Smoke Gets in Your Eyes by Caitlin Doughty

Check out if you are ready to confront your own mortality.

Listen, I know death is a heavy topic. Talking about death, reading about death, and thinking about death makes many of us uncomfortable. But it is a necessary conversation to have with yourself. I’m not the only person who feels this way. Caitlin Doughty grew up in Hawaii and witnessed a death at a young age that affected her greatly. So greatly that it created a morbid curiosity within her that later influenced her career choice, a crematorium worker in the death industry. She graduated from mortuary school and now has an informative YouTube channel explaining various aspects of death.

Caitlin writes about death (and what happens after) in an informative, educational manner but still manages to maintain earnestness and a genuine reverence for this not-so-easily talked about topic. She expands beyond just death and touches on cultural norms and rituals that might just surprise you. I learned quite a bit. I was uncomfortable for a while. But I’m better for reading this book. I chose this title for our October book discussion at CCPL. Come check it out and join the discussion!