II Aging, the Fulfillment of Life by Henri J.M. Nouwen and Walter J. Gaffney The River by Flannery O'Connor Being Mortal by Atul Gawande The Problem of Pain by C.S. Lewis Narcissus and Goldmund by Herman Hess The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoyevsky The Problem of Pain by C.S. Lewis A Celtic Book of Dying by Phyllida Anam-Aire The Tibetan Book of Dying by Sogyal Rinpoche The Year of Magical Thinking by Joan Didion A Very Easy Death by Simone De Beavoir A Grief Observed by C. S. Lewis The Spare Room by Helen Garner Swimming in a Sea of Death by David Reiff The Young Widow's Guide to Home Improvement by Virginia Lloyo A Widow's Study by Joyce Carol Oates A Household Guide to Dying by Deborah Adelaide Chasing Daylight by Eugene O'Kelly Through a Glass Darkly by Caroline Jones Will the Circle be Unbroken? Reflections on Death and Dignity by Studs Terkel Illness as Metaphor by Susan Sontag Dying- A Memoir by Donald Horne Nothing Was the Same by Kay Jamison Sweet Sorrow by Mark Wakely Final Exam by Pauline Chen Living Up to Death by Paul Ricoeur Compassionate Cities by Alan Kellehear When Bad Things Happen to Good People by H. Kushner Grief and Remembering by Alan Kellehear |
"Saving 10,000" -Japanese Documentary (2012)
"Departures" - Japanese film (2008) "Adam's Apfel" - Danish film (2005) "Motorcycle Diaries" - Latin American Film (2004) "Love in Our Own Time" -Australian Documentary (2012) "Waking Ned Divine" -English/Irish Film (1998) EssaysWhen Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi
Helpful Funeral Planning ResourcesTop Reasons to Plan Ahead for Your Funeral
How is a Memorial Service Different from a Funeral Service? End-of-life Options: A Comparison Guide Is a Green Burial Right For You? Choosing a Funeral Provider Don't Wait Until You're Dying: Save for Your Funeral Now Funeral Costs and Pricing Checklist What is Final Expense Life Insurance? Estate Planning: How to Leave Money to Your Kids 'Death Cleaning' Is the Newest Way to Declutter. Here's What to Know Heirloom Handoff: How to Handle Family Treasures |
The Prophet by Kahlil Gibran
Celiac 83 by Baron Brooke Fulke Greville Solitary Soul by Alice E. Chase Poems, Prayers and Promises by John Denver WebsitesE-hospice: site for palliative care news around the world http://www.ehospice.com
Mercatornet: site on "dignity," the Careful! Page specifically engages in End of Life topics http://www.mercatornet.com/careful Death Café: site which links to "death cafes," small informal gatherings where people get together to openly engage in conversations around death and dying without pressure of stigma or fear http://deathcafe.com Zen Hospice Project- project in California which is changing end of life care to human centered and life cherishing care: http://www.zenhospice.org 4 Questions for End of Life Preparation: https://www.verywellhealth.com/right-questions-for-advance-directives-2615083 |