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Rating: 
Summary: Essential for the Necrophile/Taphophile
Review: All aspects of death and dying are covered here by a pathologist who sees it as his duty to provide for the reading public the reference which has never been available before. The squeamish may find some sections worth skipping, but those who want to understand the biological and cultural realities of Death will want to read every word of this instant classic. If you are going to buy one book covering embalming, burial, cremation, and the legalities of death, make it this one.
Rating:
Summary: Essential for the Necrophile/Taphophile
Review: All aspects of death and dying are covered here by a pathologist who sees it as his duty to provide for the reading public the reference which has never been available before. The squeamish may find some sections worth skipping, but those who want to understand the biological and cultural realities of Death will want to read every word of this instant classic. If you are going to buy one book covering embalming, burial, cremation, and the legalities of death, make it this one.
Rating: 
Summary: Good source for students of "death"
Review: Anyone considering going into the mortuary business should read this book. It will either confirm your choice of occupation or totally put you off the subject. The history of funeral practice was especially interesting. Man has always feared the unknown and death is high on the list. And history shows that humans still have not conquered that fear. This book breaks down what actually happens from your last breath until your body is disposed of, whether it be burial, cremation, autopsies, organ donation or....The glossary is useful and there is even some "gallows humor". All in all, it's worth reading.
Rating:
Summary: Fantastic Book!!!!
Review: As a sociology major dealing in Thanatology (the study of death and dying), I have had to do a great deal of research for articles and presentations. I was given a copy of "Death To Dust" by a professor of sociology when I was preparing a presentation for a symposium I was attending at the time. I was amazed at the wealth of knowledge it contained, and the functional way in which the book was laid out. Anything that anyone could want to know about death and dying is in this book. I would strongly recommend it to professionals and laypersons alike. Mr. Iserson has done an excellent job with his presentations in this book. In it you will find information on body disposal (laws & methods), autopsy procedure, organ donation information, what happens to the body after death, and many other subjects about death. Again, if you are just interested in the subject, or a professional in need of research material - purchase this book. It's a one-of-a-kind reference book!
Rating:
Summary: Very informative
Review: For most besides the medically-minded, this book will surely fall into the Ooh-Yuck category -- the kind of reference work that tells you volumes of things you didn't know and quite a few that you would probably not have cared to know, but can't forget once you do. Like: Have cadavers historically been used for target practice by weapons manufacturers? You betcha! And have moviemakers ever used cadavers to make their special effects really special? ...Rest assured, however, that Galen Press (named after the famed Greek physician Galen of Pergamum) and Dr. Iserson have far more profound purposes in mind with the updated edition of this encyclopaedic guide to mortification than inciting ghastly giggles among adolescent boys and presumably mature reviewers. What sets this magnificently researched and dutifully footnoted volume apart from your usual dry-as-dust medical text is its literary sensibility, first noticeable in fourteen artfully titled section heads. I'm Dead -- Now What? covers the definition of death and what usually happens soon afterward; Beauty in Death details the embalming and cosmetic processes of treating cadavers; Souls on Ice takes a detour into the chilly science of cryonics; and Say It Gently anthologizes some sayings, poetry, and epitaphs in honor of the dead. The writing is clear, friendly, and gently humorous throughout, as if the good doctor Iserson were your charming raconteur uncle who just happens to know everything about the dead, and can't wait to tell you. I don?t see how librarians, med students, and mystery and horror writers can live without this one. -- P.MILLER ...
Rating:
Summary: An Excellent Overview
Review: This book is a MUST READ for anybody who is interested in funerary customs and practices. It goes into great detail about the customs of today and yesturday. The best part is that Iserson does not try to protect us from the truth. The details of how a body decomposes and embalming procedures are outlined for all to read. I also like the layout of this book. It is set up in a question/answer format like you would find in an internet posted FAQ. Iserson posses a question and then continues to answer it by providing examples and supporting facts. Anyone who is interested in this subject will have to find this book at some point in time. It makes a good gift too!
Rating:
Summary: An user friendly look at what happens when someone dies.
Review: This book would be very useful to anyone who will be experiencing a death in their family as far as understanding legal procedures neccessary for carrying out the wishes of the deceased. Ie:) Organ donation, cremation vs embalming etc. It also has an element of dark humour to it. Not just anyone can appreciate that. I didn't care for the smarmy depiction of the funeral industry portrayed in this book. However, I did appreciate the step by step approach explaining each process that families, and funeral personnel go through- all over the world , throughout the ages. So concise that a well-read child could understand it. Over all, this book is very informative for the general public, but not for the faint of heart.
Rating: 
Summary: Don't waste your money on this one ....
Review: This is a facinating book, excelently organised and very readable. Written in a question/answer format, it covers a wide range of topics, from organ donation, mortuary science, to necrophilia. His description of the head-shrinking process is especially facinating. It isn't overly grotesque, and he knows where to stop so his descriptions won't be too graphic. This is a great book for the average curious layman who wants to know more about one of the last taboo topics in our culture. The fact that you can open it to any page and find something facinating to learn about makes this an excellent bathroom book.
Rating:
Summary: Very informative
Review: This is a great book for writers, as it is very detailed when discussing procedures and people who deal with death everyday - coroners, medical examiners, funeral directors, gravediggers, etc. It also has an extensive index and even photographs of death certificates and such. I had hoped there would be more detail on actual corpses and decomposition (hey -when you need to describe a dead body in a story, this info is crucial!) But to find out the difference between wet and dry rot, drowning victims in cold, or warm climates, etc. you'll need another book. This volume is expensive and a bit of work to track down, but well worth the price, as its about as fascinating a book on death you're likely to find.
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Summary: Should be read by EVERY adult.
Review: To preface, I'm 'only' 30, so it's not like I'm looking to pop off any day now. Lets be honest, humans do a very serious job of ignoring death and all that it entails. We don't want to see the messy parts, just the gushy greeting card parts where we swear to "never forget," and "always love," the person who is dying. And we certainly do our best to minimize and deny our own mortality. For this reason I think that adults of ever nationality should re-acquaint ourselves with death. Our grandparents were much more familiar with death, dying and the practical aspects thereof(how long can you keep a corpse in the parlor before it really MUST be buried)than we are today. Death has become so 'clean' as to be almost a non-issue. Having dealt with the death of my own Mom within the past year and half, I can truthfully say it is better to deal with the subject before, than it is during or after. (I first read the book 4yrs ago.) The personal growth you'll do while reading this book will be of immeasurable value to you. The style in which the book is written keeps the subject from being a gory dramatization of death, and also keeps you from Gothic over sentimentality. There is no better PRACTICAL treatment of so personal an issue on the market. Thank you, Mr. Iverson!
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