This lovely little book is all about celebrating a life that has passed, celebrating the person rather than burying them under dogma and superstition. For the many people for whom religion has been revealed as illogical and unhelpful, the words of practical advice, care, empathy, and comfort form a wonderful substitute to the usual services performed at the end of a loved one’s life.
The book consists of just a couple of sections: ‘Death and Life’ deals with ‘Being Dead’, ‘Facing Death’, ‘Life After Death’, ‘Back to Nature’, ‘Living with Grief’, and ‘Your Own Funeral’, with short passages and poems on each of these topics; ‘Humanist Funerals’ deals with ‘Unique Circumstances’, Different Relationships’, ‘Making it Personal’, ‘Practices: old and new’, and ‘Saying Goodbye’. And the end of the book gives a link to find a Humanist Celebrant should you need one.
There is a good deal of real common sense, humour, emotional support, and practical information here. It is essentially a handbook for those of us seeking a way to celebrate the lives of those we have loved after they have left us. But it is a sensitive and gentle treatment of a subject so difficult for many to deal with.
If you’re looking for a fulfilling and personally tailored way to take a deceased friend, relative, or partner through that final ceremony without reference to a non-existent afterlife, this little book will give you real help and guidance.

[Any review is a personal opinion. No reviewer can represent the view of anyone else. The best we can manage is an honest reaction to any given book.]