Books to Embrace the Cycle of Life
Explore these insightful reads that gently guide you towards a deeper understanding of life and death. Each book offers unique perspectives that can help you find comfort and acceptance in the face of mortality. Dive in and discover how to transform your fears into a more profound appreciation for existence.
Smoke Gets in Your Eyes: And Other Lessons from the Crematory
175 pages
This book is a fascinating exploration of death and the funeral industry, written by a passionate mortician who encourages readers to embrace death acceptance.
Thief Of Time
434 pages
'The universe is, instant by instant, recreated anew . . . The perfect moment is now. Be glad of it.' Time is a resource. Everyone knows it must be managed. You can let it move fast or slowly, but what you mustn't do is allow it to stop. On the Discworld, the History Monks have the important job of ensuring that tomorrow always comes. But the construction of the world's first truly accurate clock starts a race against, well . . . time. Monk Lu-Tze, his apprentice Lobsang Ludd and Death's granddaughter Susan must stop the clockmaker before he completes his task. Because a truly accurate clock will stop time completely. And then, there really will be no tomorrow . . . 'This is the best Pratchett I've read' Sunday Telegraph Thief of Time is the fifth book in the Death series, but you can read the Discworld novels in any order.
Soul Music
434 pages
'This didn't feel like magic. It felt a lot older than that. It felt like music.' Being sixteen is always difficult, but it's even more so when there's a Death in the family. Susan hasn't exactly had a normal upbringing, with a skeletal grandfather who rides a white horse and wields a scythe. When Death decides he needs a well-earned break, he leaves Susan to take over the family business. The only problem is, everyone mistakes her for the Tooth Fairy . . . Well, not the only problem. There's a new, addictive music in Discworld. It's lawless. It changes people. It's got a beat and you can dance to it. It's called Music With Rocks In. And it won't fade away . . . 'Genius . . . deals with death with startling originality' New York Times 'His spectacular inventiveness makes the Discworld series one of the perennial joys of modern fiction' Mail on Sunday Soul Music is the third book in the Death series, but you can read the Discworld novels in any order.
Reaper Man
354 pages
'Inside every living person is a dead person waiting to get out.' Death has been fired by the Auditors of Reality for the heinous crime of developing . . . a personality. Sent to live like everyone else, Death takes a new name and begins working as a farmhand. He's got the scythe already, after all. And for humanity, Death is just . . . gone. Which leads to the kind of chaos you always get when an important public service is withdrawn. If Death doesn't come for you, then what are you supposed to do in the meantime? You can't have the undead wandering about like lost souls - there's no telling what might happen. Particularly when they discover that life really is only for the living . . . 'One taste, and you'll scour bookstores for more' Daily Mail Reaper Man is the second book in the Death series, but you can read the Discworld novels in any order.
Mort
322 pages
'YOU CANNOT INTERFERE WITH FATE. WHO ARE YOU TO JUDGE WHO SHOULD LIVE AND WHO SHOULD DIE?' Death comes to us all. When he came to Mort, he offered him a job. Death is the Grim Reaper of the Discworld, a black-robed skeleton with a scythe who ushers souls into the next world. He is also fond of cats and endlessly baffled by humanity. Soon Death is yearning to experience what humanity really has to offer, but to do that, he'll need to hire some help. It's an offer Mort can't refuse. As Death's apprentice he'll have free board, use of the company horse - and being dead isn't compulsory. It's a dream job - until Mort falls in love with Death's daughter, Ysabell, and discovers that your boss can be a killer on your love life . . . 'Incredibly funny, compulsively readable' The Times 'Cracking dialogue, compelling illogic and unchained whimsy' Sunday Times Mort is the first book in the Death series, but you can read the Discworld novels in any order.
Mitch Albom's Tuesdays with Morrie
52 pages
THE STORY: TUESDAYS WITH MORRIE is the autobiographical story of Mitch Albom, an accomplished journalist driven solely by his career, and Morrie Schwartz, his former college professor. Sixteen years after graduation, Mitch happens to catch Morrie's appear
Stiff
310 pages
This book offers a scientific yet approachable look at death, starting with the author's personal experience of her mother's passing.
When Breath Becomes Air (Indonesian Edition)
249 pages
This book may sound like it's about mortality, but it's actually more of an autobiography that offers a deep and personal perspective on life.
The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying
428 pages
This fabulous book comes highly recommended for its profound insights into life and death.
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
996 pages
The discussions of death in this book are beautifully comforting, making it a great read for anyone facing loss.
Momma And The Meaning Of Life
273 pages
This book offers incredible insights into death anxiety and its manifestations, making it a must-read for anyone interested in existential psychotherapy.
