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

by Jessica Mitford (Author)
4.5 out of 5 stars 586 ratings
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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
Read more
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  1. Print length
    320 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Vintage
  4. Publication date
    January 4, 2000
  5. Dimensions
    5.2 x 0.66 x 8 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    0679771867
  7. 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
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ January 4, 2000
  • Edition ‏ : ‎ Reprint
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 320 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0679771867
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0679771869
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 9.3 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.2 x 0.66 x 8 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.5 out of 5 stars 586 ratings

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Jessica Mitford

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Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars
586 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find this book essential and a must-read for Americans, praising its readability and informative content. The book is well-researched, with one customer noting its exhaustive approach, and customers find it both funny and entertaining. They describe it as an eye-opening look at the subject matter.

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52 customers mention "Readability"44 positive8 negative

Customers find the book highly readable, describing it as a must-read for every American, with one customer noting it has become a classic.

"A must read for every american" Read more

"The book was true funny and an essential book to read. All info we all need" Read more

"...Mitford was a very good writer and could be scathingly funny...." Read more

"...contrasts the American way of death with the British way, a great read in itself...." Read more

38 customers mention "Information quality"36 positive2 negative

Customers find the book informative and fascinating, with one customer noting it is exhaustively researched, while another describes it as an excellent expose of the tricks in the funeral 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..." Read more

"...n't put a great deal of effort to be unbiased but this is a ery important piece of work...." Read more

"History and politics of the funeral industry. Interesting and entertaining." Read more

"...This book is a handy guide for the Funeral buying public. It is not the final word though of how we financially deal with our own finality." Read more

11 customers mention "Humor"11 positive0 negative

Customers find the book funny and entertaining, with one mentioning it spurs conversations.

"The book was true funny and an essential book to read. All info we all need" Read more

"History and politics of the funeral industry. Interesting and entertaining." Read more

"...Mitford was a very good writer and could be scathingly funny...." Read more

"...Still, worth reading and very funny, at times." Read more

4 customers mention "Eye opening"4 positive0 negative

Customers find the book eye-opening, with one describing it as quite charming.

"This is an informative book. Well written. An eye opening look at the rise of the mega-machine of the death industry." Read more

"...This book is an eye-opener on what happens "after". Every person owes it to themselves to read this and make their own choices...." Read more

"...Well written and quite charming." Read more

"Nice, crisp corners!..." Read more

Nice, crisp corners!
5 out of 5 stars
Nice, crisp corners!
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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Top reviews from the United States

  • Douglas M. Fort
    5.0 out of 5 stars enlightening
    Reviewed in the United States on October 23, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    A must read for every american
    One person found this helpful
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  • Robin Rosner
    5.0 out of 5 stars 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.
    7 people found this helpful
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  • r.h.spangler II
    5.0 out of 5 stars A great book
    Reviewed in the United States on June 20, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    The book was true funny and an essential book to read. All info we all need
    One person found this helpful
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  • Chastity
    4.0 out of 5 stars Interesting expose.
    Reviewed in the United States on December 26, 2012
    Verified Purchase
    As a member of the funeral industry, I didn't agree with all of the attitudes reflected in this book. She doesn't put a great deal of effort to be unbiased but this is a ery important piece of work. I think it's important that every funeral professional to read this book as it did bring about a new chapter in the industry.
    4 people found this helpful
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  • L S Lamb
    5.0 out of 5 stars Very interesting!
    Reviewed in the United States on November 23, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    History and politics of the funeral industry. Interesting and entertaining.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Angela
    3.0 out of 5 stars 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.
    16 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

  • Jaggy
    5.0 out of 5 stars 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!
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  • Artisan
    5.0 out of 5 stars 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
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  • Gordie Rowe
    5.0 out of 5 stars 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.
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  • Kindle Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant and witty with sound economic grounding
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 23, 2015
    Verified Purchase
    Brilliant and witty with sound economic grounding. This industry is excellent in illustrating Porters 5 Forces -prof Tony Grundy
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  • Pete
    5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant book
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 21, 2016
    Verified Purchase
    Superb read, fascinating insight into how the other half live.
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