How to Die in the 21st Century

A Whole New Way to Talk about Death

By: Dr Hannah Gould

Narrated by: Dr Hannah Gould

Talking about death won't kill you. Yet in today's world, death remains one of our greatest taboos. As religion declines and rituals fade, we are left without much guidance for one of life's only certainties. This is your book for death in the 21st century – a compassionate, practical and surprisingly hopeful guide to understanding mortality.

From cremation to green burials, from grieving a pet to navigating memorial etiquette, anthropologist and death scholar Hannah Gould answers the questions most of us are too afraid to ask:

• Do I really get my loved one's ashes back from the crematorium?
• Can I turn into a tree when I die?
• How do I talk to my parents about end-of-life planning?
• Should I attend my ex's dad's funeral?
• Will I ever stop crying over my dog?

Honest, witty and deeply reassuring, Gould invites listeners to confront mortality not with fear, but with curiosity and courage.

©2026 Dr Hannah Gould (P)2026 Bolinda Publishing

Critic reviews

'For a vibrant, full-of-life woman Hannah Gould makes death and dying sound fascinating – if not fun. Her wit and wisdom are intoxicating ... and make you think.' (Ray Martin, journalist and host of The Last Goodbye)

'Brilliantly insightful and deeply humane.' (Sally Douglas and Imogen Carn, co-hosts of the Good Mourning podcast)