A REVIEW OF PERSONALITY THEORIES
184 pages
This book tells the powerful story of an Auschwitz survivor and how he managed to cope with the mental anguish and physical abuse endured in concentration camps.
The Myth of Sisyphus And Other Essays
226 pages
One of the most influential works of this century, The Myth of Sisyphus and Other Essays is a crucial exposition of existentialist thought. Influenced by works such as Don Juan and the novels of Kafka, these essays begin with a meditation on suicide; the question of living or not living in a universe devoid of order or meaning. With lyric eloquence, Albert Camus brilliantly posits a way out of despair, reaffirming the value of personal existence, and the possibility of life lived with dignity and authenticity.
Sandman Vol. 1: Preludes & Nocturnes 30th Anniversary Edition
244 pages
Neil Gaiman’s Sandman series features the intriguing character of Death, who engages in thought-provoking discussions about life and mortality.
Man S Search For Meaning
124 pages
This book offers profound insights into finding purpose in life, especially through the lens of Frankl's experiences in concentration camps.
The Meditations of Marcus Aurelius
276 pages
The timeless wisdom of an ancient Stoic can become a companion for your own spiritual journey. Stoicism is often portrayed as a cheerless, stiff-upper-lip philosophy of suffering and doom. Yet as experienced through the thoughtful and penetrating writings of Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius (121 180 CE), the Stoic approach to life is surprisingly rich, nuanced, clear-eyed and friendly. With facing-page commentary that explains the texts for you, Russell McNeil, PhD, guides you through key passages from Aurelius s "Meditations," comprised of the emperor s collected personal journal entries, to uncover the startlingly modern relevance his words have today. From devotion to family and duty to country, to a near-prophetic view of the natural world that aligns with modern physics, Aurelius s words speak as potently today as they did two millennia ago. Now you can discover the tenderness, intelligence and honesty of Aurelius s writings with no previous background in philosophy or the classics. This SkyLight Illuminations edition offers insightful and engaging commentary that explains the historical background of Stoicism, as well as the ways this ancient philosophical system can offer psychological and spiritual insight into your contemporary life. You will be encouraged to explore and challenge Aurelius s ideas of what makes a fulfilling life and in so doing you may discover new ways of perceiving happiness.
The Graveyard Book
338 pages
This book is a whimsical yet dark retelling of the Jungle Book, where a baby is raised by ghosts in a graveyard, exploring themes of love and life in a beautifully unique way.
A Man Called Ove
368 pages
"First published in Great Britain in 2014 by Hodder & Stoughton"--Title page verso.
Pet Sematary
560 pages
This book offers a unique perspective on death, presenting it as a natural part of life rather than something to be resisted.
Gilead
308 pages
This Pulitzer Prize-winning novel is beautifully written and offers a spiritual depth that resonates with everyone, regardless of their religious beliefs. It's a touching account of an elderly man's reflections on his life for his young son, making it a profound read.
The Midnight Library
316 pages
Between life and death there is a library. When Nora Seed finds herself in the Midnight Library, she has a chance to make things right. Up until now, her life has been full of misery and regret. She feels she has let everyone down, including herself. But things are about to change. The books in the Midnight Library enable Nora to live as if she had done things differently. With the help of an old friend, she can now undo every one of her regrets as she tries to work out her perfect life. But things aren’t always what she imagined they’d be, and soon her choices place the library and herself in extreme danger. Before time runs out, she must answer the ultimate question: what is the best way to live?
Be Here Now
418 pages
This book is enhanced with content such as audio or video, resulting in a large file that may take longer to download than expected. The enhanced edition of Be Here Now includes: Two guided video meditations, 30 minutes in length * Twenty minute video retrospective of Ram Dass' spiritual journey *The first chapter of Ram Dass' new book, Be Love Now
Scythe
464 pages
The Scythe trilogy offers a gripping exploration of a near-utopian world where immortality leads to over-population, making it a thought-provoking read about life and death.
Sharing the Blue Crayon
163 pages
This poem fundamentally changed my perception of death, offering a comforting perspective that the essence of loved ones lives on in nature and beauty around us.
The Brothers Lionheart
It's a beautiful story about a loving sibling relationship and death, making it a profound read despite being a children's book.
The Canterville Ghost
90 pages
The Canterville Ghost by Oscar Wilde A terrifying ghost is haunting the ancient mansion of Canterville Chase, complete with creaking floorboards, clanking chains and gruesome disguises - but the new occupants seem strangely undisturbed by his presence. Deftly contrasting the conventional gothic ghost story with the pragmatism of the modern world, Wilde creates a gently comic fable of the conflict between old and new. We are delighted to publish this classic book as part of our extensive Classic Library collection. Many of the books in our collection have been out of print for decades, and therefore have not been accessible to the general public. The aim of our publishing program is to facilitate rapid access to this vast reservoir of literature, and our view is that this is a significant literary work, which deserves to be brought back into print after many decades. The contents of the vast majority of titles in the Classic Library have been scanned from the original works. To ensure a high quality product, each title has been meticulously hand curated by our staff. Our philosophy has been guided by a desire to provide the reader with a book that is as close as possible to ownership of the original work. We hope that you will enjoy this wonderful classic work, and that for you it becomes an enriching experience.
