Books about death that are worth the read

So, tough stuff, right? Death isn’t exactly a fun topic for a little light reading. But we suspect you’ve had to deal with a death at some stage or another — whether it’s in your direct family or social circle. These reads will help you process the feels or take a little break from the grim.

The Year of Magical Thinking by Joan Didion

Joan Didion is an iconic American writer, and this bestselling memoir of bereavement is one of her best. It will likely touch your heart and tug a few tears from your eyes. Grieving isn’t easy — we all know that — but somehow reading about someone else going through what you’re going through helps in more than a small measure.

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Mobituaries: Great Lives Worth Reliving by Mo Rocca

We’ve had a nerd crush on Mo Rocca since his days on The Daily Show. Have to also admit that we’ve got a regular date for Sunday Morning too. So, when he launched the Mobituaries podcast, we tuned in. Now, there’s a book of the same title that adds even more charming remembrances of people (Elizabeth Jennings, Ada Lovelace, Audrey Hepburn) and things (the station wagon, Prussia, Oaks at Toomer’s Corner) that have passed on. Easy essays and snippets you can read any time — and a sweet book to listen to on your commute.

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If Cats Disappeared from the World by Genki Kawamura

You wake up one day to an offer from the devil: you get one more day of life if you’re willing to allow one thing to disappear from the Earth — forever. You answer yes, and as the next few days unfold, things begin to change and you begin to get reflective. But when cats (your best friend in the world) are on the extinction table, what will you do? So asks this remarkable and unforgettable Japanese novel.

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A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman

Ove is having kind of a hard time at life — he’s curmudgeon-y and cranky, and it makes him more than a little nuts when someone blocks his driveway. Things don’t get better when a noisy, boisterous family moves in next door — and backs up the proverbial U-Haul. They are like oil and water, much to our delight. A Man Called Ove is charming (and eventually, so is Ove) and a sweet, hopeful book that shows one man truly can make a difference in the lives of others.

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It’s OK if you’re not ok by Megan Devine

Sometimes just hearing the words of the title of this book will help someone after a a tragedy. Megan Devine suggests that the conventional wisdom of trying to return to “normal” after loss is false, and what we really need to do is adjust to grief as a new companion in life — to reflect on and honor it. It’s an interesting premise that may also be helpful for people who haven’t yet experienced a death to help relate to those who have.

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A Grief Observed by C.S. Lewis

Death takes the wind out of you. It can also knock your faith — even if it runs deep and true. At least that was true for C.S. Lewis after the death of his beloved wife. If you or someone you love is trying to make sense of the world after they lost someone they love, this memoir might just be the salve that soothes.

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Stiff by Mary Roach

So, what does happen to dead bodies — in a practical sense? This funny, entertaining, and a little gross (I mean, we are decomposing every second after death) book answers that question. And about a thousand more as it tells the fascinating take of cadavers and how they’ve been used for centuries. If you like a little dark humor with your death, this book is for you.

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The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning by Margareta Magnusson

We’re all going to die. And (spoiler alert) not everyone wants our beloved stuff. So, obviously, Scandinavian expert minimalists have come up with a plan to help you purge your possessions before you croak. It’s a little overwhelming, right? This method injects a little humor into the process and can (thankfully) be put to use even if nobody is on the brink, but rather to help spark conversations about living and dying and how we want to be remembered.

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