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A Life Among the Dead

Stories from an Irish Funeral Director

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A Life Among the Dead

By: David McGowan
Narrated by: David McGowan
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About this listen

 THE IRISH TIMES BESTSELLER

'A profoundly compassionate, educational reflection on death' - The Irish Times

When death is a way of life . . .

In A Life Among the Dead, David McGowan, Ireland's best known Funeral Director, and subject of the Award-winning Netflix documentary The Funeral Director, guides us through the business, the science and the unexplained elements of death.

Alongside exploring the unique approach of Irish culture when it comes to grief and death, David seeks to demystify the process of dying and what happens to the body afterward.

The only certainty when we come into this life is that we are going to leave it, and yet it's something most people are reluctant to discuss or allow themselves to think about. David's mission is to open up conversations and encourage people to have an understanding of their loved ones wishes as well as their own.

Poignant, humorous and educational, this is an account of a life lived with purpose in the service of the dead.©2024 David McGowan Business Death & Dying Grief & Loss Personal Development Professionals & Academics Relationships Sociology Witty Celebrity

Critic reviews

A profoundly compassionate, educational reflection on death, and the rites we've developed to help us say goodbye and to support us in our grief. McGowan's wise elder words, so conversational in style, are like finding yourself in a cosy pub by the fire with an extraordinary community ritual leader, and getting the chance to talk to him for hours, about what only he knows. (Adrienne Murphy, The Irish Times)
All stars
Most relevant
I loved the humanity and heartfelt description of death and all things surrounding it. It’s a way of learning what happens after we die.
It goes into enough detail to know what happens but not too much detail to make you uncomfortable. From rural Ireland to the city of Chicago and back to Ireland to change the face of education in the approach to the preservation of a body after dying.
The book is something I believe that everyone who has a difficult time talking about death should read.
It’s one man’s journey to improve himself and be the best he can be but yet have huge amounts of respect empathy and care to know the the bodies he deals with are the most important consideration he has.

A wonderful insight

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I really enjoyed listening to David tell the story of his life and how he spoke about his career and experiences in his own words. I took so much from this book.
Thank you.
Trish

Fascinating read

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A fascinating insight into David’s early life and the life of a funeral director.
Great stories of growing up rural Ireland

Fascinating

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A thoroughly enjoyable listen, so interesting to hear of David's life as a funeral director and the many aspects of his life through working with the dead

An insightful story!

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I loved it all there were no parts of the book I disliked he got his story across very well

I found his humour in everything very peaceful loved listening to his voice .

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