Wisdom Of Insecurity
104 pages
This book offers a fresh perspective on life, encouraging readers to break free from old ruts and assumptions.
The Immortalists
"Published ... by arrangement with G.P. Putnam's Sons, an imprint of Penguin Publishing Group, a division of Penguin Random House LLC"--Title page verso.
How to Die
252 pages
This book offers profound insights from a Roman Stoic on the subject of death, emphasizing the importance of understanding and accepting mortality.
Nothing to Be Frightened Of
3 pages
This book offers beautifully written reflections on life and the concept of a good death, making it feel like a comforting conversation with a friend.
The Five People You Meet in Heaven
177 pages
Eddie is a wounded war veteran, an old man who has lived, in his mind, an uninspired life. His job is fixing rides at a seaside amusement park. On his 83rd birthday, a tragic accident kills him, as he tries to save a little girl from a falling cart. He awakes in the afterlife, where he learns that heaven is not a destination. It's a place where your life is explained to you by five people, some of whom you knew, others who may have been strangers. One by one, from childhood to soldier to old age, Eddie's five people revisit their connections to him on earth, illuminating the mysteries of his "meaningless" life, and revealing the haunting secret behind the eternal question: "Why was I here?"
The Denial of Death
239 pages
'It made me rethink the roots of our deepest fears and insecurities, and why we often disappoint ourselves in how we manifest them' Bill Clinton, Guardian Winner of the Pulitzer Prize in 1974 and the culmination of a life's work, The Denial of Death is Ernest Becker's brilliant and impassioned answer to the 'why' of human existence. In bold contrast to the predominant Freudian school of thought, Becker tackles the problem of the vital lie - man's refusal to acknowledge his own mortality. The book argues that human civilisation is a defence against the knowledge that we are mortal beings. Becker states that humans live in both the physical world and a symbolic world of meaning, which is where our 'immortality project' resides. We create in order to become immortal - to become part of something we believe will last forever. In this way we hope to give our lives meaning. In The Denial of Death, Becker sheds new light on the nature of humanity and issues a call to life and its living that still resonates decades after it was written.
Confessions of a Funeral Director
164 pages
“Wise, vulnerable, and surprisingly relatable . . . funny in all the right places and enormously helpful throughout. It will change how you think about death.” —Rachel Held Evans, New York Times–bestselling author of Searching for Sunday We are a people who deeply fear death. While humans are biologically wired to evade death for as long as possible, we have become too adept at hiding from it, vilifying it, and—when it can be avoided no longer—letting the professionals take over. Sixth-generation funeral director Caleb Wilde understands this reticence and fear. He had planned to get as far away from the family business as possible. He wanted to make a difference in the world, and how could he do that if all the people he worked with were . . . dead? Slowly, he discovered that caring for the deceased and their loved ones was making a difference—in other people’s lives to be sure, but it also seemed to be saving his own. A spirituality of death began to emerge as he observed the family who lovingly dressed their deceased father for his burial; the nursing home that honored a woman’s life by standing in procession as her body was taken away; the funeral that united a conflicted community. Through stories like these, told with equal parts humor and poignancy, Wilde’s candid memoir offers an intimate look into the business of death and a new perspective on living and dying. “Open[s] up conversations about life’s ultimate concerns.” —The Washington Post “As a look behind the closed doors of the death industry, as well as a candid exploration of Wilde’s own faith journey, this book is fascinating and compelling.” —National Catholic Reporter “[A] stunner of a debut.” —Rachel Held Evans, author of Inspired
Borders, Memory and Transculturality
213 pages
This annotated bibliography provides a guide for grappling with border issues and offers an account of the research discourse on the interdisciplinary disciplines of Border Studies, Memory Studies and (Teacher) Education: the reviews collected in this volume connect a variety of approaches such as education for diversity and inclusion; borders, memories and their representation in the media; Museum Studies and pedagogy, and present a wealth of information and material that refers to major socio-historical events which shaped European regions and dominated public debate. Angela Vaupel is a senior lecturer at St Mary's University College Belfast and has widely published on aspects of European Cultural Studies.
The Travelling Cat Chronicles
233 pages
This book beautifully explores the relationship between a man and his cat, reflecting on life, friendship, family, loss, and loneliness. It presents death not as an ending but as part of life's ongoing journey, encouraging gratitude for the connections we cherish.
