In this introductory text on thanatology, Alan Kemp takes on the central question of mortality: the ubiquitous presence of death despite the very human propensity to deny its relevance to oneself, personally. Drawing on the work of pioneering anthropologist Ernest Becker, Death, Dying, and Bereavement in a Changing World provides a multidisciplinary and multidimensional introduction to the study of death, dying, and bereavement, putting extra emphasis on how we understand and experience it in a rapidly changing world.
This new, third edition includes the most up-to-date coverage of the research, data, and figures related to death, dying, and bereavement. It includes coverage of new research on the alternative death care movement, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, suicide, homicide, mass shootings, as well as terrorism and domestic extremism. Also covered is discussion about the use of cannabis to help address the effects of treatments for life-threatening illnesses, like cancer, clinical studies on the use of psychedelics to help with end-of-life-distress, updated information on medical assistance in dying, as well as the latest research on the experience of bereavement, grief, and mourning. But, perhaps most importantly, it includes an entirely new final chapter on learning how to live until we die.
Written to be an accessible and expansive overview of our changing encounters with death, dying, and bereavement, the third edition remains a reflective and deeply insightful book for students across specialized fields in psychology, sociology, human services, social work, counselling, and theology.
About the Author
Preface
I. Introduction and Contexts
1. Introduction to Thanatology
2. Death, Dying, and Bereaavement in a Changing World
3. Death & Human Development
4. Cross-Cultural and Interfaith Dimensions
5. “Traditional” Death Care
6. Death Care
7. Traumatic Death–Part 1: Trauma, Pandemics, Natural Disasters, Suicide & Homicide
8. Traumatic Death–Part 2: Terrorism & Domestic Extremism
9. Facing Death
10. Hospice and Palliative Care
11. Medical Assistance in Dying
12. Withdrawing Life Support and Organ Transplantation
13. Bereavement, Grief, and Mourning
14. Complicated Grief
V. The Path Ahead
15. Life after Life?
16. Learning to Live Until We Die
Biography
Alan Kemp is Professor Emeritus of Sociology at Pierce College, where he enjoyed a thirty-year career teaching human service and sociology courses, including his popular death, dying, and bereavement course. He was the recipient of the Outstanding Faculty Award at Pierce in 2016 and a recipient of the Albert Nelson Marquis Lifetime Achievement Award in 2018.
"A Cancer diagnosis brings the reality of death right to the front of one’s consciousness. Death, Dying And Bereavement In A Changing World is more than a textbook. I am using it to navigate my own Cancer journey. The chapter information is current and far reaching, even extending to the subject of grief and bereavement on the loss of our beloved animal companions. The activities, suggested readings and online links are especially helpful to me, as I use this book as a working guide. I suggest that readers answer the questions and do the exercises at the end of each chapter for a personalized learning experience on a challenging topic."
Anonymous Cancer Patient
"Dr. Kemp gently disarms the Western instinct to look away from death. By exploring how other cultures honor dying, grief, and remembrance, he offers the safe distance of an observer—until we realize we are looking at ourselves. In witnessing how others grieve openly and keep the dead present in community life, we see how deeply our own culture denies mortality, that closure, and how much that denial costs us. Our funerals seem to be more of a ritualistic stacking up all of our grief/loss in one place, on one person or family. So we can compartmentalize.
In a society that treats death as failure and mourning as indulgence, Dr. Kemp offers a quiet redirect. He shows that feeling loss fully is not weakness or a detriment, but participation in life. With honesty, warmth, and humor, he makes the ever present fear driving so much of human behavior tangible, even approachable.
His work in thanatology reminds us that remembering is its own form of healing—and that acknowledging death as a natural consequence having been gifted a short time on earth, restores life to its full meaning."
Dr Ricky Pendergrass, D.O., Primary Care Physician
"In his analysis of the current movements around alternative death care, author Alan Kemp takes on the shifting needs and desires of an aging population raised on ethics of environmentalism and authenticity that is in some ways the antithesis of a generation of funeral consumers before them. Kemp does a remarkable job of synthesizing and ordering the complex social, cultural, and technological changes that are rapidly evolving in US funeral practices today."
Lee Webster, funeral reform advocate, author of The After-Death Care Educator Handbook and Changing Landscapes: Exploring the growth of ethical, compassionate, and environmentally sustainable funeral service
"Death, Dying and Bereavement in a Changing World goes beyond anything I have read on this subject. Dr. Kemp's exploration into thanatology, the study of death, dying and bereavement is written as a textbook, but it is more than that, it is a guidebook on to how to live, die and grieve in today’s world. It delves into the social, spiritual, psychological and human experience throughout history and across many different cultures and religions. It also touches on challenging topics, such as suicide, death due to violence, pandemics, medical assistance in dying, alternative death care and much more. My favorite chapter is the last chapter 'Learning to Live Until We Die'. It is a reminder to embrace life fully. I highly recommend this book to everyone."
Susan O’Brien, Medical Education Consultant
"Dr. Kemp’s comprehensive background as an educator and human services professional is clearly evidenced as he applies developmental theory and research combined with sociological data and analysis to explore the breadth of ways humans at various stages of life experience death, dying and bereavement. His work provides critical foundational information for the practice of professionals who support those anticipating or experiencing actual loss and death.
While Dr. Kemp focuses on the needs of individuals across the span of a full lifetime, his sensitive handling of the unique challenges presented by the young are particularly insightful and helpful. He explores the ways children form concepts of death and permanence through the lens of well-substantiated theory and research relative to cognitive limitations in the early years of development and includes strategies and activities to stimulate conversation, relieve stress and process emotions. He clarifies the impact of maturation and experience on an individual’s ability to process and ultimately comprehend profound and permanent loss.
Dr. Kemp’s broad treatment of the full range of human responses to the inevitable and universal experience of permanent loss includes attention to each developmental domain: emotional, physical, cognitive, social, and spiritual. His work provides a significant contribution to the field of study for professionals who would journey with those experiencing the ravages of loss."
Judy DeJardin, Chair Emerita, Social Science Division, Pierce College
"Ever since Dr. Elizabeth Kulber-Ross published her ground breaking book, On Death and Dying, there has been an increasing amount of research and interest in this subject. Dr. Kemp’s 3rd edition is a comprehensive and contemporary addition. His book explores the topic of approaching death not usually found in texts. I applaud Dr. Kemp’s depth of research and his clearly written approach. This is an important contribution to the death and dying scholarly literature."
Arthur J. Tirotta, Licensed Mental Health Counselor (Retired)
"This textbook is as broad and informative as the topic of death and dying is deep and wide. Many educators and practitioners will value the way Dr. Kemp weaves together how our body, heart, mind and spirit are called upon to participate in this journey ...
In my decades of teaching and practicing in gerontology and thanatology, few have achieved Dr. Kemp’s level of mastery in teaching, research, writing, counseling, and spiritual guidance.
This textbook is a wonderful resource as an introduction to the complexities and the many rewards of exploring the topic of death and dying. I highly recommend it to you and your students."
Leon Khalsa, Professor of Psychology and Sociology, Pierce College
