At once brutal and compassionate, Campbell has tackled the subject of death workers with elegance. There is no way to soften the delivery when describing the day-to-day work of embalmers, morticians, crime scene workers, etc. but Campbell manages to find the tenderness in each of these professions. These are the people who make death in the western world a bearable topic, keeping the darker parts out of sight, out of mind. They are unsung heroes, on par with the other first line workers we put on such a high pedestal.

Campbell asks a question that has been raised before: has western society insulated itself from the less picturesque aspects of death to our own detriment? Ultimately, there is no right answer, however Campbell suggests that perhaps we are better able to cope than we think we are.

Do not read while eating, or if you are particularly squeamish. But other than those warnings, I highly recommend.