★ What is death? What faces does it present across different cultures? How should we confront death, and how do we cope with it? What are the various funeral rituals that exist? And what exactly is a "Grief Club"?
★ While traveling the globe to study death rituals, anthropologist Naomi Westman was struck by a bolt from the blue—the loss of her entire family. She realized that death is not merely an abstract academic concept, but a deeply ingrained and agonizing personal experience, leading her to re-examine the nature of mortality.
★ In this semi-autobiographical work, the author guides you through the experience of death—a journey everyone must eventually take—using history, art, and popular culture to cope with and demystify the veil of mortality.
★ Infused with just the right touch of black humor and written in the most candid and engaging tone, this book thoroughly explores the taboo subject that no one dares to speak of. It teaches you how to let go of the fear of death while inspiring you to live each day more mindfully and with greater cherished intent.

Anthropologist Naomi Westerman was studying death rituals around the world—when her whole family died.

Upon losing those closest to her, Naomi Westerman saw that death was more than just an abstract academic concept; it was a deeply painful and personal experience. She became fascinated by loss and grief, and hoped to cope and demystify death by turning to history, art, and pop culture.

Happy Death Club examines the many faces of death and grief in cultures around the world. From expensive coffins and unconventional burials to horror films and true crime, what does our treatment of death have to tell us about how we live our lives? What makes a “good death”? And who owns our bodies before and after we die?

Both meaningful and darkly humorous, this is a frank, curious look at a universal human experience—one we’re often too afraid to talk about—and at what lies beyond.

Naomi Westerman
Naomi Westerman is a playwright and former anthropolo- gist. As an anthropologist, Naomi studied death rituals around the world, also working on mental health and gender. She is a recipient of the Royal Society of Literature Award, the Michael Grandage Futures Bursary, the Derby Theatre / In Good Co Mid-Career Commission Award, and was a finalist for the Theatre Uncut Political Playwriting Award at the Young Vic. Happy Death Club is her first non-fiction book.