Helpful Score: 3
This book was very informative and at times humorous, though I have to admit it wasn't as good as I was expecting based on other reviews. It was good enough that it made me never want to have a funeral, though! Mitford presents an indepth look at the funeral industry, discussing funeral homes, the casket business, cemeteries, and other related topics.
Fascinating, well-written history of American funeral customs and the funeral industry. Certain chapters are not for the squeamish, but it's not overly morbid adn you can skip the graphic details. Mitford basically argues that the modern American funeral and all its trappings are a relatively recent development largely brought about by the funeral industry itself. Makes a nice companion (albeit from a different perspective) to the show Six Feet Under. Or, if you liked Evelyn Waugh's The Loved One, you might enjoy this as a non-fiction alternative. Hard to read if you've recently lost a loved one though.
