“Let’s Talk About Death (Over Dinner)” by Michael Hebb [Book Review]

Having a conversation about the end of your life and the subsequent decisions and final wishes is difficult; at times it even seems taboo. Most would never consider having this conversation over dinner while surrounded by others, some of whom you don’t even know. But that is exactly what author Michael Hebb has dedicated his life to by facilitating and providing participants the materials they need to feel confident having that exact conversation.

His book, Let’s Talk About Death (Over Dinner), tackles many thought provoking topics with bullet points such as, “What does a good death look like?”, “What do you want your legacy to be?”, “If you could extend your life, how many years would you add?”, and “If you were to design your own funeral or memorial, what would that look like?”. At first glance, these topics may sound a bit morbid and off-limits, but Hebb makes a convincing argument that by answering these questions you are not only getting the sendoff that you want, but your loved ones are spared the extra stress of the planning and are truly allowed to grieve.

Check out a short trailer for some more information on the book.

Hebb also points out some varying end of life rituals practiced by different cultures around the world, which I found quite interesting. It seems not every culture considers death a taboo subject and many of them actually embrace end of life rituals.

Hebb has conducted these “death dinners” around the globe, and he winds first-hand accounts of these dinners into every chapter. Honestly, what began, at least for me, as a sort of touchy subject, began to make sense, and in the end I was able to see the benefits to all the involved parties.

At the end of the day, I found Let’s Talk About Death (Over Dinner) a good read with lots of practical information that left me with much to think about.

Written By: Michael Hebb
Publisher: Da Capo Lifelong Books (October 02, 2018)
Format/Length: Hardcover, 256 pages